By William Isau
SIBU, April 23: Residents are advised not to plant trees in public parcels of residential neighbourhoods as they could become obstruction and present traffic safety risk, especially to road users.
Instead, Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting encouraged residents to plant trees in designated green spaces for residential neighbourhoods like gardens and parks to contribute to Sarawak’s environmental conservation efforts.
“Trees planted in residential neighbourhoods, especially on the roadsides, can invite dangers to vehicles. Without good maintenance, tree branches and twigs will grow long and break and could hit passing vehicles, thereby posing a potential hazard on road safety.
“It is for these reasons that the Council prohibits people from planting trees outside their fences and in their neighbourhoods. We want to protect everyone so we don’t want this to happen,” he told the press when speaking at a Tree Planting Campaign in conjunction with Love Earth Day 2022.
Ting pointed out that the Council is now intensifying efforts to plant trees in open areas to promote greenery as well as to enhance public awareness about planting trees in the right and suitable places.
He also gave assurance that every tree within SMC jurisdiction will always be pruned and maintained to avoid any danger to the public.
“The Council, through non-governmental organisations (NGOs), associations and clubs, also encouraged more tree planting initiatives in open or green spaces available in housing areas or in public parks.
“This will enable us to take care of the trees by carrying out maintenance work from time to time unlike those planted outside the house’s fences because they are not planted by the Council,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Tree Planting Campaign chairman Councillor Ling Hua Wee said they are targeting to plant 100 trees in the coming months around the town as part of the Council’s effort to make Love Earth Day a success.
“We are planting trees in every public park under the jurisdiction of SMC, including its open spaces. Besides, we also want to educate the public to plant trees at the right and safer places to conserve greenery in the neighborhoods,” he added.— Dayakdaily
