Ara Damansara

Source: TheStar

THERE was overwhelming response from StarMetro readers to our story on gated and guarded communities in Petaling Jaya entitled “Barricade City” which was published on Monday.

Besides Petaling Jaya, we also received letters from readers staying in Subang Jaya, Kuala Lumpur and even Rawang, where most have come up strongly against the concept.

No go: Metal barriers with signs informing motorists to proceed to another entrance for access into housing area in Taman Megah.

AGAINST

·Kam from Petaling Jaya:

I live in Jalan SS 24/3 where the house owners have arbitrarily put up oil drums to block off all access roads. There are two schools (Taman Megah & Yuk Chai) nearby. On weekdays the road leading to the area from across would be jammed, holding up traffic going down to the LDP. We already have security guards to look for suspicious characters, so why these barricades?

·Cecilia Choong from SS3, Petaling Jaya:

I do not agree with this growing idea of guarding individual communities because:

1. It restricts and hinders people moving in and out.

2. In the event of emergencies it can be dangerous to lives.

3. The guards are foreign nationals and their legal status is in doubt.

4. The possibility of insider jobs greatly increases.

5. The guards monitor our goings-on and know the times when our homes are vacant.

·A non-participating resident:

I observe that residents are led to believe there is a threat because they hear daily news of snatch thefts, burglaries and robberies happening everywhere in the city.

Would a guarded scheme then guarantee personal safety and protection of property?

Not everyone share the belief that the housing estate is under threat at any time. People must also take means to ensure their safety rather than depending on others to protect them.

Most older housing estates are not designed as guarded communities as there is limited space.

No one knows how much it will cost in the future to sustain such a guarded scheme. If the guarded scheme becomes abandoned, would the resident committee be responsible for dismantling all the boomed gates and related accessories or will they be left an ugly sight everywhere?

·Helen Tan:

This is a sickening and selfish act and causes inconvenience to unsuspecting drivers like me, who want to visit friends. People who are not familiar with the roads would have to go round and round to find an entry or exit. One will have a big headache just to get permission from the foreign guards stationed there. They don’t even understand simple English.

Boom gates were also installed on inner public roads in USJ 11 and 13, forcing motorists to use the outer main roads. This is a selfish and senseless approach!

We, the road tax payers and law abiders would like to demand immediate banning of such boom gates and barriers.

·Safety Conscious from Taman Megah:

Individuals or groups of people whether representing some association have NO RIGHT to barricade public roads without approval. Residents used to have many access roads (mind you, these are public roads, not private roads!) but are now completely barricaded with only one access road.

·A Gill:

The government should never legalise these acts (whether in Selangor, in KL or elsewhere) in any form whatsoever and politicians should never lend support to these gated streets but should instead play their role in helping the public in addressing their security needs with the government, the police and local authorities.

Allowing these gated streets would be “opening the floodgates” to allowing the public take the law into their own hands.

Having these private security guards would only encourage the police to “step back” from their primary responsibility of looking after public security.

·Erik Fearn:

If you want private roads, move to a private housing development. Otherwise, respect the right of the rakyat to use the public roads we pay for with our taxes.

If neighbourhood crime is the problem, barricading thousands of public roads throughout the Klang Valley is not the answer.

I wonder if the irony escapes most residents’ committees that by illegally blocking public roads to – somehow – stop law-breakers, they themselves become law-breakers!

·Sia:

The MBPJ should put their foot down and demolish all these “blockades” and FINE the relevant parties.

I am a resident of Bandar Utama and have gotten into many arguments with the security guards who have in the past denied my entry to the roads leading back to my home.

I have even been harrassed by the police for trying to force my way through to get back home, and the policeman tried to put the blame on me for trying to cause a commotion.

It is NOT their right to build illegal barricades and guard houses on public roads as the public roads not only belong to those who want it to be built but also those who do not want to. This is sort of like a VETO where even if one person do not want it to be built, it should not.

·Long time PJ resident from SS3:

Clear guidelines for gated and guarded communities should be given by local authorities and made available to the public.

·Not So Happy from Petaling Jaya:

Perhaps one day the Petaling Jaya map should include the locations of boom gates and oil barrels are located.

For the safety of my children who come back late at night, I joined the security scheme in SS26 but I do not agree to place permanent barrels across the roads.

FOR

·Shanil Kumar from Petaling Jaya:

I live in SS21/42A and about a year ago every third house had its own story of crime. There were gangsters and youngsters drinking at the field in front of my house until early morning, and calling the police didn’t help much for the youngsters returned later! We didn’t dare walk out of our homes at night. One day, my wife got robbed at knifepoint in front of my house.

First we put the barrels to deter the cars but the snatch thieves were still trying to come in, then we put up the poles across the road but then some bad hats walked in, so we gated the area with fencing. It was a response to the crime situation.

We never forced anyone to join. Everyone willingly joined as we all knew that we were in the same boat. Now, zero crime. Our guards have even stopped some attempted break-ins. Our Adun gave us some money when he saw how well things were.

·Lee Kean Tee, Rawang:

I paid a subscription fee of RM50 per month for security guards to patrol 24 hours a day. We are given a proximity card where we can enter the housing area without any hindrance.

Our account books are open for scrutiny we are accountable for any purchases made.

·Concerned resident:

I find it is fair for any gated/guarded security to take down the particulars of strangers in cars or unknown visitors who come in to the gated residential area. The whole point is to prevent any untoward incident. In the event of emergency, the security personnel on duty are supposed to assist in every manner possible.

·Erric:

Gated communities should be encouraged by MBPJ, provided that most of the residents of that particular community agree to it. Speeding rescue units should only use the main roads; not roads where children cycle and play. Anyway, most barriers are gates only with guards nearby. These rescue units should be regularly briefed on new gated communities so they can be better prepare themselves on the fastest route. Back lanes should be closed off totally. They are not wide enough for rescue vehicles and only serve as access for utilities. MBPJ should respond positively and perhaps even initiate a Master Plan for gated communities.