Security top priority for buyers
29/05/2006 The Star By S. C. Cheah

IF you are a house buyer, what is your number 1 concern?

I’ve posed this question to many people, and almost all put security as their top priority.

While in the past, purchasers were more concerned with the right location and workmanship, having a safe home or office seems to be on everyone’s mind these days.

This is not surprising, given the rampant burglaries and robberies.

However, security is not just having a gated community, installing an alarm or CCTV system, or having the latest access cards that can take you directly to your office or apartment.

It is much more. It should entail how a development should be planned, the active presence of the police, and even the passing of more stringent laws that allow courts to mete out stiff sentences. Is it a deterrent if one is merely fined RM1,000 for stealing RM11,000 and US$2,200 from the baggage of a foreigner at the KL International Airport as reported recently?

Many housing estates have back lanes that give burglars and robbers easy access to houses. Many residents have no choice but to install back-lane gates as a deterrent.

This is evident in many townships, especially in USJ, where I live.

However, many would vouch that it is an uphill and thankless task trying to get your neighbours to chip in their share to build these gates. One also has to apply to the various authorities to get the necessary approval. It would, of course, be ideal if the authorities could build the back-lane gates first and bill the residents later, but there will always be people who are adamantly against it.

I say this because I have found out just how difficult it is to convince my neighbours to build four back-lane gates for two long rows of 56 terrace houses (cut in the middle by a small lane) in USJ4/1, following a burglary in my house about three months ago, when we were away during the weekends.

There were those who pledged to contribute a meagre RM120 per house, but when it came to collecting the money, they would give all sorts of excuses like: “I will surely give but how much have you collected so far? If it is not even 80%, I am not going to contribute. Why should we look like fools when other neighbours are not paying up?”

There are also those who rejected the idea outright, saying that their house is secure enough and that the gates would not benefit them. And yet, they would not hesitate to collect the keys to the gates although they have not paid a sen!

It took me and two other residents more than six weeks to collect enough money from 44 households to erect the gates. While I am pleased that the gates have been finally installed, the questions are:

Why are we barricading ourselves and becoming prisoners in our own home? Shouldn’t the police be protecting us instead of teenaged private security guards who have been engaged by some house owners?

If it is so hard to squeeze a meagre RM120, I shudder to think of the many gated and guarded communities where the maintenance charges are much more. In fact, some gated communities are facing problems in their monthly collections.

There will always be kiasu (afraid to lose) and selfish people who will refuse to do their part for the good of everyone. People generally loath coming out to do neighbourhood patrol duties and prefer to engage the services of private security firms.

It is vital that the relevant authorities vet these firms thoroughly to ensure that they are genuine, professional and effective.

However, in the light of a recent judgment by the Consumer Claims Tribunal (CCT) where it was held that a security guard’s duty is merely to inform the police, many people are now wondering whether it is of any use engaging the services of private security firms.

The complainant had filed a case against the condominium management for RM25,000 in damages for a burglary at his unit.

The man who lost his case was told by the CCT president that security guards employed by the condominium management need not stop burglaries as they were there to do the bare minimum, and that was to call the police. The complainant was also ticked off for not insuring his valuables and told that it was his duty to protect his property.

The trouble is, I’ve seen many cases where the security guards are not even at their posts, and there have been many reports of break-ins and vandalism in apartments despite the presence of guards.

Some people do not mind paying RM30 to RM50 a month to have youths patrol their housing estate.

“Even if they are crooks posing as security guards, at least I hope they will leave me alone after receiving the protection money,” said a house owner.

However, the biggest obstacle is people’s tidak apa (couldn't care less) attitude or like the proverbial three monkeys: see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil. They only seek help when they are the victims!