Chopping of trees along highway angers folk

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MOTORISTS who drive past a particular stretch of Shah Alam along the Federal Highway would have noticed that some trees have been cut with only the trunks standing on the site known as Bulatan Darul Ehsan.

The site is visible as one heads towards the Persiaran Sultan intersection from the Federal Highway, to get to either the Shah Alam commercial area in Section 14 or the Shah Alam industrial area in Section 15.

The trees have been cut to the trunks and construction debris can still be seen piled up at the site.

End of the road: A sign for the new highway, with the stumps in the background.

According to Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) public relations officer Shahrin Ahmad, the barren trees are due to work that is being carried out by a contractor appointed by Projek Lintasan Shah Alam Sdn Bhd (Prolintas), the concessionaire for the Kemuning-Shah Alam Highway (LKSA).

It was reported that the 14.7km LKSA would link the Federal Highway to Kota Kemuning.

“The contractor had been topping the trees — a landscaping method of cutting trees to the trunk — as part of the highway construction process,” Shahrin said.

“MBSA has been made to understand that remedial and beautification work will be carried out once the highway is completed early next year.”

Malaysian Consumer Advisory Association chairman M. Varatharajoo said whoever was building the highway should have consulted the relevant authorities before resorting to such a drastic measure of cutting the trees.

“What they did shows that there is no concern for the people or the environment.

“If more trees are removed, there will be fewer green lungs,” he said.

Describing the sight of the barren trees as “very ugly” and “like a war zone”, Varatharajoo said it would also take time for the leaves to regrow.

“Landscaping is an important step.

“All developers and contractors should consider this as a vital element before, during and after they complete their projects,” he said.

Alora and Mediterranean Apartments Residents Association secretary Robert Phang questioned the reason behind the removal of all the leaves, leaving behind only the tree trunks.

“It makes the area look unsightly, particularly for those who drive along the Federal Highway,” he said.

“Something should be done to beautify the area immediately, instead of letting it look like a burnt ground.”