Gated community residents
upset over suit rejection
24/05/2006 New Straits Times
KUALA LUMPUR: Residents of gated communities are up in arms over the recent
Consumer Claims Tribunal rejection of a suit over the responsibility of
security guards.
National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC) manager Darshan Singh said it had
received an average of 20 calls a day since the
judgment.
"Many people are unhappy over the decision. They feel that they might as
well bypass the tribunal and go directly to the High Court," he said.
The High Court hears requests for judicial review of tribunal decisions. But
this can be costly as a suit in the tribunal costs only a few ringgit while
going to High Court can cost thousands.
"The decision has sent the wrong message to security guards and management
corporations," Darshan said. There was also the fear that the guards might
collaborate with burglars.
Chuah Chong Huat sued Sin Heap Lee Property Sdn Bhd after his condo was
burgled on Feb 24. In his judgment, tribunal president Hussain Mohamed Dewa
said the security guards in the complex had done their job in providing
minimal security by alerting police to the break-in.
Chuah said he was unhappy with the decision but couldn’t afford the cost of
going to the High Court for review.
A check by the New Straits Times revealed that many people have criticised
the decision over Internet forums.
A buyer, whose condominium complex has an average of five burglaries a
month, said he felt like a loser for buying the units there.
