Saying no to telcos

thestar.com.my
Monday August 9, 2010

By WINNIE YEOH

ABOUT 40 residents of the Taman Seri Sari in Relau, Penang, are worried over several telecommunication transmitters that are fixed on shophouses in front of their apartments.

The residents held placards in front of their apartments yesterday to protest against the structures.

Paya Terubong Barisan Nasional coordinator Koh Wan Leong said the residents were concerned that transmitters might be harmful to their health.

He said there were about 2,000 residents staying in 484 apartments at Taman Seri Sari.

Source of concern: A view of the telecommunication towers fixed on shophouses opposite the Taman Seri Sari apartments.

Penang Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Protection Alliance medical advisor Dr Thor Teong Gee, who was also present, said the organisation wanted to highlight the harm of EMF to the local council, state government and also the Federal Govern-ment.

He said according to a guideline by World Health Organisation, a public hearing was needed to consult the stakeholders before any setting up of telecommunication towers or transmitters.

A resident Fan Peng Wai said he had written a letter to the Penang Municipal Council in November last year after the structures were put up and received a reply from the council that the latter would investigate the matter.

“However, when I did not receive anything further from the council, I called up the Licensing Department last week and an officer told me that the structures here are not illegal,” he said.

On Saturday, the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of SJK (C) Shang Wu near Ayer Itam submitted a petition, asking for the local authorities to remove a telecommunication tower opposite the school.

The petition was submitted to state Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow.

PTA representative Ong Bee Lay claimed no public consultation was conducted to erect the tower there.

“We urge you and the authorised parties to heed our call. Please remove the telco structure and show that the Penang Government cares, ” Ong said in a copy of the petition, which was emailed to The Star here.

Chow could not be reached for comment on the matter.