Penang urged to plant new trees before felling those deemed rotten

THE Penang Ratepayers Association has urged the state to plant new trees first before felling those designated as rotten and posing a danger to the public.

Its president, Lee Kim Noor, said the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) means well, but the sight of chopping down big trees does not bode well with ratepayers here, said the former councillor.

Instead, the lawyer suggested that MBPP emulate countries such as Singapore and China, which have taken great pains to salvage trees, even those which are rotting and aged.

"Of course, some trees cannot be saved, but we should hope to reduce the felling of trees instead of the present large-scale exercise," said Lee.

Lee said that in Singapore, there is an extensive passage made to allow the tree roots to access water despite the presence of utilities and cables beneath.

In China, the trees beside pavements are saved through a special pesticide, said Lee.

She said that if there is widespread felling of trees, the council should first grow similar species before chopping the present ones, though they are rotting.

Lee said the huge trees are felled, but in their place, the council is only planting shrubs.

The operation to fell trees is also adding to the congestion on the sensitive road system, overwhelmed by vehicles, pedestrians and now roadworks for ongoing infrastructure upgrades.

Malaysian Nature Society Penang branch adviser D. Kanda Kumar said that many countries have moved away from massive highway expansions, in favour of integrated public transport solutions.

“Trees are not just aesthetic features. They provide vital shade, reduce urban heat, filter air pollutants and support wildlife. With each tree lost, we lose part of our natural defence against climate change and urban stress,” said Kanda, adding that replanting efforts often fall short, not in number but in quality.

Conservationists warned that the cost of progress may be too high, with mature trees – vital to cooling cities and sustaining biodiversity – sacrificed for either development or because they were supposedly rotting.

State local government committee chairman Jason H’ng Mooi Lye said 43,668 trees have been recorded under the Penang Tree Inventory System, a digital platform used by MBPP to manage urban greenery.

“Among them is a rare baobab tree, estimated to be around 150 years old, in Jalan Macalister. It’s one of the oldest and most iconic trees on the island,” he said.

The inventory also provides insights into the age profile of urban trees.

As of now, 446 trees are classified as over-mature, aged between 60 and 100 years, while 3,267 trees fall into the mature category, aged 40 to 60 years. - October 14, 2026.