MPSJ to act against companies which refuse to dismantle towers

THE Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) will act against companies which refuse to dismantle telecommunication towers installed illegally above shoplots and other buildings.

Besides taking legal action, council president Ahmad Fuad Ismail said the council would initiate a string of measures to “inconvenience” the companies concerned.

He said the council would blacklist companies hauled to court and would not entertain their applications for licences for facilities to be set up within the municipality.

Ahmad Fuad said the council was unable to remove the structures on its own because it did not have the expertise to do so.

He said the council also did not have the space to store the dismantled structures.

“If the companies remove the structures themselves, they will be allowed to keep the equipment,’’ he added.

It may cost the council up to RM30,000 to dismantle a single telecommunication tower.

Ahmad Fuad explained that there were two types of structures used by mobile phone companies to boost reception service – one which used antennas and the other which transmitted microwaves.

He said studies had shown that the microwave emissions were not dangerous to humans due to the low-levels involved.

The MPSJ chief said residents had criticised the council for allowing the structures to be put up within 150m from homes.

He clarified that the council had never given permission to mobile phone companies to put up the structures.

“I want to explain to the residents that most of the structures were put up without our approval, and we never allowed any of the companies involved to put it up so close to homes,’’ he added.

He said according to the state government’s policy, all mobile phone service companies should apply for licences to put up such structures, adding that a company had been engaged by the state government to liaise with local authorities on such applications.

Ahmad Fuad said the council had given all mobile phone companies three months to apply for the licences, but this was only for structures which followed the regulations set by the council.

“If the structures flout the regulations, for instance by not adhering to the 150m distance requirement, it must be taken down as soon as possible,’’ he added.

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