IF YOU are living in a gated-and-guarded neighbourhood in Petaling Jaya, chances are the guard booths and boom gates erected to deter criminals are in violation of local government guidelines.
StarMetro has learnt that there are 181 residential areas with guard booths throughout the city of Petaling Jaya, designed to restrict access and monitor visitors.
According to Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) public relations officer Zainun Zakaria, only 18 residents associations (RAs) of the 181 have applied to erect guard booths.
Besides the guard booths, even the boom gates and other access control methods employed in these gated-and-guarded schemes are technically illegal as they do not comply with MBPJ’s Planning Development Department’s guidelines.
The letter dated July 2 stated that following investigations, it was discovered that guard booths had been constructed without approval, together with permanent barriers placed at certain roads connecting the section with another.
Automatic gates requiring the vehicle driver to reach out and press a button to exit the housing section were also installed on the one road permitting entry.
According to the notice, these obstructions on public land contravened Section 46(1)(a) of the Streets, Drainage and Building Act 1974.
Bura has been given 14 days from receipt of the notice to remove the structures.
Zainun said the council would act if the association had not taken them down.
A check on Aug 2 revealed that the autogate was still in operation while permanent barriers were still visible.
Other than Bura, another RA in Ara Damansara was given a similar notice on July 2.
MBPJ Planning Development Department’s guidelines are based on documents issued by both the Housing and Local Government Ministry and the Selangor Housing and Property Board (LPHS).
A copy of the guidelines obtained by StarMetro also had photographs of what were considered “Permitted” and “Non-Permitted” forms of gated-and-guarded buildings.
For example, while guard booths placed in the middle of the road are disallowed, exceptions are permissible if there is a 50m reserve, depending on the size of the booth and the requirements of security agencies.
Other examples in the guidelines also include aesthetic conditions for the booths, and differentiating between “manual” boomgates which require a security guard stationed 24 hours, and permanent obstructions.
Coincidentally, it was current Petaling Jaya Mayor Datin Paduka Alinah Ahmad who oversaw the formulation of the guidelines by the housing board during her stint as chief executive officer of LPHS.
“We did a ‘roadshow’ last year to explain the new guidelines to the RAs,” said Zainun.
However, as of Aug 1, it is learnt that only 18 RAs had applied for approval from the council.
Major violations of the guidelines include the placement of permanent obstructions, which could be fatal in an emergency.
“Fire engines and ambulances will have a hard time getting through. They are supposed to reach the area using the shortest route.
“Also, no one can bar entry on a public road,” Alinah said.
As Hari Raya Aidilfitri is just a few days away, the council has stated it will not take action yet as break-ins are more prevalent during the festive period.
“Safety is an issue as many residents will be out of town,” said Alinah.
The mayor also said that the council would be sending out notices, similar to the ones received by the Bandar Utama and Ara Damansara RAs, to the other errant schemes after Hari Raya.
“They will also receive the same 14-day period to remove the boomgates,” she added.
Housing associations can still apply to legalise their gated-and-guarded schemes within the two weeks.
“We will try to help where we can but not in cases where structures such as automatic gates or permanent barriers that cut off access from another road, are involved,” she said.
The Star
05/08/2013
Community
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2013/08/05/mbpj-orders-ras-to-take-down-illegal-guard-booths-and-boom-gates/#uTQ2tbPV79tvX9Gj.99
