GEORGE TOWN: With the wet season just around the corner, risk assessments of old trees in the state will be carried out more regularly to prevent any mishaps, says Datuk A. Rajendran.
The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor said the council will identify those trees that are at risk of falling.
“We are working with the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) to identify the trees that we need to cut down to prevent such incidents,” he said yesterday.
Rajendran said the council will, in the interest of public safety, cut down any trees identified as a risk.
He said trees could appear to be healthy but their roots or foundation could pose a danger.
Last Saturday, two Penangites on a motorcycle escaped with minor injuries when their motorcycle got crushed under a fallen 18m-high tree in Jalan Burma.
He said 30 trees had been felled along Jalan Macalister, Jalan Utama, Jalan Burma, Jalan Kelawai and Jalan Perak to date.
In May, two men cheated death in Alor Setar, Kedah, after a huge tree fell on their vehicles.
That month, an angsana tree on Jalan Macalister here was uprooted after a morning downpour.
The tree toppled across the road and hit another angsana tree, damaging four parked cars. Both trees are believed to be about at least 100 years old.
Also in May, a man died and two others injured after a giant tree fell in front of a hotel on Jalan Sultan Ismail in Kuala Lumpur.
Meanwhile, an arborist said having adequate space along road reserves is necessary for the well-being of trees planted along roadsides.
Mohd Dzikry Mohamad Hydzir said older trees would have their roots covered under pavements, leaving little space for root growth.
“This despite the large tree size,” he said.
Moh Dzikry added that having space is important for tree roots to expand when they grow.
He said even with the local council pruning trees, the trunks and branches would eventually become heavier.
“So that is why it is important to make space for trees. If you look along the highway, there are plenty of large trees.
“To balance large trees, the root space should be twice the size of the tree’s canopy to prevent trees from being uprooted.
“However, it seems like nothing can be done about the limited space at our roadsides,” he said of the challenges faced by municipalities in managing large trees along roads.
Currently, nearly 150,000 trees are under the care of MBPP and Seberang Perai City Council.
On Penang island, it is estimated that there are around 40,000 trees under MBPP’s jurisdiction.
