THE Penang Island City Council (MBPP) is willing to offer expertise to ratepayers who intend to explore the possibility of growing plants within their open spaces.
This represents part of MBPP's efforts to expand its greenery campaign and to help the state weather the growing effects of climate change or climate emergency, said Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo.
For example, shrub plants can now be easily grown in narrow spaces and can act as a form of interior decor said George Town Lord Mayor Datuk Anthony Rajendran.
Rajendran, who is also the MBPP president, said that the landscape division of the council intends to transform every corner in the township into a garden haven.
He said this when launching the vertical shrub tree garden at the Batu Lanchang main market in George Town.
Present was Batu Lanchang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong, a veteran MBPP councillor.
The vertical gardens in Batu Lanchang cost the council RM18,250 but it is a worthwhile investment to transform Penang into a garden city, said Rajendran.
Councillor Choong You Ray singled out the dedicated landscape officers for taking the initiative to grow plants vertically, as part of efforts to green the island.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson with the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), urged the council to make saplings, which can grow vertically, available to ratepayers.
If it is widespread, the tendency to grow vertical plants and trees can also be done in all parts of the state, said the spokesperson.
For now, it is only available in private nurseries and botanists, who grow it for commercial reasons.
"It is proven that planting trees can supplement the effects of climate change but such plants must be easily made available," said the spokesperson. - December 12, 2024.
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