Jagdeep said two large cranes had blocked both sides of the main road, cutting off access for residents from Sea Range Tower and Seaview Garden.

“I have even frustrated citizens who called my office to voice their grievances with me, and an angry woman who lodged her complaint to me in person at Komtar,” he said in a statement.

He acknowledged that the closure was necessary for safe pruning, but it caused significant disruption.

“Imagine the inconvenience and danger posed to the elderly folks and children who had no choice but to walk along the hilly path either to leave or to reach their homes,” he said.

“My two youngest children were among them when my wife couldn’t even leave the house to fetch them back from school.

“How about the others, especially the elderly folks? What if there’s an ambulance and it cannot access the road to reach the victim?”

The Datok Keramat assemblyman stressed that as an elected representative, it is his duty to speak up when residents’ daily lives are disrupted.

“I apologise on behalf of the state for the disruption to residents, and we will ensure this does not happen again,” he said.

Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow later said the state government has met with the contractor involved to seek clarification, and to apologise to the workers involved.

Bernama reported him as stressing that emotional intelligence is important for elected representatives, especially when dealing with situations that affect local communities.

Chow also urged contractors to review roadwork procedures, saying they should never completely close a road without providing alternative routes as it significantly inconveniences residents.

FMT has reached out to the Penang Island City Council for comment.