PETALING JAYA: All 28 trees which the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had identified in May 2024 as “high-risk” have already been chopped down, says mayor Maimunah Sharif.
In a statement, Maimunah said the felling of these trees was done from June to September in various parts of the city centre.
In response to the fallen tree that crushed a car and left two injured this morning, the KL mayor said City Hall had taken “intensive mitigative measures” regarding other trees deemed at risk of falling or breaking, especially in areas with a history of tree failures.
Tree failures occur when a tree’s structure fails, whether at the trunk, branches or roots.
“To reduce the risk of tree failures, DBKL has periodically trimmed trees around KL since August 2024, placing particular focus on those located along main roads, in the city centre, housing areas and parks.
“From August to Dec 31, 2024, a total of 17,626 trees have been trimmed or treated throughout KL,” Maimunah said.
She said DBKL’s landscape development department would ensure careful planning in developing new green areas, taking into account the suitable species of trees to plant, safety as well as maintenance, among others.
A 39-year-old woman and a 15-year-old girl escaped with minor injuries this morning after a tree fell and crushed their car near Wisma Magnum in Jalan Pudu, Kuala Lumpur.
The fallen tree blocked traffic in both directions along Jalan Pudu.
In May last year, a large tree fell along Jalan Sultan Ismail, killing a motorist trapped in his car and injuring two others in another vehicle.
This prompted DBKL to take preventive action. However, several more incidents of trees falling in the city occurred.
