New law on tree-cutting not logical

IT is illogical of the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to pass a law on the cutting of trees by the roadside. The new law is that no tree is to be "made bald". At least one branch must be retained on the tree irrespective if it is safe or not.

They must realise there are a hundred species of trees. There are some with firm and strong branches while others have huge and fragile branches that break easily during a thunderstorm. If a fragile branch is left behind, it may fall in the midst of wind and lightning.

For example, rainforest trees have huge trunks. As they grow older the branches develop into trunks up on the tree and cannot hold on to the main trunk when accosted by a heavy thunderstorm.

This was what happened to the rainforest tree on the roadside in front of my house. The branches become more brittle as it grows older. During a recent thunderstorm many branches with a huge trunk collapsed on to my garden. Fortunately the tail end of the branch was just one foot away from my window.

MBPJ workers took three days to clear and trim the branches as it is a huge tree and were told by the authorities to spare one branch for environmental reasons? The branch was so fragile and tall and many people predicted it could fall on to the roadside in the nest thunderstorm. Just because MBPJ wants to preserve the environment the branch has to be retained posing a danger to residents. I got a private contractor to cut it off.

MBPJ should eliminate its new law on cutting trees. Decisions should be made according to the condition of a tree.

Source: Loh Siew Eem