Remove towers, MPPP urged

Article in thestar.com
Wednesday April 14, 2010

SEVERAL residents of a housing area in Halaman Tembaga, Island Park in Penang are calling the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) to dismantle two telecommunication towers located inclose proximity to their homes. They are claiming that such installations are health hazards.

A resident, Tang May Lee, 62, said she had been experiencing dizzy spells in the last couple of years.

“My condition has worsened this year and I need medication for my sickness. I went for all sorts of medical check-ups and doctors had cleared me of serious illness.

“I believe it is the electromagnetic waves that have caused these discomforts,” she said.

Another resident, Alex Lim, 64, who lives at Taman Greenview Apartment, said his wife also complained of giddiness.

“We’ve lived here for 12 years but the telco towers were put up in recent years. One was dismantled recently but two others are still working.

“We’re concerned about the long term impact on our health,” he said.

Penang Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Protection Alliance medical advisor Dr Thor Teong Gee said his organisation welcomed the legalisation of the towers but their main concern was the distance as some of them were installed near residential areas.

“In other countries, people are discussing EMF and its health risks but many local doctors are not aware of the topic,” he said.

He also said the organisation was not anti-wireless technology nor did they discount the use of mobile phones.

“But we could make it safer to use. For example, build the telco towers far from public areas such as recreation park, schools, hospitals and residential areas,” he said.