Jalan Stephen Yong residents oppose construction of 5G signal tower

KUCHING (Aug 3): Residents of a housing area near Jalan Stephen Yong here are going against the construction of a 5G signal tower near the area, demanding the government to relocate it away from residential areas.

Soo Tien Ren, who is special assistant to Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen, stated he received complaints on the issue from Homeland Garden 2 residents and visited them to discuss their concerns.

He said according to the residents, the government had planned to build a 5G signal tower at the same location in 2022, of which a petition was submitted to the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) to request for the project to be halted.

The issue, however, resurfaced when the residents saw contractors transporting materials for construction of the signal tower to the site several days ago.

“A resident told me the project representative kept assuring them the signal tower would not pose any health risks and that their internet speed would improve; however, the residents were not convinced.

“Regardless, the government should not make decisions without consulting with the residents.

“Moreover, whether the signal towers could bring negative health impacts is a debatable issue.

“The government should follow the residents’ will and ensure their peace of mind rather than using the excuse of providing better and faster internet,” he said in a statement.

Soo also learnt Batu Kitang assemblyman Datuk Lo Khere Chiang is willing to negotiate with the relevant authorities on behalf of the residents, and that a meeting will be held on Aug 7 regarding it.

In expressing hope that Lo can assist the residents in halting the project, he said he will also write to the relevant authorities requesting to halt the construction and reconsider its location.

“I also publicly call on the contractors to stop the scheduled construction until the outcome of the consultation between the residents and authorities has been reached,” he added.

Meanwhile, Soo said such incidents should serve as a wakeup call for the Sarawak government, urging it to prioritise consultation and dialogue with residents when selecting locations for 5G towers rather than making decisions in isolation.

He added this was not the first time complaints on the issue were received, as the last complaint was from Samarahan where Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong wrote to relevant authorities to negotiate on behalf of the residents.

“The quality of life goes beyond material possessions.

“Faster internet does not necessarily equate to better quality of life if it comes at the expense of the residents peace of mind and health.

“The Batu Kitang state assemblyman must stand up for the residents, especially since Lo had served as MPP chairman, a two-term Batu Kawa assemblyman and is part of the Sarawak government. He should be very familiar with these matters.

“As the representative of the Batu Kitang residents, Lo has the responsibility to resolve this issue.

“I, as a member of the opposition, will continue to monitor the situation, support the residents and hold Lo accountable for ensuring a fair resolution,” Soo said.