PJ councillors go on bus tour in search of billboards which pose a danger to public safety
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FOLLOWING the freeze on billboard applications in Selangor, advertisers are now eyeing Kuala Lumpur.
Since it’s not going to be an easy task to erect billboards in Petaling Jaya, they’ve decided to move several metres beyond the borders.
That is the reason why a huge billboard could be spotted along the Sprint Highway, opposite Phileo Damansara, while another massive billboard structure is being constructed.
Another example is at Damansara Utama and Taman Tun Dr Ismail which are facing each other, but under the jurisdiction of different local authorities.
The trend was noticed by Petaling Jaya City Councillors, council officials, representatives of All-Petaling Jaya Selangor Residents Associations Coalition and Outdoor Advertising Association of Malaysia, who went on a bus tour around the city to look out for billboards, which are erected at danger spots.
The bus tour was organised following cries from residents to tear down all illegal billboards, but which was deemed not feasible by the council as the approved outdoor advertising policy was yet to be finalised.
However, the council agreed to go on a tour to identify those posing a threat to public safety.
After the 60-minute ride, the group conceded that a huge billboard standing right in the middle of an open carpark in Taman Bahagia must be brought down.
Others situated on road intersections, public fields and near traffic lights would have to go, too.
Councillor Derek Fernandez said the council would order the advertising company to remove the structure within a week.
If they fail to comply, the council would do it on on the company’s behalf the following week and bill them for the expenses incurred.
“This is a first of its kind and we are living up to what we consider a competent, accountable and transparent government.
“It is being done professionally by bringing all parties involved to look at the extent of the problem and the challenges we face,” he said.
Derek said a privileged few had been commercially exploiting state land without the permission of the state to conduct business rent-free.
“If we are going to give them land rent-free to conduct business, then every resident should also have rent-free land to build their homes on, but every one of them has to work 20 years or so to pay for their houses.
“Commercial exploitation of state land must benefit the rakyat directly,” he added.
He said the council had proposed the establishment of a one-stop centre for future billboard applications, adding that operators would then need to deal with only a single department and pay only one lump sum for all fees.
He added that the implementation of 70:30 revenue sharing policy had not been finalised, therefore it was unnecessary for billboard operators to overreact at this point of time.
“The council is also identifying the safe sites now, the rest will all have to go when the implementation methods of the new policy are finalised,” he said.