The Star

Monday November 17, 2008

No to substation, MPK orders Tenaga to stop work immediately

By SIMON KHOO

KUANTAN: Construction of a Tenaga Nasional Berhad substation at a residential area in Lorong Kubang Buaya 77 here angered residents who got together to protest the move.

Within days, they initiated a petition, collected some 100 signatures, and handed it over to local authorities.

Some residents held a dialogue with Kuantan Municipal Council officials who promised to take action.

Special assistant to the Mentri Besar and former Teruntum assemblyman Datuk Ti Lian Ker has taken up the matter for the residents.

He said the council had instructed the utility company to stop work immediately and issued a compound.

“The substation was not approved by the local council.

“Tenaga has not followed procedures and should look for a more suitable site,” he said.

Resident Teh Boon Sin said no signboards had been erected to inform residents of the construction.

He said the project appeared without consultation with residents in the vicinity.

“We are worried as a substation can pose a serious health hazards.

“We are glad the issue has been resolved,” he said, adding that the site was just a stone’s throw from his house.

A check at the site showed that construction was yet to start but building materials and heavy machinery were in place.