GEORGE TOWN – The Penang public is shocked and dismayed by a spate of “extreme” pruning and outright felling of trees apparently undertaken by contractors under the Penang Island City Council (MBPP).
Sahabat Alam Malaysia president Meenakshi Raman has called for a formal disclosure of the trees marked to be chopped down.
MBPP should not act like a “tree-cutting mafia”, and should notify residents ahead of time when a tree is to be felled, she told The Vibes.
She added that those in the affected neighbourhoods are worried when they discover trees in their areas are simply gone.
“The residents would like to discuss the matter, as there is real concern for Penang’s big trees. After all, we are supposed to be planting trees.
The prime minister was talking about how many million trees they (the government) are going to plant, and here we are going around chopping down trees.
“If a tree is really diseased or going to pose a danger because it is old and about to fall, or if the roots are coming out, there should be a consultation.
“Even if you cut them down, there must be effort to replace them, because trees are so important for shade. They are also very important for the micro-climate.”
Photos of felled trees and large branches that have been cut off in Bayan Baru and here have sparked concern among netizens.
Some social media users said they saw logs from the chopped trees being sold.
Only sick trees felled
When contacted, MBPP councillor Tan Seng Keat said there is nothing to be worried about, as only sick trees and those that pose a danger to the public are cut down.
“We don’t simply cut down healthy trees.
“We have a policy of actually selling them (cut-off tree parts).
“We do an open tender, and then we sell them off. Once we cut down a tree, we usually don’t dispose of it, but we sell it to bring in extra income.”
He said in Bayan Baru, the roots of some trees have entered a nearby building.
Others are trimmed bare because they lack grip and are at risk of toppling over, he added. – The Vibes, June 17, 2021
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