The activities of cutting and shortening overgrown branches by the workers of Penang City Hall have been a norm of daily panoramic view along the major roads in town and this cutting exercises on major roads have impeded the flow of traffic and create inconveniences to the road-users. Nonetheless, these exercises will continue as long as the present species of trees are not changed. Not only the ever-growing branches of the problematic trees create laborious cutting work but also its withering leaves require constant clearing labour of the council workers. Therefore, to save cost and also avoid controversial arguments on the environmental issues contradicting many banners with slogan of Greener and Cleaner Penang, it is high time for the local council to plant or replant or replace the present species of trees with less branches and falling leaves.
As the name of the island implied, Pulau Pinang derives its name from the name of Areca Catechu or Pinang Palm. However, ironically, except for few places such as Codrington Avenue and Esplanade playground, we can hardly find any prominent proliferation of these Pinang trees within the town area. Pinang trees, one of the essential features of Penang signatures, should be considered an ideal choice of substitution for the present species as they are of pinnate compound leaves without any branches. Incidentally, their leaves are not straightly or upwardly protruding but growing downwardly and this may help to save the cutting and trimming exercises being conducted regularly by the local council. Secondly, the leaves of Pinang trees do not easily wither and fall and this would keep the roads free of scattering leaves.
Prioritizing planting of Pinang trees is not only apt to the name of “ Pulau Pinang” but also nostalgic of its agricultural heritage.
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