By Abang Mangkin

In an amazing turnaround, the MBPJ is being asked by the state government to take the lead in regreening Petaling Jaya. If this directive by the Selangor Menteri Besar is seriously implemented, it can only be celebrated by PJ folk who have for some time now had to contend with searing heat with nary a sapling to offer shade.

For some years now, the PJ council has for reasons unknown, been exacting a hostile offensive against trees. How often have you driven through your favourite stretch of road expecting to see a beautiful arch of green, only to find stumps and felled branches? Mystified and frustrated is how I feel. Trees along main roads are routinely maimed, disfigured or completely reduced to a stump. If the worry is that such trees are likely to be struck by lightning and fall on a pedestrian or vehicle, perhaps someone had better investigate a better way of pruning trees to avoid this.

How is it that Singapore manages to boast impressive rainforest trees with breathtaking canopies along its major highways and suburban roads without viewing them as a threat! Clearly the city council over there knows something about maintaining trees that MBPJ really needs to find out.

In the press report from the recent MBPJ Full Board meeting, in the Star Metro section (Saturday, March 31 2007), it was reported that seedlings of the Petaling tree once found in abundance in this area, would be sourced for new housing developments and residents’ associations to use in replanting. I can only say, thank goodness that FRIM kept these species in its living store because the good old Petaling tree has been pratically eradicated. Treated little better than a harmful weed.

I realise it is important to be hopeful about where Petaling Jaya is headed as a city, and initiatives like this one should be lauded, no matter how overdue.

But why is it so hard to shake the sense of cynicism that this is just another gimmick or half-baked plan. I do hope that I am wrong. I have a lot of faith in the residents’ associations as they have the motivation and conviction to do their part. To all the RAs out there, “Grab those seedlings and lets put them in the ground before someone changes their mind!”