Wifi headache in Penang – Jeff Ooi answers

Several individuals and interested parties are really concerned about the recent Penang state government’s effort to introduce Wifi in the state. I’ve received many emails asking me to highligt their concerns. (Image)

One email from Chua says:

We are not against the wifi technologies but we have great concern it post harm to people, especially children and pregnant women,and we believe the wifi usage should not intrude into others’ right.

With so many studies to show the worries with wifi technology,we are really upset with the newly formed Penang state government for implementing the wireless@penang and WiMax@penang without proper consultation with Penang people or tell the truth behind the worries of many scientific studies.

CAP had issued the statement on the worries of the wifi and wimax,and we people here organising the NGOs and people to form an action committee to raise our worries and objection to the idea.We had found ample studies to substantiate our worries(pls refer to summarise version attahcment ).I hope you can do something for poor people like us in Penang that are confronting a establishment to voice our concern.

My friend Siew Hwa has been equally concerned as well, forwarding me many reports which highlight the negative effects Wifi has on health. The Wifi issue has also become a big concern to alternative doctors and healers in Penang.

Many of the concerns have also been reported by Anil Netto in his blog “Wifi health risk: Yes or No?”, “Wifi health risks” and “More concern about Wifi radiation“.

To be fair Jeff Ooi, who is also chief staff of Penang, has replied to their concerns in an email:

Thanks for the info.

All the anecdotal reports about Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR) and effects of Electromagnetic Field (EMF) aside, we have been advised on the authoritative reports by World Health Organisation (WHO), the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) — which set the standards for WiFi (IEEE 802.11x) and WiMAX (IEEE 802.16e) — and the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), which include relevant published research papers.

Results of these studies, to date, give no consistent or convincing evidence of a causal relation between Radio Frequency (RF) exposure and any adverse health effect.

We also consulted MCMC, the local industry regulator, that pointed us to their adherence to Safety Code 6 of Health Canada which covers RF exposure compliance of Radiocommunication Apparatus for all frequency bands. The WiFi and WiMAX apparatus allowed and being used in Malaysia are within the guidelines.

Hope that clears the doubt.

Best regards
Jeff Ooi

I guess those who are still not satisfied will be seeing Jeff about this soon.