Residents give thumbs-up for gated community scheme

By S. KOMALADEVI
metro@thestar.com.my


THE Bandar Sri Damansara Residents Association is in support of the gated community scheme and urges the authorities to have it legalised.

In a dialogue with Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamed, those present agreed that the scheme had helped reduce crime in the area. However, they were not comfortable with the integrity of security guards.

They also urged the police to expedite the setting up of a new police station in the housing estate, as well as to strengthen the manpower at the two existing stations there.

“Crime has dropped significantly after we subscribed to the scheme, and the police have also played a major role,” said president Ravindran Raman Kutty.

He said the association spent RM600,000 last year on security fees.

“Does the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) think we are doing something wrong by putting extra money and putting the residents’ committee under extra duress?

“If the local authorities and police work closely with the RA, I am sure we can reduce the money and use the money for something else,” added Ravindran.

Resident Lau Seng Lee said the gated and guarded community was a necessity, adding that even developers think of security before building properties.

“The police and local authority should gazette Bandar Sri Damansara as a gated and guarded community and get all to pay for it.

“Rules need to be changed according to time,” said Lau, adding that the police could also help with the training of security guards.

Former residents’ association president Chin Choong Nam commended the residents association for its efforts in keeping the community safe but expressed disappointment that a number of residents had snubbed them.

“Residents should unite and appreciate the association’s efforts by encouraging and supporting them,” he said.

Making a point: A resident airing his views at the dialogue session.

Arjunaidi brought the residents some cheer by saying that police were only waiting for the issuance of title for the land near Persiaran Dagang that has been gazetted for a police station.

“Once the title is secured, we will apply for allocations to build the police station but we will only know after the next Malaysia Plan is made. So, I cannot tell you now when we will have the police station,” he said.

He explained that the community police station would be limited to provide better services, but all other bigger tasks would be handled by the Sungai Buloh police station.

However, he said there was a high possibility that the community police station would be gazetted as a full-fledged establishment in the near future.

Arjunaidi said the police districts would also be restructured to enhance their services, the Petaling Jaya police districts would eventually cover only areas that fell under the jurisdiction of MBPJ while areas under Shah Alam City Council would come under the Sungai Buloh police district.

Arjunaidi also thanked residents for their initiatives in helping to curb crime, adding that crime prevention through environmental design was an effective and proactive measure adopted by many developed countries.

“My team is often sent out to study the whole of Petaling Jaya to come out with recommendations on how to make the city safer, such as by improving streetlighting and walkway design,” he said.

He advised the residents to be cautious in selecting security firms, adding that the police could not vet or train the guards because it was under the purview of the Home Ministry.