Guidelines on gated communities soon

Writer: Basil Foo 
Published: Fri, 18 Jan 2013

SUBANG JAYA: Residents’ associations (RAs) in Selangor will be invited to give their input on gated and guarded (G&G) communities at a seminar being organised soon by the state.

The event, to be hosted by the Selangor Land and Mines Office (PTG), will be held next week and will seek to draw up guidelines for G&G communities.

“Once the guidelines are drawn up, they will be brought to the state executive council to be endorsed,” said state executive councillor Teresa Kok.

She said there have been many complaints against RAs which have chosen to employ makeshift G&G infrastructure around their neighbourhood.

Among the security measures taken by residents include installing guardhouses, boom gates and barriers made of metal barrels and barbed wire.

Some RAs have permanently blocked roads which prevent emergency services like police cars or fire engines from passing through.

Kok gave an example of the Taman Puchong Hartamas development where a guardhouse erected by the developer had to be torn down by the local council last year.

The structure was deemed illegal as it did not obtain a Temporary Occupancy Licence (TOL) from the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ).

“Since the guardhouse was demolished, the  area experienced an increase in crime, resulting in a wave of about eight break-ins,” she said.

Residents were also left fuming when Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) officers tore down a security barrier in their neighbourhood along Jalan SS20/17 last January.

Residents claimed the barriers brought down crime after they were installed. 

Previously, they were the victims of break-ins, snatch thefts and even assaulted with cleavers.

The G&G concept has been a contentious issue in the state, sometimes pitting neighbours against each other as they disagree on fencing up their community.

Some RAs or Rukun Tetangga (RT) see  barricades as a safety feature.

Those who disagree are usually concerned with the closure of roads which may inconvenience them and hinder emergency services.

The state government issued its own guidelines in 2010 which proposed that at least 80% of residents must support the G&G concept before implementation.

This differs from a Federal government guideline which suggests only a 51% support.

“I believe this has to be decided on a case-by-case basis. It should be allowed if there are no objections (from surrounding residents),” Kok added.