Section 17 residents oppose telco tower near their homes in PJ

Section 17 residents are protesting the construction of a telecommunications tower near some of their homes.

They claim the authorities have failed to take into account their views before allowing the project.

The residents said the project site, located at a junction along Jalan 17/21, Petaling Jaya, was too close to some homes.

Chan Kam Houn, who was among the 30-odd residents who gathered to protest against the project, said he was alarmed to see heavy machinery at the site earlier this month.

(From left) Chew, Teoh and Chan measuring the distance from the site of the telco tower to the nearest resident’s home. —MARIA IBRAHIM/The Star

“We had not been consulted so we were taken by surprise when we saw workers there.

“They told us a telco tower would be built there,” said Chan, adding that work was halted after a resident called Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).

Petaling Jaya MCA division chief Chew Hian Tat, who organised a press conference on the matter, said that a dialogue should have been held with residents prior to the project.

“We urge the authorities to find another location further away.

“Right now, the distance between the tower and the nearest home is less than 20m,” he said.

Petaling Jaya MCA division youth chief Andy Teoh said Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission under its Communications Infrastructure Planning Guideline 2022 stated that the minimum distance should be 20m.

Chew said over 260 signatures opposing the project had been gathered.

They plan to submit the signatures along with an appeal letter to MBPJ.