A FORMER assemblyman wants the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to form a quick action audit team on overgrown trees on the island after a tree fell on a vehicle in Church Street Ghaut and killed a father and daughter.
Former Batu Uban assemblyman S. Raveentharan said that it is now timely to form and deploy a rapid audit squad to monitor all trees on the island.
This follows reports that up to 30 trees fell due to the unusual rough weather and wind since last Sunday here.
One opposite the Peranakan Museum here in Church Street Ghaut became uprooted and fell on an unsuspecting father and daughter from China who were waiting inside an unnamed vehicle near the tourism attraction.
During the incident, there was a burst of strong winds on the island here.
Raveentharan said that the rough weather phenomenon is unusual for the island here.
"We used to be able to manage rough weather but of late, the weather pattern has become unusually stronger and it has an impact on the people," said Raveentharan.
He said that oversize trees need to be pruned and those decaying must be felled.
He also urged the meteorological authorities to further examine if the strong weather is related to climate change and if the ozone layer continues to widen.
"This are factors which we need to mitigate moving forward," said the former PKR elected representative.
Northeast district police head Razlam Ab Hamid confirmed the deaths of the two, who are believed to be foreign nationals. - September 19, 2024
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