07-05-2025
Tree removal based on safety risk, not indiscriminate felling
KUALA LUMPUR: The Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) has denied claims of indiscriminate tree cutting along Persiaran Golf, saying removals were based on assessment to address safety risks.
Its Landscape Department said the removal of certain trees is part of a landscape enhancement initiative, which includes replanting with more suitable and user-friendly species in the area.
The department said the decision followed numerous complaints from local residents associations who raised safety concerns, particularly during heavy rainfall and storms.
"Out of the 400 trees assessed, 78 were found to be high-risk and potentially dangerous to public safety, and needed to be felled.
"Another 122 trees required pruning for maintenance and tidiness and the remaining 200 trees were deemed to be in good condition.
"A total of 35 trees have fallen in this area since 2021," it said in a written response to the New Straits Times today.
The department said the Khaya Tree, also known as the African Mahogany (Khaya senegalensis), which was planted in the area in 1985 and is known for its aggressive growth and grows quickly.
With trunk circumferences of three to four metres and heights exceeding 15 metres, mature specimens, around 30 years and older, are classified as timber trees and are among the most commonly reported species involved in tree falls in Shah Alam.
"Such trees pose a high risk if they fall, potentially endangering public safety, property, and infrastructure," it said.
In response to the complaints, the city council, through its Landscape Department, engaged certified arborists, including its agricultural officer and an external advisor, to assess the condition of ageing and mature trees along Persiaran Golf in December 2024.
"Following the assessment report, the department prepared a working paper and was presented at the first meeting of the council's cleanliness and urban beautification committee.
"The meeting approved the felling of high-risk trees along Persiaran Golf," it said.
The council's response comes after a Facebook user on May 2 criticised the tree removals, claiming they were carried out with the mayor's approval despite previous objections lodged through formal channels.
