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The developer of a commercial property, which is coming up at the junction between Jalan Tuaran and Jalan Teluk Likas, has been asked to be mindful about the wellbeing of two “pokok ujan-ujan (rain trees)” in this part of Likas.

A spokeswoman for the agency’s Landscaping Department said the company was in the process of widening the section of Jalan Teluk Likas where the trees were growing.

“We called on the management to be more actively involved when it came to safeguarding the trees from the impact of the expansion effort,” she said. “Protection zones should be set up around each of the trees to ensure that no part of their structure is damaged as a result of the roadwork.”

City Hall would be keeping tabs on the goings-on taking place on Jalan Teluk Likas, according to her, to determine if the developer was complying with its request. She said a letter to this affect had been sent to the firm.

This action was prompted by a Likas ratepayer’s misgivings that one of the rain trees could be in danger of being chopped down, after seeing ‘X’s painted on parts of its tree trunk.

He said several other trees on either side of the road bore the same markings. His grievance was forwarded to the agency.

The spokeswoman said an inspection was made of Jalan Teluk Likas on the same day that Hotline contacted City Hall.

She said Landscaping staff spoke to a contractor involved with the roadwork during this check.

“The contractor was informed about the two rain trees which lay in the path of the project. One of these trees was the one which had caught the complainant’s eye. The individual assured us that the trees would be preserved and would not be cut down.”

She said the agency’s personnel provided the contractor with pointers on how to go about protecting the wellbeing of both trees.

Another staff with the Department returned a day later to put some security tape around the trunk of the affected trees.

The spokeswoman said the two rain trees, located near Spinnaker Suites, were estimated to be more than 50 years old.

She explained that the Federal Ministry of Local Government and Housing had categorised the trees as “heritage trees” almost two decades ago.

“This status was conferred by ISA Certified Arborists [‘Arboris Terlatih’] all the way back in 2009.

“This was done as part of the ‘Projek Pemuliharaan Pokok Matang Bernilai Warisan (Project to Rehabilitate Mature Trees with Heritage status)’ sponsored by the National Landscaping Department (NLD) under the Ministry.”

City Hall has previously warned that those who hurt or damage any “heritage tree” around the State Capital would be liable for the economic value attached to this greenery.

At the time, spokesman said NLD arborists determined the monetary cost of each heritage tree.

“The ‘ringgit’ value set by the NLD for the affected tree will be used as the basis for the compensation which will be sought from the vandals,” he said. 

He said City Hall adhered to the Ministry’s guidelines when it came to deciding which trees were worthy of this status.

“Such trees are generally over three decades old, with a trunk measuring more than 18 cm in diameter. They can be of an indigenous or exotic variety and either have been planted by dignitaries or have economic value.” 

The spokesman said City Hall enacted preservation efforts on “heritage trees” once every six months.

“Our arborist checks on the well-being of each tree, including signs that they may have been damaged.”

While the two rain trees in Likas were considered to be City Hall assets, the stretch – along which they were growing – was not maintained by the agency, according to the spokeswoman.

“A check of our records shows that Jalan Teluk Likas is not listed in our road- register.”

A check with the Public Works Department (PWD) revealed that the stretch was under its jurisdiction.

A PWD spokesman said the road had been handed over to the developer for the duration of the roadwork.

“The expansion effort is part of the development plan (DP) submitted by the company which we approved,” he said.

“The DP also includes refurbishing the overhead bridge on Jalan Tuaran, which is near the commercial property which is being built.”