Concerned about the proliferation of illegal telecommunication towers in Kuala Lumpur, three DAP members of parliament today brought the matter to the attention of City Hall's top officials.

After the meeting with the officials, Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai warned that if no action is taken to dismantle the illegal structures, DAP will accompany the affected residents to lodge a report at the Anti-Corruption Agency.

He said the City Hall had promised to dismantle an illegal telecommunication tower in Taman Midah, which is a part of his constituency.

"But there is still no action," Tan lamented

He spoke to journalists in Kuala Lumpur this morning and distributed copies of a letter from City Hall, dated March 14, which confirmed that the tower was not approved by the authorities.

'Corruption in City Hall'

Together with Seputeh MP Teresa Kok Suh Sim and Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, Tan had met with Kuala Lumpur mayor Kamaruzzaman Shariff and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Pandikar Amin Mulia this morning.

"We told the minister that there is widespread belief that there is corruption (among City Hall officials)," he said.

Tan claimed that without bribery, it would be impossible to have so many illegal telecommunication towers in the city.

"City Hall officials are not taking action because they're bribed," he alleged.

Meanwhile, Kok complained there are 16 telecommunication towers installed near residential houses in her Seputeh constituency.

It was learnt that there are five such towers in Taman OUG, four in Taman Desa and several others along the Old Klang Road and Sri Petaling.

Kok told reporters of yesterday's complaints by residents in Jalan Perlak, Sri Petaling, about a tower that was built on the rooftop of a coffee shop.

She said the owner of the premises would not object to the dismantling of the structure if he was told by City Hall.

However, he was reluctant to do so on his own because he is bound by contract with a telecommunication company.

No justification

Although some studies have shown that the telecommunication towers have no direct impact on health, many residents have expressed their concern over the existence of such towers in residential areas.

"There is also no study to confirm that the towers are not hazardous," Tan said.

He maintained that there can be no justification for the existence of such towers as long as they were built illegally.

"Anything that is illegal, is illegal," he stressed.

He said under the Development Order, any structure built in the city must have prior approval from Kuala Lumpur City Hall.

Under Section 20 of the Town Planning Act 1976, telecommunication towers are not allowed to be built at less than 150 metres from residential areas.