Local Counsel - Signboards need a permit

THERE are thousands of signboards in every town and city. If these common items can spark demonstrations and the burning of flags, there is little hope that the local authorities will be able to bring about notable liveable cities in Malaysia. The erection of a signboard in front of the 21-storey Menara Umno at Jalan Macalister in George Town caused some problems in Penang.
It all began when the Penang Umno headquarters put up a large signboard at the front of its building without permission from the City Council of Penang Island.
In all Malaysian towns or cities, anyone who wants to put up a signboard in front of his or her premises needs to get a permit from the local authority. The Penang Umno headquarters did not have a permit to put up the signboard.
When the City Council sent its enforcement officers to dismantle the illegal signboard, they were confronted by a group of people, reportedly the building's management workers. The demolition exercise was a failure. As at 4pm on July 2, about 12 days after the attempt to demolish the signboard, it was still at the site, although it was clear that the installation was incomplete.
According to a news report, Penang State Umno chairman Zainal Abidin Osman said that Umno will apply for the permit.
Dismantling a signboard of a premises that is still functioning is a sensitive matter. Even an owner of a small coffee shop will do everything to prevent a municipal council officer from tearing down his or her signboard.
Unfortunately, the issue did not stop after the attempt to demolish the signboard. The following day, about 50 people went to Komtar to show their anger towards the attempted demolition of the signboard. They submitted a memorandum to the city council and burnt DAP flags.
There were reports that the premises of two DAP service centres were also vandalised.
People who were upset by the dismantling of the signboard should not have resorted to demonstrating in Komtar and burning flags. None of the DAP leaders or members were involved in the dismantling of the signboard.
Furthermore, it was not the responsibility of the Penang State Government to dismantle the signboard. It was the city council which attempted to do so. It was clear that the signboard was illegal and the local council had the power to dismantle it.
The managers of the Umno building are not ignorant of the municipal by-laws that regulate the display of signboards. Until the 2008 general election, when the Pakatan Rakyat took over the government of Penang, the local councillors in Penang were largely under the Alliance and later Barisan Nasional, of which Umno played a big role. In other words, many Umno leaders were councillors in the George Town City Council, the Penang Island Rural District Council and later the Penang Island Municipal Council.
It is reasonable to believe that the demonstrations have left a bad taste in the mouths of Penangites. Although this may not affect the votes for Umno candidates in the next general election, many Chinese voters in Penang will take it out against the party's partners. The candidates from Gerakan and MCA will be badly affected.
The city council must demonstrate that it was the authority which attempted to dismantle the illegal signboard. Press statements should come from Mayor Datuk Patahiyah Ismail or Ang Eng Thye, the city secretary or the head of the department in charge of licensing and public health to clarify the actions of the city council.
Although city councillor Ong Ah Teong has given clear and detailed explanations as to why the council tried to dismantle the signboard, he is seen as a DAP man.
A more pertinent question is, is the signboard hazardous to the workers and visitors to Umno's office or passers-by using Macalister Road? It is useful to recall that just two years ago, a lightning arrester on top of Menara Umno fell on a moving car during a severe thunderstorm. The body of the driver was not recovered despite a massive search.
If the signboard was not a public hazard or an obstacle to pedestrians, the council could have given those affected a month to apply for a permit.
The sad reality is that there are too many acts of non-compliance with municipal by-laws.
Datuk Dr Goh Ban Lee is interested in urban governance, housing and urban planning. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com