GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government wants both the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP) to submit a report on the maintenance of trees under their jurisdiction by this week.
State Local Government Committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye said he had instructed both local councils to carry out inspections of trees, especially in light of the current rainy season.
"We have issued a memo to both local councils to ask them to carry out inspections on the trees under their jurisdiction. They are supposed to send the report in.
"They have been carrying out periodic inspections, especially on old trees, those aged between 80 and 100 years even before this and in the event of any complaints.
"They have even appointed contractors to trim the branches.
"These old trees are our treasure but we want to ensure that they are also safe," he told newsmen here today when asked about the latest incident of uprooted trees which occured last week.
On Saturday, five cars were damaged, at least one badly, when two trees on Jalan Macalister here were uprooted following heavy rain.
Following the latest incident, a DAP lawmaker had called for an aggressive masterplan to care for old and large trees.
Pulau Tikus assemblyman Joshua Woo Sze Zeng said there was an urgent need to have a more aggressive masterplan to care for these trees and also called for scheduled pruning.
The state government is gathering data on the number of old trees in the state.
Under the Local Government Act, there is a requirement for the maintenance of trees under their jurisdiction.
According to H'ng, Penangites are tree-loving people and this subject has to be broached with care due to its sensitivity.
H'ng was met after the launch of the Sungai Nibong bus terminal (TSN) upgrading project.
The RM7 million project, which began in Aug 2021, was fully completed last month.
Besides a centralised ticketing system to address the issue of ticket touts, the upgrading works also saw the establishment of ticket machines, building escalators, expansion of the second floor and better facilities for the disabled, among others.
The upgrading project was undertaken by Easybook (M) Sdn Bhd, who manages the terminal in cooperation with UDA Mall.