Tuesday June 9, 2009
TNB transmitter tower to be moved
By SIMON KHOO
KUANTAN: Residents in Lorong Kubang Buaya 77 here have succeeded in persuading a utility company to relocate plans to build a main power transmitter in the neighbourhood.
The decision came about after an emotionally-charged dialogue between representatives of Tenaga Nasional Bhd and the residents recently.
Special assistant to the Mentri Besar and former Teruntum assemblyman Datuk Ti Lian Ker stepped in as the mediator. Also present were officials from the Kuantan Municipal Council and state Economic Planning Unit.
When met later, Ti said TNB had earlier proposed to set up a transmitter tower with the capacity of 132kW /33kW in the neighbourhood.
The utility company claimed the project was a necessity and the exercise was also carried out in parts of the Klang Valley.
“However, residents here are all up in arms against the proposal; citing their comfort and sense of security are put at risk.
“They had spent their lifetime savings to buy a bungalow lot in the area and there was no such proposal made known to them earlier,” he said, adding that the residents also took the local council to task for approving the project without consulting them.
Ti said after much discussions, the utility company decided to give in and source for an alternative site.
He urged TNB to respect the wishes of the residents as there was no guarantee of any untoward incident in case of a power surge or lightning occurring.
A resident Datuk Dr Harban Singh said they strongly objected to the proposal due to health and potential fire hazard.
Dr Harban said the residents were also prepared to file a case in court and bring the matter up to the higher authorities should the project be carried out.
Another resident Alex Tay said he had a personal experience when a TNB lamp post caught fire due to lightning recently.
“Some of my home appliances were damaged and the proposed site is just too close for comfort,” he said, adding that the project was just directly behind his house.
