ON one of his trips back home, Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo Burne noticed a steel cage built close to the Glenmarie turnoff along the Federal Highway.
“Upon closer inspection, I discovered that the structure is a base pole being built for a billboard project.
“It is obviously illegal because the relevant permits have not been displayed,” Loh said during a press conference at the site recently.
”The approvals deemed necessary for billboards include a temporary occupation licence (TOL) from the Land Office, licence and planning approvals from the local authority and the approval of the Public Works Department (PWD),” he added.
There it is: Loh pointing to the billboard site near the Federal Highway.Loh said the contractor only seemed to have the approval of the PWD.
He also said if the billboard project was carried out, it would block the clock tower located close to the highway.
Under the National Land Code Act, anyone found advertising on illegal billboards could be charged with abetment.
“I checked with the various local authorities and discovered the area comes under the purview of the Shah Alam City Council.
“The council said the application for the billboard project was received but the approval had not been given,” Loh said.
He added that when he app-roached the project manager, the person claimed the company had applied for approval more than a year ago.
“If the relevant authorities are serious about nipping the problem of illegal billboards in the bud, they should work towards a better system where approvals are speedily granted,” Loh said.
According to him, billboard advertising generates huge revenues for advertising companies while councils tend to gain from the annual licensing fees and service charges.
Loh said the issue of illegal billboards in Selangor would be brought to the attention of Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.
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