PETALING JAYA: Concerned over rising crime rates, residents of many housing estates are taking security into their own hands and installing security gates and hiring guards to patrol the streets.

Guards at Bandar Utama checking motorists entering and leaving the neighbourhood.

But it does not come cheap, and the worse part is they are actually breaking the law. Under the Street, Drainage and Building Act they are not allowed to obstruct public roads.

And for the moment, the authorities are allowing the gates to remain while councils and state government discuss whether or not to legalise the gated community system.

Bandar Sri Damansara residents association paid about RM15,000 for boom gates and to hire security six years ago.

Association president Ravindran Raman Kutty said: "Residents have to pay about RM50 a month. The problem is that not all are paying for the security coverage. If everyone paid we could reduce the charge to RM30."

He said the housing estate, with a population of 60,000, is divided into two sectors. Those in the higher density areas pay less.

"Some residents have their own private security guards as well," he said.

He said MBPJ has issued a notice to remove the boom gates, "but the ruling is not being enforced yet because our local assemblyman and MPs are looking at the situation. We hope MBPJ will introduce by-laws on the gated community system soon."

Bandar Utama residents' association chairman Datuk Manpal Singh said about RM50,000 was spent to install 15 boom gates. A close-circuit television system was also been set up. Residents pay about RM40 a month.

"We do not want to be a gated community, but this is the only way we can deal with the increase in crime. The system is not foolproof, but it acts as a filter," he said.

PJ mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman said the council is looking at the feasibility of setting up a gated community system in non-gated neighbourhoods.

The council needs to discuss the technicalities with the newly appointed councillors, he said.

He and Subang Jaya council president Datuk Adnan Md Ikhsan said the issue of gated communities had been discussed at the state level, and the councils were awaiting further instructions. "For the time being we will allow the gates to remain," Mohd Roslan said.

Nine areas in USJ have adopted the gated community system. Residents' association president P.C. Yeoh said the ranges from RM30 to RM100 a month depending on the area. He said the Municipal Council issued guidelines on the system. "At least 80 per cent of the residents have to agree." Adnan said: "We will see in the next two to three months what the state government decides."