We have to preserve these old rain trees - and it is odd that in Ipoh, the UMNO-led BN appointed City Council is going to chop down 30 of the 300 trees because it is 'dangerous'. I really want to see that study that they are talking about. Was it done by the tree insurance company (or some company linked to it)? Was it done by a credible environmental body? Are the trees to be cut down really dangerous or do they have to go because they are in the way of some project??? So, disclose the study to the public ....and more importantly get the feedback of the local community on whether to chop down this old tree....or preserve it.
To protect a tree, you really do not have to insure the tree. What insurance is this? Critical illness? Insurance against 'acts of god' or vandalism? Is it not just wasting people's money by giving it to some 'insurance company'. To protect the tree, just use a law - or gazette it. A proper notice be placed - and maybe even some protective fencing, etc.
Roshidi said the purpose of insuring the trees was to prevent people indiscriminately cutting them.
I wonder whether this whole issue about insuring 4 trees was really a strategy to cover-up the chopping of 30 trees. An attempt to show them as 'environmental friendly' - when they really are not and the real object was to get rid of the 30 trees, which maybe some are in the way of certain projects. It would have been too obvious if all 30 were in the way - so maybe some innocent trees may have to be chopped down to hide the real intention of cutting down old trees. I wonder how one old tree is more dangerous than another old tree - Maybe the worry is that the branches may fall on someone, some car, some vehicle...? But would that not be the case for all trees...unless they are cordoned off from the public.
Insurance - maybe the insurance should be for persons who may be hurt by reason of falling branches, etc. People should not be required to sue to be compensated. The insurance should not be for the tree - but for people.
Four raintrees here will be insured by the City Council – a first in Malaysia – after they were found to be worth about RM1mil each.
If one tree was about RM1 million - I am certain that the 30 trees that they want to chop down is certainly worth at least RM15 million.
Roshidi said the study also found over 30 trees to be dangerous and he had instructed them to be removed.
When will the trees be removed? Soon it seem - they are just relying on that study and the people are not being consulted. Let's protect the old raintrees trees of Ipoh and stop the chopping down of the 30 trees...
IPOH: Four raintrees here will be insured by the City Council – a first in Malaysia – after they were found to be worth about RM1mil each.
Datuk Bandar Datuk Roshidi Hashim said the value of the trees was determined under the Thyre Tree Valuation, developed by Australian Peter Thyre in 1984.
The factors which determine the value of a tree are its quality, aesthetics and people’s view about it. Its “social value” is also taken into consideration. The trees must also be at least 50 years old and of a certain diameter.
The four raintrees to be insured are at least five-storeys high with a diameter of at least 20m.
Seeing green: Some of the many raintrees that can be found at the D.R. Seenivasagam Park in Ipoh. — SAIFUL BAHRI / The Star
“Three are located in D.R. Seenivasagam Park and the other at Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah (Tiger Lane),” Roshidi said yesterday.
The trees will be insured once they are gazetted next year.
After chairing the council’s full board meeting, Roshidi said the council had conducted a study on 300 trees along Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Jalan Datuk Onn Jaffar, D.R. Seenivasagam Park, Ipoh Garden and Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab.
Roshidi said the purpose of insuring the trees was to prevent people indiscriminately cutting them.“It is also to protect the council against public liability claims in case these trees fall on people,” he he said.
Roshidi said the study also found over 30 trees to be dangerous and he had instructed them to be removed.“But rest assured, new trees will be planted to replace those that were chopped down,” he added.- Star, 14/12/2010, Four raintrees valued RM1mil each to be insured by City Council
For Charles Hector, anything done by BN is WRONG in his opinion. Only Pakatan can do good. This is a man whom the judgment is always blurred by his hatred against BN.
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