Bukit Gasing trees partially sawn by vandals, pose a danger (4.5.17)

Gasing Gerakan

Healthy trees were partially sawed and left to fall at the Bukit Gasing Educational Forest in Bukit Gasing which can be dangerous to visitors.

TREES are being partially sawn at the Bukit Gasing Educational Forest, posing a danger to hikers and nature lovers, and people are asking the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to take action, including hiring rangers to protect the area.

Gerakan Bukit Gasing state constituency coordinator Chai Ko Thing, together with community group Friends of Bukit Gasing, lodged a police report over the matter at the Petaling Jaya District Police Headquarters, yesterday.

“We do not know who is behind these acts but we want them stopped,” said Chai, adding the forest should be safeguarded.

“In November, Friends of Bukit Gasing lodged the first police report as some trees had been chopped down. In January, they sent a letter to the mayor and requested a meeting, but they have not received any feedback,” said Chai.

Friends of Bukit Gasing chairman Datuk Dr Lim Thuang Seng said larger trees were partially sawed and left to fall on their own.

“This has happened to hundreds of trees. This is dangerous to those visiting the hill,” said Dr Lim, adding MBPJ should view the matter seriously.

(From left) Friends of Bukit Gasing member Mike Wong, vice-chairman Datuk Nick Peterson, Chai and Dr Lim looking at the police report that they had lodged over the vandalism of trees in Bukit Gasing.

“Ideally, we would like the forest to be guarded by rangers before more trees are vandalised and the hill suffers irreparable damage,” he said.

Dr Lim added the secondary forest had an abundance of flora and fauna.

“Many people visit the place for recreational and educational purposes,” said Dr Lim, who was the former Bukit Gasing assemblyman and state executive councillor.

He called on the council to do an inventory and come up with a sustainable plan for the forest.

“If it is necessary, the council should close the hill to visitors and work with the forestry department to rehabilitate it,” he said.

Lim urged Bukit Gasing visitors to look out for those behaving suspiciously and report to the police or MBPJ if they have any evidence of vandalism.

When contacted, councillor Derek Fernandez said he had raised the matter with Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohd Azizi Mohd Zain and at the council’s full board meeting.

“The council should utilise the auxiliary police or engage a private security firm to guard the forest.”

He added Bukit Gasing had numerous entrance and exit points, which made surveillance of the area more challenging.