Contract workers appointed by MPS taking down an illegal advertisement at Taman Sunway Batu Caves during the raid in Batu Caves and Gombak recently.

ILLEGAL billboards, unipoles and advertisements erected on Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) land are being taken down.

Two huge billboards and dozens of smaller ones were demolished by the council during a raid in Batu Caves and Gombak.

The smaller billboards were located in Taman Sunway Batu Caves along Jalan Batu Caves while the huge ones were along Jalan Sungai Pusu.

MPS deputy president Juhari Ahmad said the structures were not approved by the council in terms of their location and structural dimensions.

“They were safety hazards to the public because they did not comply with the standards set by the council, so MPS faces the risk of being sued.

“The permit fee charged by MPS for a billboard is only RM4,000 annually but many of the smaller advertising companies ignore the steps of applying for the permits from the council.

“The big advertising companies have permits and go through the proper channel.

“Throughout Selayang from 2011 to 2016, only 369 billboards have been approved,’’ said Juhari.

He advised those who planned to put up unipoles and billboards to get permission from landowners.

“They will also have to get approval for their plans to build the structure and obtain approval from MPS before applying for a licence,” he added.

Under the MPS Advertisement By-law 2007, all outdoor advertisements and structures require a licence from the local council.

No party can display their advertisements without a licence issued by the council. Those who do not comply with the ruling will be issued compounds up to RM2,000 or face one year jail, or both.

The council also has the right to tear down illegal advertisements and structures.