KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has identified 175 high-risk trees, with a significant portion aged over 50 years.
DBKL in a statement said of the total, 147 trees had been felled.
It said DBKL through its appointed contractors, had been conducting inspections of trees aged over 30 years with a circumference exceeding 1.5 metres around Kuala Lumpur since 2019.
"Periodic inspections have been carried out by certified arborists, with the latest inspection conducted in February 2024, identifying 28 trees slated for imminent removal.
"High-risk trees refer to those with a high potential for structural failure and collapse.
"These are identified through the use of resistograph, picus tomograph, or visual assessments to detect tree defects such as damaged or decaying branches or roots, leaning or unbalanced tree structures, and cracks in branches and tree bases.
"Further actions, such as pruning, crown reduction, selective pruning, and felling, will be undertaken as necessary," it said.
On May 7, a motorist was killed after an uprooted tree fell on his car on Jalan Sultan Ismail.
The Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department said two victims were extricated from the car by its personnel.
The deceased, a 47-year-old male, was confirmed dead by paramedics at the scene.
DBKL added that it adheres to the DBKL Low Tree Management Plan, published in January 2019.
This, it said, was formulated with input from various agencies including the National Landscape Department, the Malaysian Society of Arborists, the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), the Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (ILAM), the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia.
"Tree risk assessment involves three stages by checking the physical condition of the trees on-site.
"If the physical condition of the trees is unsatisfactory, further assessment will be conducted.
"Subsequently, mitigation actions such as pruning, root treatment or felling will be done as outlined in the DBKL Shade Tree Management Plan," the statement said.
DBKL clarified that the fallen tree was located on private land and maintenance came under the landowner's responsibility.
"Based on the approved Landscape Development Plan in 2022, this tree was on private land and designated for preservation.
"For the affected victims, DBKL will assist in facilitating any claims to the appropriate parties," the statement said.
DBKL reiterated that monitoring work on high-risk trees was continuously carried out, bearing in mind safety issues including environmental preservation and conservation aspects.
DBKL is also improving the Shade Tree Management Plan and preparing new guidelines on aged and high-risk trees, which are expected to be completed by July 2024.
For details on claims, call 03-2617 9509 (Finance Department) or 03-2617 9236 (Legal and Prosecution Department).