Tree tragedy: Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung has urged the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to appoint a certified arborist to conduct a thorough inspection of the high-risk and old trees to assess their structural failure, which could lead to sudden falls.
Furthermore, he said that the arborist should immediately conduct the inspection especially in densely populated places and along main roads.
“Last week, the public was shocked by the case of a fallen tree in Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, which revealed a serious safety risk in public places.”
“It should be a reminder to the local authorities to take immediate action before such accidents happen again,” Lee said in a statement today.
He said that following the incident, proactive measures have been taken by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall, including inspecting trees that are more than 30 years old or with a girth exceeding 1.5m.
“It is time for the local authorities in Selangor to announce the measures that will be taken to prevent accidents from falling trees,” Lee added.
Tree Tragedy: MP Lee Chean calls for immediate action
A man lost his life, while another was injured on May 7 after a tree fell on their vehicles due to bad weather near the Shangri-La Hotel in Jalan Sultan Ismail.
The interconnected network of the roots, which directly affects the strength of the tree structure, caused the incident, Lee said.
“Regular inspections by a certified arborist can identify defects in trees such as damage to branches or roots, leaning or unbalanced tree structure, and cracks in the branches and base of the tree,” he added.
He further said that all parties must take immediate action on priority to avoid similar tragedies.
“Public safety should be a top priority for all of us and together, we can make a significant difference.”
