DAP Youth: Stop building billboards in PJ
Bede HongPublished: Aug 1, 2006 6:07 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) should stop the construction of billboards in view of complaints that several may pose danger to public safety, said DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy).
It wants the city council to consider the hazards to pedestrians and motorists, as some structures are located in unsuitable areas.
The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) should stop the construction of billboards in view of complaints that several may pose danger to public safety, said DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy).
National assistant publicity secretary Lau Weng San said a dialogue should be conducted with residents before billboards are constructed.
Lau, who is also DAP Petaling Jaya Action Team chairperson, said PJ Mayor Ahmad Termizi Puteh must keep the public updated through weekly reports on progress made in demolishing illegal billboards.
The details should include the size of the billboards as well as names of the companies that have built them, he said at a press conference today.
Although MBPJ is facing strong criticism from residents on issues related to how the council handles billboard concessionaires, several new billboards have been built.
"Some of the billboards occupy pedestrian walkways and are too close to the main roads. This not only endangers public safety, but is also not in accordance with a 'safe city concept' that is people-oriented," he said.
The press conference was held in Jalan Universiti, Petaling Jaya, to show an example of a billboard said to be constructed too close to the road and on the pedestrian walkway. Also present were several of the action team committee members.
"There must be a certain distance between the board and the roadside, of about three to five metres," Lau said, also pointing out that lights had not been installed on that structure.
Advertising companies must apply for a permit and sign an agreement with the local authority before they can put up billboards, in compliance with rules and regulations.
Since such documents are not always available in the public domain, it becomes difficult to check if provisions have been breached, Lau said, adding that MBPJ should carefully scrutinise new applications.
Danger in store
At the press conference, DAP Bukit Gasing branch vice-chairperson Daniel Chong recalled a recent incident at a used car-dealership in Setapak when the massive aluminium roof supported by steel girders was blown away during a thunderstorm.
"MBPJ must ask itself whether it wants to take the risk of allowing billboards that might topple over onto traffic or people," he said.
The action team is in the process of identifying billboards that affect public safety in Petaling Jaya.
In July, the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, had voiced dissatisfaction over the fact that there are 800 billboards over a 97 sq km area, of which only 282 were built with permits.
Selangor Mentri Besar Mohd Khir Toyo, at the state assembly sitting last month, explained that it was too expensive to take down illegal billboards in Petaling Jaya.
National assistant publicity secretary Lau Weng San said a dialogue should be conducted with residents before billboards are constructed.
Lau, who is also DAP Petaling Jaya Action Team chairperson, said PJ Mayor Ahmad Termizi Puteh must keep the public updated through weekly reports on progress made in demolishing illegal billboards.
The details should include the size of the billboards as well as names of the companies that have built them, he said at a press conference today.
Although MBPJ is facing strong criticism from residents on issues related to how the council handles billboard concessionaires, several new billboards have been built.
"Some of the billboards occupy pedestrian walkways and are too close to the main roads. This not only endangers public safety, but is also not in accordance with a 'safe city concept' that is people-oriented," he said. The press conference was held in Jalan Universiti, Petaling Jaya, to show an example of a billboard said to be constructed too close to the road and on the pedestrian walkway. Also present were several of the action team committee members.
"There must be a certain distance between the board and the roadside, of about three to five metres," Lau said, also pointing out that lights had not been installed on that structure.
Advertising companies must apply for a permit and sign an agreement with the local authority before they can put up billboards, in compliance with rules and regulations.
Since such documents are not always available in the public domain, it becomes difficult to check if provisions have been breached, Lau said, adding that MBPJ should carefully scrutinise new applications.
Danger in store
At the press conference, DAP Bukit Gasing branch vice-chairperson Daniel Chong recalled a recent incident at a used car-dealership in Setapak when the massive aluminium roof supported by steel girders was blown away during a thunderstorm.
"MBPJ must ask itself whether it wants to take the risk of allowing billboards that might topple over onto traffic or people," he said. The action team is in the process of identifying billboards that affect public safety in Petaling Jaya.
In July, the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, had voiced dissatisfaction over the fact that there are 800 billboards over a 97 sq km area, of which only 282 were built with permits.
Selangor Mentri Besar Mohd Khir Toyo, at the state assembly sitting last month, explained that it was too expensive to take down illegal billboards in Petaling Jaya.
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