TREE-FELLING activities are being carried out in certain neighbourhoods in Kuala Lumpur to ensure the safety of the public, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said.

The city council added that it was constantly carrying out tree maintenance work around the city to ensure public safety. 

“Tree maintenance work needs to be carried out to ensure public safety is guaranteed,” its corporate communications unit told The Malaysian Insight. 

DBKL was responding to complaints from residents on felled trees around the city.

In one area in particular, Sentul, 30-year-old trees have been removed much to the annoyance of local residents.

When asked about the tree cutting works in this area, DBKL said tree maintenance work in the Batu constituency would be going on from February 14 to March 31. 

The trees around Jalan Sentul, Jalan Amra and around the Sentul Boulevard area will be affected. 

DBKL said tree cutting in this area was the result of an inspection that had been carried out by their arborist together with the area’s DBKL supervisor.

City hall said that a total of 21 trees had been cut down and there are another three more to go. 

“The age of the trees that have been cut is about 20 to 30 years old.”

The trees that have been removed were either dead, termite infested or those that were too big. 

There were also trees that were a hazard, that had root girdling and were rotting.

DBKL said replacement trees would be planted after taking into account planting space.

Save KL spokesperson M. Ali meanwhile said while they were keen on keeping the city green, they also wanted to protect the safety of its residents.

“If the trees pose a hazard to people, then they should be removed. 

“Residents must understand that sick trees need to be replaced. 

“The authorities must continue to ensure the public that the trees all around the city will be well kept and managed,” he said.

He said their contention has always been that for each tree that is removed, another must be planted in its place. 

“What we want is an effective tree maintenance programme. Not a cut and go policy.

“They must also plant suitable trees. Not just plant for the sake of planting.

“With the rainy season, branches tend to break away. Trees that pose a hazard to pedestrians must constantly be trimmed.” –  March 5, 2023.