Traders unhappy over barriers
30/11/2006 The Star By Lim Chia Ying

SUBANG JAYA assemblyman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng said the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) has just recently adopted guidelines for gated communities in accordance with those issued by the state housing board.

“The guidelines list down the things that a community can do and cannot do. For new housing projects where the community calls themselves gated, there are also guidelines on what they must do.

“So I urge the public to get a copy of the book,” said Lee.

He said this in response to the issue concerning business owners in Jalan USJ 3A/2, Subang Jaya who are claiming that an illegal barricade placed on the main access road where they operate their businesses is causing them loss of income.

The barricade, said the shopkeepers, was put up by residents living in the adjacent neighbourhood as a security measure about three months ago.

The business operators said they lodged a complaint with the MPSJ complaints department.

“The officers told us they would look into the matter but no action has been taken so far,” said Vijay Kumar, one of the shop owners.

The first of the two barricades is placed at the end of the row of shop lots at USJ 3A/2, which also faces USJ 3A/3 that leads into the neighbourhood.

As for the second barricade, it is placed on USJ 3A/1, which is the side road that leads to the back of the shops and also part of the neighbourhood. Kumar added that the blockage has made it difficult for cars to reverse along USJ 3A/2.

“The second barricade also blocks lorries from entering the back lane of our shops to unload goods.

“I want to rent out my lot but potential tenants are not happy with the barricade,'' said Kumar.

Another business owner, Liow Pet Chung, said the barricades made it difficult to move about due to the dead end at both spots.

“We understand the residents' concern over security but barricading a public road is not the right thing to do,” said Liow.

The neighbourhood's USJ 3ABCD pro-tem chairman Rusman Zaihan claimed the neighbourhood had received clearance from Subang Jaya assemblyman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng and MPSJ to place the barriers.

“There have been many thefts and kidnap cases in our neighbourhood. These are the reasons for the barriers.

“We have security guards but they definitely cannot look after the whole neighbourhood,” said Rusman.

He said they had met up with the shopkeepers and gave in to the business owners' requests to move the barrier further down the road.

“We have even moved the barrier further down USJ 3A/2 as asked. It is unfair to ask us to totally remove the barrier now.

“Lee has come to meet us at our place before and he understands our situation,” claimed Rusman, adding that the barrier was not the reason affecting business.

Lee said a meeting would be arranged soon to find an amicable solution.