‘No one applied to erect towers’

There are more than 100 communication towers set up within the municipality.

MPSJ president Ahmad Fuad Ismail said as far as the council was concerned, all the towers were illegal, adding that the council had to act due to public complaints.

He said the council had so far removed three such towers, but would cease such operations pending guidelines to be issued by the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

Ahmad Fuad said the council had already issued notices to the telecommunications companies to remove 115 other towers.

He said some of the notices were issued last year.

“The violations range from (the towers) being too close to homes, exceeding the allowed height and the companies failing to apply for MPSJ approval,’’ he added.

He said the council had given the companies six months to apply for licences.

He said the council realised that many mobile phone users complained of poor reception and that the towers were important to boost service.

At the same time, he said shopowners rented space out to the telecommunication companies to earn some money.

“But we have to take into consideration the complaints from residents living nearby that the (electro magnetic) waves affect their health,’’ he added.

Ahmad Fuad said the ministry would hold a meeting today and the council hoped to get the detailed guidelines “to settle all arguments once for all”.

He said the council hoped to seek clarification on the installation of towers on apartment blocks, condominiums and shop apartment buildings to boost mobile phone services.

Ahmad Fuad said once the ministry revealed the guidelines, the council would study the location of all such towers in the municipality and start taking action.

“We will honour the six months notice that we have given these companies and remove the towers that will have to go,’’ he added.

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