Trees cut until nothing left repeatedly
Published on: Friday, October 04, 2019
THE Penampang District Council has no qualms about “excessive” pruning of ornamental trees (tacomas) situated along the road reserve at Jalan Pintas Donggongon or commonly known as Donggongon Bypass, by the Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) contractor recently.
A concerned member of the public approached Hotline on Sept 30, to voice out his displeasure about the hideous looks of several trees along this stretch as a result of over-cutting of its branches and canopies by the contractor.
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He believes the contractor is happily laughing his way to the bank every few months.
A SESB spokeswoman, when contacted recently, said the Council had no objection as the pruning work was to encourage healthy and vigorous growth of the trees.
“This is because they have identified new shoots have already sprouted on each of these trees during their recent inspection,” she added.
She said it had discussed the matter with a representative from the Council’s Landscape Section recently.
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“We are confident that although the trees were cut in such manner they will still have a healthy growth after this,” she added.
She stressed that the reason its contractor trimmed the trees was mainly due to public safety and its effort to avoid recurring blackouts at many areas there.
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JOHNNY, who lives at the nearby village, said the trees did not seem to have been trimmed but looked “butchered” and is done every half yearly or so until there is no more beauty.
“What is the point of planting those trees at that corner if they bound to be cut everytime so excessively later?,” he asked, adding the contractor might as well remove all the trees there and save the SESB money in pruning them.
He said, ironically, a nearby huge and leafy tree had been spared by the contractor despite its unkempt appearance.
“Why didn’t they cut this tree a stone’s throw away in Jalan Labunda to the stump even though the branches had come in contact with the power lines?,” he asked. He said he is aware many complaints have been made but this particulary tree is not touched at all.
He also said the trees had served good purpose to road users as they provide shade.
He said if cuts are made incorrectly or excessively the trees will become extremely weak and will allow harmful insects to invade the stems.
“Surely taxpayers’ money will be used to replace those trees if they die later,” he said, who described the contractor’s action as hacking the trees rather than pruning.
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