PJ MP confirms council conducting assessment of at-risk trees

Following the storm that resulted in fallen trees in several parts of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor yesterday, Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung announced that the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is carrying out a risk assessment of trees in some key populated areas.

“After my statement last week recommending to MBPJ that there be a ‘tree doctor’ or arborist to examine all old trees in Petaling Jaya, I am informed that the council is conducting an assessment of at-risk trees along the roads at Pusat Bandar Seksyen 52 and Jalan Selangor.

“Early inspection is critical so that lives and property of citizens are protected before it’s too late,” said Lee on Facebook.

“This morning I inspected the fallen roof at Taman Perangsang Flat with state assemblypersons coordinator Halimey Abu Bakar and MBPJ councillor Norah Mansor.

“For today, my team, together with the coordinators and councillors, will continue to assist the affected victims,” said Lee.

Yesterday, several trees fell in parts of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor due to heavy downpours and strong winds, causing damage to roads and vehicles.

Berita Harian reported the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department’s spokesperson as saying that its team received multiple distress calls from the public about the matter.

“We received information about four lorries being damaged by a fallen tree near a petrol station located on Old Klang Road.

“We also received reports of a similar incident near a UM hostel - where an uprooted tree fell on an electric pole and blocked the main road,” the spokesperson said.

On May 13, Lee called on the 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.

This followed an incident on May 7, when 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.

More trees fall after heavy rains, strong winds around KL and Selangor

FT minister suggests setting up task force to look into uprooted trees

Uprooted tree falls on 2 stalls after heavy rain in Nilai

Fallen tree in KL narrowly misses Malacca CM's car

Citing fallen tree tragedy, MP urges MBPJ to appoint arborist

One dead, one hurt after tree falls near monorail track in city centre