IPOH: Taman Kaya residents are outraged by the felling of trees in a field.
The residential association president Rajesh Kumar said one tree estimated to be more than 30 years old was cut down two days ago, without any prior notification by the Ipoh City Council (MBI).
"They didn't inform us that they were coming here to cut the tree in our field. We learnt that they have cut six big trees at Taman Perak, located next to our residential area.
"And they asked the security guard to open the gate and they came in and cut one tree here but they damaged 80 per cent of our field.
"When we asked, who told you to come here and cut the tree, they only said our boss told us to do so," he said.
He added that the residents hoped the city council would clarify the matter.
"And now the field is a mess. We want to know what are their reasons and why did they cut down our tree, we don't understand," said Rajesh who has been living there since 2013.
Another resident, Lee Chee Seng, 71 said residents were unhappy as the tree had provided shade for years.
"Those houses at the back lane get direct sunlight and the tree provided shade to them. We thought they would trim the tree, instead they cut it down.
"They had also not cleaned up after the job and the tree trunks and branches are still lying there," he said adding that there were 62 houses in the residential area.
Another resident who refused to be named said the tree was planted in 1991 when the houses here were being built.
"The tree is part of our life here. They cut one tree here and we have another four huge trees in the field. We hope they won't cut down the rest.
"I want to ask the council: Why did they cut it down and damage our field?
"The local council didn't even cut the grass on the field, members of the community would do so, especially those who live near the field," she said.
Ipoh Timur member of parliament Howard Lee Chuan How said MBI must review its decision to fell trees, and allocate more resources to maintenance of trees.
"While I acknowledge the valid complaints of residents regarding some larger trees needing regular maintenance to avoid accidents, the wholesale felling of decades-old trees is unacceptable and concerning.
"Various arguments from ecological benefits, climate change mitigation, heat island management, air quality improvement to water management should be considered before felling any trees," he said when contacted today.
At press time, requests for comment from MBI have not been answered.
