KUCHING: A telecommunication (telco) tower being built right in the centre of a neighbourhood is drawing flak from many quarters.
One such voice of discontent is Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei who is demanding that the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) answer two questions: Why is another telco tower being erected in this area even though there are already two existing towers within a radius of one kilometre? And, why erect it in the middle of a residential area?
“It is even within 30 metres of one of the houses, I believe this is not in accordance with the standard, whereby the telco tower should be built away from schools and residential houses,” he told reporters at the telco tower site near the entrance of Jalan Jambu Lorong 9 on Lot 1399 yesterday.
Wong further said there have been no complaints of insufficiency of coverage, and that no notice from SMA was given to residents before work to build the tower started.
“Before SMA answers these questions, all construction work has to be stopped first. We do not want to have a public outcry. Since so many residents have come out to object this, the government should listen to the people,” he said.
Wong said permits or licences should not be issued simply for the sake of profit-making. “While profit can be made with the erection of another telco tower, it should not be done at the expense of the health of members of the public,” he added.
According to Hwong Haw Hing, who claimed to represent the housing area, piling work commenced on Monday (July 8) and completion is expected within a week or two.
Thus far, 23 residents have signed the petition opposing the construction of the telco tower, some of whom were present during the press conference.
