Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung has called on the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to appoint a certified arborist to thoroughly inspect old or high-risk trees for structural failure which could cause them to fall.

He said such an appointee should carry out this work especially in densely populated areas and along main roads as soon as possible.

"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.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall has taken proactive measures following the incident, he said, including inspections of trees over 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.

Immediate action a priority

On May 7, a man died while another was left injured after bad weather caused a tree to fall on their vehicles in front of the Shangri-La Hotel in Jalan Sultan Ismail.

Lee said the incident was caused by the interconnected network of tree roots in the area, which directly affects the strength of the tree structure.

"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.

Immediate action by all parties should be a priority to prevent the recurrence of similar tragedies, he stressed.

"Public safety should be a top priority for all of us and together, we can make a significant difference."

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