SALAK South Garden residents in Kuala Lumpur fear the health problems a telecommunication tower in Taman Salak South will cause.
Residents Association vice- chairman See Kim Piow said the tower could affect people in the area.
More than 40 residents protested against the telecommunication tower, claiming it was built without consulting the residents.
“The tower is on the Salak South Garden field, just a road across the row of houses there.
“We are furious and worried about the electromagnetic field that might be emitted from the tower.
“It shouldn’t take protests and mobilising politicians to stick up for a community right,” he said, adding that the association had complained to Seputeh member of parliament Teresa Kok.
See said residents had the right to maintain the area without the tower.
“Apparently, the telecommunication company was denied an approval to build a similar tower in Sri Petaling and now, it has put it up at this garden.
“We were informed that the Seputeh MP would bring up this issue in Parliament as a similar tower has been put up in Happy Garden, Kuchai Lama.”
He added that residents had a say in constructions, especially telco towers erected in their area.
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Celcom Axiata Bhd will remove the tower by the first quarter of next year.
It said yesterday that the tower in Salak South Garden was a temporary tower, approved by the local council.
“Celcom Axiata Bhd strives to provide seamless communications to customers, while upholding public safety.
“Celcom is looking at other locations to erect a permanent tower to boost our network coverage in the area and its surroundings.”
It added the removal of the temporary tower would be completed by early next year.
A Kuala Lumpur City Hall spokesman said the tower erected in the area was approved by the authorities.
“The construction of the structure was based on needs and research in terms of population density, network coverage weaknesses and enhancements to technology from operators providing wireless services.
“Each structure to be constructed needs to be referred to City Hall for approval and the structure shall comply with the guidelines given.
“According to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, the average radio frequency (RF) radiation emitted from telecommunication towers in the peninsula is only 0.000093 w/m2, compared with the exposure limits set by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection. The RF radiation level is too low to cause adverse health effects.”
He added that residents could also check with the Malaysian Nuclear Agency on the RF radiation emitted by the tower.