No to telco tower for second time

STAR, Friday May 27, 2011

MORE than 20 residents around Taman Brown in Gelugor, Penang, gathered to protest against a telecommunications tower which was built at one corner of a public park near Lorong Endah Permai 3.

It was a second time that the residents had staged a protest there since Dec 30 last year.

One of the residents, postgraduate student Y.E. Fong, 26, said that action must be taken to rectify the problems faced by the residents there.

“We are not blaming anyone but we want some answers since it has been five months since we last protested, and all the residents here are in the dark,” she said.

Strong message: Barisan Nasional co-ordinators together with Taman Brown residents protesting against the building of the telco tower near the public park in Lorong Endah 3.

 

 

 

Bayan Baru Barisan Nasional co-ordinator David Yim who was present said that during the earlier protest, there was only a tower but now there were also an electrical box near the tower and poles meant for the electrical cables.

“From the looks of it, the voice of the residents has not been heard.

“The residents had also written to the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) in January but until today there is no response,” he said at a press conference at the park yesterday.

Penang Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Protection Alliance medical advisor Dr Thor Teong Gee said that it was not right to build a telco tower before consulting the residents there.

“There is a public park near the tower as well a school not too far away,” he said.

Batu Uban assemblyman S. Rav­eentharan’s personal secretary Francis Xavier said that Raveentharan has already brought the matter up at the monthly district meeting in late January and the matter was at the discussion stage.

State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said that he would look into the matter.

Taman Brown Community Development and Security Committee (JKKK) chairman M. Santha and Batu Uban Barisan Nasional coordinator Goh Kheng Sneah were also present at the site during the protest.