Latest news with #LandscapeDepartment
The Star
16-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Safety at PJ park improved with new walkway, CCTV
A newly built 218m walkway and repaired basketball court surface to better serve the elderly park-goers. — Courtesy photo FACILITIES including the walkway and basketball court at Taman Sunwaymas in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, have been upgraded to improve safety and encourage active use among nearby residents. The park, located along Jalan PJU1/3A near a bustling commercial area and surrounded by neighbourhoods such as Aman Suria, Kampung Cempaka, SS25 and Bukit Mayang, serves a population of around 13,000. It is popular among senior citizens who visit the park in the mornings. Among its regular visitors is Chan Lin Chow, 68, from SS25, who practises tai chi four to five times a week. 'Before the upgrade, the court had sand and cracks that made it slippery and dangerous. 'Now we feel safer and more confident exercising, even at 6am,' he said. The upgrade works by Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) included resurfacing and repainting the basketball court, the construction of a 218m pedestrian walkway and refurbishment of the existing gazebo. Kampung Cempaka village chief Theresa Lim said the improvements had a direct impact on the park's elderly users. 'Most of the park's visitors are aged 60 and above. 'The smoother surfaces make it easier to exercise and have brought more people to the park, encouraging a healthier lifestyle,' she said. MBPJ Zone 7 councillor Leong Chee Cheng said the upgrades were carried out from Feb 3 to May 26 at a cost of RM164,365, approved by the city council's Landscape Department. 'To improve security, two CCTV cameras have been installed,' he said. Leong said the surface of the basketball court had gradually sunk over the years due to ground conditions, but has been fully repaired. The contractor who completed the basketball court repair and upgrades handed the site back to MBPJ on June 25, and the city council has been monitoring its condition since. The project is part of MBPJ's broader initiative to improve public parks in Zone 7 as part of Petaling Jaya's smart city goals. 'To date, 17 parks including Taman Sunwaymas have been upgraded. 'Next, we will focus on upgrading the public park in Jalan SS4C/20,' Leong added.
New Straits Times
07-05-2025
- Climate
- New Straits Times
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.
