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Several motorists using the free public carpark in Section 10, off Jalan Gasing in Petaling Jaya have felt “electrical jolts” while walking under the high-tension power lines running above the area during rain.

Selangor MCA Public Complaints Bureau deputy chairman Kelvin Chong Seng Foo, who felt a electrical jolt a month ago while walking out of the carpark during a drizzle, said it was a frightening experience.

“Due to the drizzle, I decided to use an umbrella to walk from the car park, across the road, to Satellite Restaurant for lunch. As I walked, I could hear a crackling noise coming from the umbrella. Within seconds, I felt current running through the right hand from the umbrella.

“I felt the hand weaken and I dropped the umbrella. It could have been the aluminium frame that picked up the electrical waves from the 275Kv transmission lines,” said Chong.

He said as he picked up the umbrella again he could still hear the crackling sound and rushed out of the carpark area.

“Disturbed with what happened, I inquired and found that other motorists have also experienced such electrical shocks,” he said.

Last week, Chong went to the carpark with the bureau’s executive secretary, Edmund Lee, on a sunny afternoon and even carried an umbrella but nothing happened.

By EDWARD R. HENRY
edward@thestar.com.my Photos by SHARUL FAZRY | Jun 27, 2011
Motorists feel electric jolts under high tension power lines

Is it safe?: People walking under the 275Kv high trasmission lines in Taman Paramount where MBPJ has planned for a carpark.

Several motorists using the free public carpark in Section 10, off Jalan Gasing in Petaling Jaya have felt “electrical jolts” while walking under the high-tension power lines running above the area during rain.

Selangor MCA Public Complaints Bureau deputy chairman Kelvin Chong Seng Foo, who felt a electrical jolt a month ago while walking out of the carpark during a drizzle, said it was a frightening experience.

“Due to the drizzle, I decided to use an umbrella to walk from the car park, across the road, to Satellite Restaurant for lunch. As I walked, I could hear a crackling noise coming from the umbrella. Within seconds, I felt current running through the right hand from the umbrella.

“I felt the hand weaken and I dropped the umbrella. It could have been the aluminium frame that picked up the electrical waves from the 275Kv transmission lines,” said Chong.

He said as he picked up the umbrella again he could still hear the crackling sound and rushed out of the carpark area.

“Disturbed with what happened, I inquired and found that other motorists have also experienced such electrical shocks,” he said.

Last week, Chong went to the carpark with the bureau’s executive secretary, Edmund Lee, on a sunny afternoon and even carried an umbrella but nothing happened.

“We will visit the carpark again soon but this time with Tenaga Nasional Berhad engineers to gauge the safety of the parking area as a number of parents wait for their children from the Catholic High School while others frequent the neighbouring restaurants,” he said.

Chong called the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to close the car park temporarily until the local authority and TNB can assure those using the carpark that it would be safe.

“We do not want schoolchildren, parents or those coming to the restaurants to suffer electrical jolts. Having such ample parking space is good but safety is paramount,” he said.

Lee said he had also received several complaints from women drivers using the carpark that there was a need for regular patrols to ensure no one fell victims to snatch thieves.

Business development manager Colin Wong, 32, and his colleague, Anna Yau, 31, who works for a construction firm agreed with Chong that measures were needed to curb the electrical field during light rain or when there was moisture in the air.

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http://www.starproperty.my/PropertyScen ... /12883/0/0