KLANG Royal City Council (MBDK) has removed 8,850 illegal banners, bunting and posters – placed on trees, lamp posts, traffic lights and road signs – so far this year.
MBDK Corporate Communi-cations Department director Norfiza Mahfiz said most of these advertisements involved property sale, transport rental, household renovations and moneylending services.
“Out of these illegal advertisements, 4,713 were unlicensed moneylenders or ‘ah long’ posters,” she said after an operation to remove illegal bunting near Jalan Tepi Sungai in the city.
Norfiza said 60 phone numbers of loan sharks had been handed over to Malaysia Communications and Multi-media Commission (MCMC), which could terminate them under Section 263 (2) of Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
She said MBDK had a unit that went out each day to remove unlicensed advertisements, which marred the royal city’s image and damaged trees.
“When a report is made about illegal advertisements, our enforcement team will respond within an hour or two,” said Norfiza.
Last year, MBDK removed 11,587 illegal banners and bunting, including 5,087 loan shark-related advertisements, with 89 phone numbers referred to MCMC.
Norfiza said the city council had also issued compounds to 117 businesses in relation to illegal advertisements up to July, following 98 operations.
“Advertisement By-law 2007 states that no person may erect any advertising sign or banner without prior written approval of MBDK.
“Owners of illegal advertisements could also be compounded up to RM1,000,” she said.
Norfiza said flagrant disregard for the by-law also placed motorists at risk.
“Bunting tied to poles at traffic intersections obstruct motorists’ view.”
She added that these advertisements also hampered the view of pedestrians attempting to cross roads.
