HISTORY was made when the historic city of Malacca decided to crack down hard on a development company bereft of any sense of ecological balance. The City Council of Historic Malacca (MBMB) slapped a fine of nearly RM1 million on the company for daring to cut down 19 trees that were more than 30 years old. It would not be a surprise if the offender was taken aback because, thus far, cutting down trees to make way for the concrete jungle has been done with impunity throughout the country. Beautiful trees are removed without so much as a by-your-leave leaving stark open spaces made ready for ugly buildings in areas already dense from over development. The initiative by the MBMB is, therefore, to be lauded and emulated elsewhere because preserving existing green lungs of urban centres is the most urgent undertaking city councils can tackle.
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