SIBU: The Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) has been asked to prune overgrown trees and trim thickets in Bukit Assek here.
A concerned assemblyman for the area, Joseph Chieng Jin Ek, said the decades old tall trees and overgrown bushes are a safety hazard to residents and road users.
“I hope SMC will take appropriate action on the issue of tall trees and bushes growing close to homes in my constituency,” he said when met by reporters while the tall Banyan trees in Jalan Tiong Hua were being pruned today.
Chieng noted that there are many tall trees in residential areas such as Jalan Tiong Hua and Jalan Hua Kiew.
“These trees are very dangerous to home owners and road users as shown during last April’s freak storm that hit Sibu.
“Fortunately, that time the branches and twigs did not fall on the houses but onto the roads.
“I see that appropriate measures need to be taken by the council in order to prioritise the safety of the residents,” he said.
He said the tall trees also create thick bushes that can attract animals such as snakes and monitor lizards.
“The affected residents are also unable to enjoy sufficient sunlight due to the tall trees,” he said.
Chieng said today’s action to trim the tall Banyan trees in Jalan Tiong Hua was taken in response to multiple complaints from residents in the last 10 years.
