MBPJ gets tough on illegal telco towers

COMPANIES that have installed telecommunication towers without planning approval have better remove the structures themselves or the Petaling Jaya City Council MBPJ will do it for them and charge for the job.

So far, one company has taken the initiative to take down two telco towers a day before the MBPJ enforcement personnel were scheduled to tear them down.

Tetuan Packet One Network (M) Sdn Bhd saved itself from the embarrassment when it took down two telco towers in Jalan SS9A/2, Kampung Seri Setia.

According to MBPJ Building Control Department assistant director Ismathinoon Rahman, the telco towers in Kampung Seri Setia had to be taken down as the company did not submit application to the council even though the structures conformed to the guidelines.

The case was highlighted by Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San following complaints from the nearby residents.

According to Ismathinoon, a demolition notice was first issued on Nov 12 last year. The company made several appeals following that but they were rejected. The MBPJ then suggested an alternative site but the company turned down the offer.

“Telco towers can be approved so long as the companies submit the required documents, have not receive objection from residents and adhere to the guidelines set by the Housing and Local Government Ministry and the Selangor government. Approval will be given in the form of a one-year temporary permit,” he said.

The documents required include the building plan, an engineering report, an insurance policy and permits from Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and the Konsortium Jaringan Selangor.

Ismathinoon said the MBPJ had also launched a programme to remove telco towers that failed to comply with the guidelines.

According to Ismathinoon, of the 241 telco tower sites in the city, 48 have been found to have violated the guidelines and they will be given demolition notices.

Meanwhile, there are applications for 87 new sites.

Ismathinoon said his team would take action against one telco tower in Jalan Gasing within a month while 10 others were under close scrutiny.