KUALA LUMPUR – Commuters and pedestrians in the city are urging authorities to take more proactive measures to address hazardous trees, following a fatal incident along Jalan Sultan Ismail yesterday.
Ramya a/p Kesavan, a 23-year-old insurance executive in the area, expressed her fear of using public transport after the incident.
“The tree falling incident has made me apprehensive about using public transport, especially the monorail to Bukit Bintang for lunch,” she said.
“With the area usually crowded during lunchtime, I now exercise caution when passing under large trees. It’s crucial for authorities to ensure everyone’s safety on this road.”
A commuter who identified herself as Siti Nur Athirah, 24, who also works nearby, emphasised the need for better care of trees and plants in the city.
“I hope authorities will prioritise public safety going forward. Assessing the age of trees, especially in heavily trafficked areas like this, is essential. If a tree is too old, it should be considered for removal to prevent potential accidents, particularly with the monorail passing through,” she stated.
Alya Abd Razak, a 28-year-old private sector employee, opted not to drive to work today to help alleviate traffic congestion.
“Assuming the road was closed due to the incident, I refrained from driving to avoid adding to the traffic jam,” she explained.
“The monorail closure significantly impacts traffic, prompting individuals like myself to seek alternative routes.”
Private sector employee, Noor Nadiah Ahmad Azahar, 31, noted the increased travel time due to the monorail closure.
“With the monorail shut, I’ve had to resort to taking the LRT, which extends my travel time,” she said.
“Monitoring the large trees in the city is crucial to preventing future incidents. The hidden root decay could have been a contributing factor to the recent tragedy.”
Yesterday, one person was confirmed dead and two were injured after a massive tree fell along Jalan Sultan Ismail here, near the Shangri-La Hotel.
The 47-year-old man died at the scene of the incident, which also damaged 17 vehicles on Jalan Sultan Ismail.
Following this, four monorail stations – Bukit Nanas, Raja Chulan, Bukit Bintang, and Imbi – were temporarily closed for cleaning and repair work after an uprooted tree smashed onto the monorail track.
Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd said in a statement that the service provider would carry out initiatives for alternative service for commuters to continue their journey to their respective destinations from 6am today (May 8).
The statement added that, to support the alternative services, passengers and commuters can continue their journey using the Rapid Bus shuttle, which will be available for free, and commuters can travel from affected station to station
Similar to the incident yesterday, another uprooted tree fell on Jalan Raja Chulan this morning, causing a massive traffic jam on the road leading into the city centre.
The Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department reported that the incident occurred at approximately 7am with no reports of damage to property or people.
This incident caused significant concern among many people, who expressed their worries about their potential tardiness for work.
Some even asked to work from home. – May 8, 2024