“While citizens can get together to improve neighbourhood security, it is actually beyond the RA’s resources and capabilities to address the security issues on their own.
“The responsibility of ensuring safe neighbourhoods lies with the local, state and federal government levels.
Some residents from SS7 Lengkuk Golf , Kelana Jaya at Petaling Jaya have taken drastic measures by fixing electric fences and barbed wires surrounding their houses.Based on a StarMetro’s visit to the neighbourhood, it was obvious the residents were not leaving their safety to chances.
Some residents in Kelana Jaya SS7 have taken drastic measures by fixing electric fences and barbed wires around their houses.
“We shouldn’t have to live in neighbourhoods with electric fences, guard houses and blocked roads,” he said, adding that citizens could still become victims of crime when they leave the gated community.
At SS3, Petaling Jaya, a group of residents have installed an automatic access card system. They have also blocked entry and closed several roads round the clock.
However, not all residents agree with the measures taken.
Cecelia Kok said she is against the closure of public roads.
Kok said it would not deter crime but instead transfer the problem to another area.
“How can you close public roads for 24 hours and deprive others from using them? There are plans to close more roads here.
“We are totally against it,” she said.
Those who are not contributing to the access card system are deprived from using certain roads, too.
“I have signatures from 120 residents who are against this,” she said.
Many are taking the law into their own hands, by setting up guarded community schemes without obtaining approval first. Some have even blocked entry to public roads and introduced access card systems. So far, only 67 neighbourhoods have obtained approval from the council to implement the scheme with many running illegally.
Against the law
MBPJ guidelines for the guarded community scheme prevent the obstruction of public roads, fencing off of public land and the denial of access to law abiding citizens.
Petaling Jaya councillor Derek Fernandez said citizens may want to use those roads even if they do not live there.
Indiscriminate closure or obstruction of public roads would lead to traffic congestion and the potential increase in the risk of crime to other areas which do not have such schemes.
He added that in the interest of public safety, the government has allowed some restrictions to the access of public roads.
However, putting automatic access control machines on public roads and other unapproved measure is not only a breach of several laws but also affects the legitimacy of such schemes.
The laws and guidelines must be respected and adhered to, said Fernandez.
“We cannot break the law and claim we are doing it to prevent crime.
“Many citizens are not robbers and their rights of mobility on roads must be respected,” he said in urging residents to follow the guidelines and obtain approval before building any structure or implementing any scheme.
“If the guidelines are inadequate, they must urge lawmakers such as assemblyman, MPs and even the state government to amend them,” he said.
Fernandez also pointed out that not all neighbourhoods could afford guarded schemes.
“It may lead to social segregation of communities,” he said.
At the council’s fullboard meeting yesterday, an application by the SS3 neighbourhood to close access to the public at Jalan SS3/76 and Jalan SS3/78 was rejected.
The council also rejected an application by the Section 5 neighbourhood to close off Jalan 5/10.
“We rejected their applications because they did not fulfil the guidelines,” said Mohd Azizi in urging neighbourhoods to first check the guidelines.
He said the council would issue a seven-day notice to the neighbourhood to remove the barrier or it would be demolished.
MBPJ public relations officer Zainun Zakaria said they would also not allow the access card system.
“The council has issued a notice to dismantle the access card system. We do not allow it in any guarded community scheme,” she said.
Source:
METRO NEWS
By Sheila Sri Priya
Thursday, 30 Jun 2016
TAGS / KEYWORDS:
Central Region , Family Community , Gated And Guarded Kelana Jaya Ss3
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2016/06/30/residents-breach-mbpj-guidelines-to-stay-safe-some-guarded-communities-in-petaling-jaya-going-overbo/#E8eE7H7waUYDAbCq.99
