Local government committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said authorities were investigating the incident and monitoring other trees to ensure they were healthy and growing well.

Motor repairer Yong Geeng Huei was pinned in his car when the 10m-high tree came crashing down after a downpour.

The tree was transplanted in 2018 to make way for road expansion. A botanist had told FMT it appeared the roots had been heavily trimmed, which could be a likely cause of it falling.

Jagdeep said Yong’s family was free to sue the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) for negligence as it was their right.

However, he said it was unnecessary for former Tanjong MP Ng Wei Aik to ask MBPP mayor Yew Tung Seang to resign over the incident.

“The mayor did not cause the uprooting of the tree,” he said, adding that proper procedures were carried out when trees were transplanted.

He said the council maintained close to 58,000 trees on the island and carried out regular maintenance on them. Resistograph devices were used to measure their health and a tree hazard evaluation was done before any transplantation was carried out.

Jagdeep said the raintree that fell on Perak Road was last maintained on Jan 31 and certified to be healthy.

Jagdeep said he had ordered the mayors of both Penang Island and Seberang Perai councils to conduct a safety audit on all transplanted trees.

According to Seberang Perai city councillor P David Marshel, 250 trees have been allowed to be transplanted on the mainland since 2019.