BARELY a month after 31 closed-circuit-television cameras were installed in various parts of the island for crime surveillance, several are already malfunctioning.

Penang Municipal Council infrastructure and traffic standing committee member Khaw Veon Szu (pic) said about 10 CCTVs installed at Weld Quay, Upper Penang Road and Air Itam were developing problems.

"Last week, our officers were shocked to find the CCTV video clips fuzzy. They had contacted the company concerned to find out if there was something wrong with the newly installed equipment," he said.

In June, the council spent RM5.8mil to install the CCTVs in crime-prone areas and roads frequented by many people after numerous meetings with the police.

The cost includes the maintenance and upkeep of the CCTVs for five years.

Khaw said it was the company’s responsibility to ensure the CCTVs were functioning and that the council would not be responsible for the cost of repairs to the system.

"The company has assured us that all the CCTVs will function normally in two weeks," he said.

Khaw said the company claimed that the problem was due to frequency disturbance caused by telecommunication towers in Komtar.

To solve the problem, Khaw said the company would have to install sophisticated equipment from the US to prevent an interference of frequency.

The CCTVs had been installed at the Upper Penang Road (UPR), Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong, Jalan Penang, Lebuh Campbell, Jalan Magazine, Lebuh Carnarvon, Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Keling, Gurney Drive, Jalan Air Itam and Persiaran Midlands.

The CCTVs can rotate 360 degrees, swivel 90 degrees and zoom to a distance of 300m.