One of the many billboards along the Federal Highway in Petaling Jaya. — Filepic
A PETALING Jaya councillor has claimed that the local authority has been losing billboard revenue since January.
Suriase Gengiah said this came after new structural approval requirements were introduced for billboards along highways.
“Some of the new billboards do not follow city council specification and are obstructing public view of existing billboards that were approved by Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).
“These billboards are on the highway reserve but these roads pass the respective local council areas and should be subject to city council rules.
“By right, all billboard operators must seek structural and advertising licence approval from MBPJ,” he said at yesterday’s full board meeting.
Suriase, who is also MBPJ outdoor advertisement management sub-committee chairman, asked for updates on this matter, saying that there had been many queries from existing billboard operators unhappy with new billboards obstructing their structures.
Mayor Mohamad Zahri Samingon said the new structural approval requirements for billboards along highways was from a federal authority.
Acknowledging the loss of billboard revenue, he said MBPJ had brought the matter up at the federal level.
He said the issue would be decided upon at the next National Council for Local Government meeting in September.
“We have taken steps to address this issue since it first came to our attention in January.
“At the moment, we will not take any action (against the billboard operators) as we want to follow the proper process to address it.
“We hope that, by September, we can have a solution to this issue,” he said, adding that national council meetings were chaired by the Prime Minister or Deputy Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, councillor Billy Wong said MBPJ had its own set of billboard guidelines to ensure the city landscape is not obstructed.
“MBPJ does not allow many billboards to be erected at one popular spot.
“We will also ensure that these billboards are not close to houses,” he said.
