Penang Watch

Penang state government's initiative to introduce WIFI to all areas in Penang has attracted some residents' protest over health concern of the WIFI's transmissions. The protestors based their case on the argument that the health impact of WIFI parallel that of handphone -where the transmission towers had become a cause of protest over the last decade. The issue was only resolved for the moment when the Council finally decided to implement its guidelines on setting up those transmission towers -which need to be of a certain distance from residential units. So can this be similarly done for the WIFI roll-out?

Penang Watch called Liew Chin Tong -the State Government's strategic advisor, to suggest that the WIFI be installed in shops which apply for them, and to do it in such a way that anyone can find a free WIFI hot spot within 50 ft in any part of the city areas. He was strongly against the suggestion because he believe that the health impact from WIFI transmission is much smaller than Telco transmission towers-which could be true, and that their plan is to mimic Korea's city-wide roll-out of WIFI facility to give a much needed boost to the internet usage locally. Already Ipoh had done that through the installation of hundreds of hot spots in Ipoh city.

He said that the WIFI units would be installed on Council owned lamp post all over the city. He also based his objection to Penang Watch's suggestion on the administration costs invovled to process applications from shops to install the WIFI units in the business premises. But there is no problems for Council to process applications to locate the Telco transmission towers-though admittedly they are fewer in number.

Liew insist that there is no prove of any health impact from these WIFI transmissions. However it is difficult to prove either way yet. The scientific/ medical opinions is still undecided simply because there has not been enough research to find out if such transmission (eg compared to TV and radio's) can indeed increase say, brain cancer as suggested by some news reports. Under such condition there is a case for residents to choose to stay away from such transmission if they want to-and their preference should be respected.

So perhaps installing these WIFI in business premises which have a demand for it would have save the situation for all sides. As it is there are probably already over 10 000+ WIFI units installed in George Town-even in offices of those who protest the WIFI roll-out! Over the last few years WIFI hot spots has even lost its initial novelty as many locations are offering free WIFI as compared to the customers-only WIFI access offered by the pioneering shops.

As a matter of fact one would have little problems to access internet through some neighbouring shops in most part of George Town currently if there are no security restrictions on these WIFI transmitters. Giving financial incentives for these WIFI transmitter to do away with such security restriction would have done the same tricks as adding more WIFI transmitters around town. But this may not be possible since many companies would rather keep access to their WIFI facilities to themselves only.

So adding hundreds more WIFI units in town may not add much to it. But the state government which seems to be rushing to prove its delivery, have no time to consider such options which serves to satisfy concerns and interests from all sides. So let's see if haste make speed when there are residents who start to protest against being bathed in the `WIFI mist' in town!

The plan -if wisely implemented would have saved Penangites loads of internet subscription and modem expenses, besides improving access to the internet for those who are in the lower income groups-assuming that they are in a position to buy a computer at min Rm1000.00/unit. Telekom would be the big time loser if this WIFI plan succeed. But the effect would not be so quick to show as most internet subscribers have to commit themselves to min 1-year subscrption through Telekom or other service providers.

There will be a meeting for protestors against the WIFI plan in Penang this evening 8pm at 79 Jalan Lembah Permai(opposite School for the Deaf ), Tg Bungah. Enq. 012-5189080