TOWER DEMOLISHED

Tower demolished

Residents rejoice

NG SUZHEN

Thursday, April 30th, 2009 16:02:00

WHEN THUMBS-DOWN MEANS THUMBS-UP: Residents of Section2, Wangsa Maju delighted with City Hall’s move to remove illegal telecommunications tower

SAYING goodbye to a detested construction has never been a happier occasion for residents of Section 2, Wangsa Maju. Yesterday, they watched an illegal telecommunication tower being demolished till the wee hours of the morning.

The demolition had begun on Tuesday evening. The work was done by the owner of the tower.

“We are happy that it has finally been taken down,” said Lim Cheng Hock, 50, a resident at Section 2. Residents became concerned when the tower’s construction, at the side of Jalan 4/27A, began in February.

Public outrage began pouring in after residents learned that a telco tower was being built. Many were concerned that it would pose a cancer risk due to its proximity to the residential area. Only after it was built was it discovered that the construction of the tower was illegal.

Wangsa Maju Member of Parliament Wee Choo Keong and a representative from Datuk Yew Teong Look’s MCA service centre were also present at the site. Residents had approached them in the hope that the problem could be resolved.

Earliar this month, both parties had written to City Hall, questioning the presence of the tower. After conducting investigations, a notice was put up by City Hall on April 20, ordering the tower to be demolished. However, City Hall refused to name the owner of the tower.