Anxious over telco towers

Residents at Kimberly Street voicing their discomfort over the telecommunication structures (background).

Article in http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/7/7/north/4254212&sec=North

Tuesday July 7, 2009

MORE than 300 people living in Kimberly Street in George Town are urging the authorities to dismantle two illegal telecommunication structures that were erected on top of two buildings there.

Their representative Khoo Chin Hock, 78, said they were worried about the potential health hazard caused by radio waves emitted from the towers.

“There were at least seven cases of cancer in the area and we suspect that it has something to do with the structures.

“We have complained to the Penang Municipal Council but to no avail,” he said during a peaceful demonstration on Friday by residents holding banners voicing their objection to the towers.

Council building department representative Yew Tung Seang who was present said one of the structures was approved in 2003 and the other a year later.

“There is a requirement since 2004 that parties which put up these structures must renew their annual permits. This has not been done.

“As such, the two structures are considered illegal under Section 70 of the Street, Drainage And Building Act 1974,” he said.

Yew said the council had served a notice to the telecommunication companies this week to remove the structures within a month.

“If they failed to do so, we will serve them a final notice for the structures to be removed within 24 hours. If they still refused to comply, the council will dismantle the towers,” he said.

State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the council encouraged telecommunication companies to share towers.

But, he said the “visual impact” would cause emotional discomfort for nearby residents.

Chow said even though the World Health Organisation had said that radio frequency waves had no direct impact on health, many people were still not convinced.