In a recent court ruling, Liau Hai Keong, a 55-year-old trader, found himself in legal trouble after he was fined RM4,000 by the magistrate's court for illegally chopping down a 50-year-old Yellow Flame tree (Batai Laut) without permission. The incident, which took place in April this year, highlighted the importance of protecting heritage trees within urban environments.
According to NST, Liau pleaded guilty to the charges read out by the court interpreter before Magistrate Wahidah Zainal Abidin. The charges stated that Liau, a father of four, had cut down a tree with a diameter exceeding 0.8 meters within the jurisdiction of the Kuantan City Council without obtaining the necessary written consent. The offence occurred at Bandar Indera Mahkota around 11 am on April 21.
The charges were brought under Section 35H of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976. This section stipulates that cutting down a tree of such size without permission can result in a maximum fine of RM10,000, imprisonment for up to three months, or both.
Representing the prosecution, Mohammad Nur Hafiz Ramlan emphasized the significance of the Batai Laut tree, known scientifically as Peltophorum pterocarpum. The tree, which is more than half a century old, is considered protected and is under the care of the city council. Nur Hafiz explained that the city council incurs significant expenses to maintain the heritage tree, ensuring it remains healthy and does not decay. The illegal felling of the tree, located along a main road, caused a visual blight and upset many passersby.
Liau's defense, led by Mohd Shuhairi Ziqrul Sapi, pleaded for leniency, citing Liau's financial responsibilities. Shuhairi noted that Liau supports his wife and four children on a monthly income of RM2,000. He added that Liau had shown remorse for his actions and had already paid a compound and faced civil charges from the Kuantan City Council.
"My client has repented and will be careful with his actions in the future," Shuhairi stated. "The accused has already paid a compound and the civil charges initiated by the Kuantan City Council for his action."
Magistrate Wahidah, taking into consideration the circumstances, ordered Liau to pay an RM4,000 fine, with a default sentence of two months in jail if the fine was not paid. Liau subsequently paid the fine.
According to the facts of the case, Liau had instructed individuals to cut down the tree because it was obstructing his business premises. A video of the incident, shared on Facebook, drew public attention and prompted the Kuantan City Council to take action.
Source: NST
