KUCHING, May 19: Residents of Lorong Batu Kawa 3C are protesting the installation of a new cell tower in the residential area.
According to the residents, they were not consulted by the authorities nor was there any dialogue held between relevant parties and the residents to address any concerns the residents might have.
“Yesterday, our team met with the residents and listened to their plight. The residents embarked on collecting signatures from all the other residents to protest the construction of the said tower right in the middle of their residential area.
“We will assist the residents in submitting the petition to the relevant authorities,” said Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chief Chong Chieng Jen in a press statement today.
Chong who is also the Padungan assemblyman said the residents’ main concern is the risk to their health posed by long-term and constant exposure to radiation and electromagnetic waves emitted from the transmission equipment to be attached to the said tower in future when it is in use.
Aside from that, he said the residents are also concerned that the perceived health risk will also potentially lower the area’s economic value.
This is not the first time the DAP team had urged the authorities to at least engage with residents through dialogue before any planned installation of a new cell tower in residential areas.
“A win-win situation for both parties as both sides are able to voice their point of view on the matter.
“As such, I call upon the State government to respect the residents’ wishes in the area and immediately stop the construction of the said telco tower,” said the Stampin MP. — DayakDaily
