Ensuring crime kept at bay
09/10/2006 By K. W. Mak

CRIME is on the rise in the Klang Valley and everyone has either been a victim or knows someone who has been a victim.

Both Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan have cited the lack of police manpower, drug addicts and the influx of foreign workers as some of the reasons for the increase during a Police Dialogue with PJ Utara Residents a month ago.

Whatever the reasons are, the fact remains that crime is something residents have to deal with, and they are resorting to hiring security guards and placing barricades at strategic roads to prevent strangers from wandering around.

Newer housing developments like Aman Suria sought to provide for the security concerns of the affluent, where the housing area has been designed to be a gated community and security would be provided.

Although this barricade is not legal, MBPJ is not taking any action because it is not obstructing traffic.
The concept is especially appealing judging from the sold out properties, with many residents being middle-aged families with children.

It makes sense then that many older housing areas are emulating the concept, even though these housing areas were not initially designed to be gated communities.

Areas that have incorporated such barricades include several residences in Damansara Sunway and Tropicana.

While these barricades are illegal, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) has pretty much left the gates alone, as the barricades do not obstruct main traffic flow and only block off the one-way entrance and exit for the area.

The idea of a barricade is being mulled over by Section 5 residents too, with the Section 5 Residents Association presently carrying out a census among residents on the suggested road closure and whether there would be any objections.

“The people and MBPJ must agree, and we need to follow the consensus principle in getting this done,” said Section 5 Residents Association president Edward Lee.

“The need is there as we have had a spate of break-ins and the police are short handed.

“This then may be a necessary step,” he added.

Approval

While approval from all residents is one thing, the go-ahead from the authorities to build barricades over roads would be very difficult to obtain, as it is, technically, illegal.

“Technically, it is not lawful to close off roads,” said Section 5 Residents Association legal advisor Derek Fernandez.

“Roads can be closed temporarily to control access but disgruntled people could demand that the road be opened and not restricted.

“Be that as it may, there is a serious security problem and because the police do not have enough manpower to adequately protect residents, residents have no choice but to protect their own surroundings,” he explained.

The council is with the residents on taking up such measures in an unofficial capacity, since the legality of such barricades are questioned.

Sources said the council was ignoring many illegal barricades as long as there were no objections from the public and no traffic problems, but they did not publicly endorse the gates either.

Where there are complaints, however, the council does not compromise. In August, two roads (17/35 and 17/62) had been closed off by the residents living in the enclosed area without getting the approval of Section 17 residents living outside the gated area.

The gates drew sharp criticism from residents living outside the barricaded area, who claimed the road obstruction redirected traffic to their areas and made access to the nearby park difficult.

The council issued an order to dismantle the gates. However, the gates still stand but they are now left open.

Coping without barricades

Barricades do help, but there are many areas in Petaling Jaya where the housing area has been designed with multiple access roads and blocking off roads would seem like an impossible endeavour.

For an open community like Damansara Jaya, a fairly large security force is used to patrol parts of the neighbourhood.

The neighbourhood has 12 security guards on the payroll, and they are equipped with walkie-talkies, batons and a motorcycle to do patrols.

Damansara Jaya Residents Association chairman Yew Cheng Hoe said it was difficult for more security measures to be taken because only 25% of the residents were subscribing to the service.

“Despite the guards, we still have problems with snatch thieves, house break-ins and pecah kereta (car break-ins),” said Yew.

“Our normal count of incidents a month for all these problems is about 10 to 11 cases, but last month it went up to 22 cases.”

Yew said the police had been helpful and sent more patrols after the reported incidents, but there was only so much patrolling that could be done.

Not all neighbourhoods are affluent enough to afford barricades and guards, but some still manage to cope with their security issues.

In Jalan Carey, residents in the tight knit community get together for daily activities like morning walks so often that neighbours know each other well and look out for one another.

The residents keep an eye out for strangers in their small community and have a close rapport with the police, often giving a quick phone call if there are any suspicious characters loitering around.