AN OLD MAN DEFENDING OLD TREES AT SRI GOMBAK AND THE SURROUNDING AREA

Despite being a Kelantanese, I have lived in Sri Gombak since the early 90s (although have always been here since 80s during school holidays where many of my siblings living around the area)

Since 2001–2012, I stood firm in defending the old shady trees (and green lungs) in Taman Sri Gombak, many over 50 years old, some even older. The common justification for felling them was safety, broken branches posing risks to motorists and pedestrians. But my position has always been simple, if a branch is the issue, prune it, don’t destroy the entire tree.

While we focus heavily on measures like charging 20 sen for plastic bags, believing it helps protect the environment from long-term soil damage, we often overlook a far more immediate and visible impact, the felling of mature trees.

Unfortunately, many of these trees were replaced with smaller species that provide little shade, offering no real protection from the increasing heat. I was often ridiculed for speaking up, perhaps by those who did not fully realise that the environmental consequences we create today will be inherited by our children and grandchildren.

My concern has never been sentimental alone, it is grounded on fact. Mature trees stabilise soil, regulate urban temperatures, support biodiversity, and produce the oxygen we depend on. Removing them without thoughtful planning accelerates environmental degradation and contributes to the very heat we now struggle to endure.

Yes, I understand that felled trees may be repurposed, the timber used, the roots turned into decorative pieces. I have no issue with that. But the real loss is not in the wood, it is in the ecosystem that took decades to grow.

I’ve seen better practices in places like Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya, and Kuala Lumpur, where mature trees are preserved, maintained properly, and even protected during infrastructure development. Some regions go further, imposing heavy penalties for unnecessary tree felling.

What I see now is rapid development in many areas in Sri Gombak and Prima Sri Gombak replacing the very shady trees and “green lungs” that once sustained our surroundings.

I haven't really stopped fighting only mellow down a bit as age catching up with me. I now find myself watching the remaining green lungs and old shady trees around Pinggiran Batu Caves and can’t help but wonder how long they will last. It feels like only a matter of time before someone proposes development, and these mature trees, standing for decades are marked for removal.

This is not just about trees or green lungs. It is about responsibility, foresight, and the legacy we leave behind.