Cut down all ‘high risk’ trees immediately, City Hall told

The order from federal territories minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa comes after a tree nearly fell on a chief minister’s car in Jalan Pinang today, just days after the fatal incident in Jalan Sultan Ismail.

PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has been ordered to immediately fell “high risk” trees hours after one had toppled and nearly hit Melaka chief minister Ab Rauf Yusoh’s vehicle, the federal territories minister said.

“And to ensure environmental sustainability, DBKL must also come up with a tree replanting programme,” Dr Zaliha Mustafa said in a brief statement.

Earlier today, a tree that fell at Jalan Pinang following heavy rain this afternoon nearly hit Rauf’s vehicle.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Rusdi Isa, who confirmed this, said one police car escorting Rauf and another car were affected in the incident.

No injuries were reported, but Jalan Pinang was temporarily closed.

Several trees were also reported to have fallen on three cars and five motorcycles near Menara Prestige along the same road.

Separately, in Jalan Kuchai Lama, one tree fell across Jalan Rahmah in Taman Gembira and blocked the road, while another fell on top of a building’s roof at Jalan Selesa 1.

A tree also fell and hit a car at Universiti Malaya’s medical faculty while another fell on a car at the university’s examination hall.

Last Tuesday, a large tree fell at Jalan Sultan Ismail, killing a motorist and injuring two others in an e-hailing vehicle. Monorail services were also affected after branches fell on the tracks.

On Friday, DBKL said 147 of the 175 trees which were identified as high risk had been felled. Most of these trees were over 50 years old.

DBKL is also enhancing its tree management plan which is slated for completion by July.