Felling trees at Rifle Range Flats

I received complaints by the residents of Rifle Range Flats and called a press conference at Rifle Range Flats on 2-10-07.

The issue was on the tree felling directed by the State Assemblyman of Kebun Bungah. It was reported the State Assemblyman has directed his agent to chop off more than 50 trees at a slope at Rifle Range Flats.

I cited Section 32H of the Town and Country Planning Act which prohibits any action to fell a tree of more than 0.8m in girth (circumference) without the permission of the local council.

Obviously, the State Assemblyman did not apply for such permission.
There are more than 10 trees which meet the 0.8meter which was chopped off.

Maximum fine for such offence is RM100,000.00 or three months jail sentence or both.

I call on the State Assemblyman to re-plant double the number of the trees.

打枪埔山林树木被砍光　火箭促柯为雄双倍栽还
二零零七年十月二日 晚上十一时三十分

（槟城2日讯）破坏林木的行为不容姑息！行动党促请植物园区州议员柯为雄亡羊补牢，栽种双倍的树木来拯救整片被砍伐的打枪埔山林。

在打枪埔太极十八式组织会员们的投诉下，槟州行动党宣传秘书黄汉伟律师及升旗山联委会主席郑雨周于周二下午带领传媒巡视有关山坡林木后，如此表示。

黄汉伟指出，在2001年乡区及城市规划法令第35H条文下，凡树干圆周长达0.8米（约31.5英寸）或以上的树木，不管是政府或私人产业，除非获得市政局的批准，否则不得自行砍伐。任何人或任何单位如要砍树，一律必须先向市政局申请，并由市政局派人侦察，砍树理由充足，才会给予批准。除非有关树木是在极度紧急危险民众安全或枯萎的情况之下则另作别论。

黄律师说，根据条令，树干圆周的计算，是从地面上的0.5米高度算起。任何人士触犯上述法令，最高罚款不超过10万令吉，或监禁3个月，或两者兼施。

他续说，一眼望去，符合上述条令保护的树木起码都有整10棵。他对于当地人民代议士的决定感到遗憾，并认为他曾经担任几届槟岛市议员，更应该非常清楚有关条令及环保的重要性。

郑雨周遗憾　为小撮人损民众利益
行动党升旗山区主席郑雨周遗憾的表示，原本山坡上的青葱树林带给附近运动的男女老少遮荫和清新的空气。如今为了一小撮人士的利益，把树木都砍掉了，置打枪埔民众利益不顾，也造成水土流失的潜在危机。
有鉴于此，行动党促请环保局关注打枪铺山坡林木被乱砍乱伐的事件，也促请柯为雄州议员亡羊补牢，在一片光秃秃的山坡上栽种双倍的林木来弥补其过失。