Tuesday, July 26, 2011, 11.53 PM
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Guarded neighbourhoods must follow guidelines
WHAT is a guarded neighbourhood?
MASHITA
Kuala Lumpur
an Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail: Many neighbourhoods have launched their own initiatives to protect themselves and their properties by employing private security firms to guard their housing estates. However, criticism is rife as security booths or guardhouses are often installed at strategic entrances and exits of housing estates, with some having boom gates that prevent easy access and exit.
Guarded neighbourhoods (GN) are communities of residents with individual titles in a partially or fully-controlled area in a new or existing housing scheme. However, the existence of current GNs in and around KL is not based on laws or guidelines.
The GN scheme provides security services with or without a guardhouse. According to the law, this type of service does not allow for any physical barriers to be set up on public roads or restrict the access of residents and members of the public going in or out of the guarded premises.
Ad-hoc GN schemes have created problems among residents and communities. Some are to do with the construction of guardhouses at strategic entrances and exits, installation of barriers on public road, closing of back lanes and side lanes, construction of perimeter fencing in the form of walls or chain links; and requiring the public to release personal documents such as identity cards or driving licences to the security guard.
Currently, 97 areas have been identified as having security booth services in Kuala Lumpur. From 2006 to now, only 30 have received the approval of City Hall.
The outcome of the meeting to set up a special committee on guardhouse security states that the committee will be writing to Residents Associations’ of areas with no GN approval to send an official request to be evaluated by the committee which holds periodic meetings. If these applications do not adhere to the guidelines, the association concerned must make changes according to the guidelines. The application will be approved if there are no problems.
The applicant (registered Residents’ Association and others) is required to submit a written application to City’s Urban Transport department, fill in a form and provide relevant documents, for example a list of names and signatures of residents who agree with the proposed plan for the location of the guardhouse in the residential area.
I believe city folk have the freedom to decide whether to have their areas guarded or not but we must act within the law and according to the guidelines provided.
This will prevent inconvenience to members of the public and avert fatal incidents like the one where an unmanned locked barricade hindered the fire and rescue services from reaching a burning house in a guarded neighbourhood resulting in the loss of lives.
I urge Residents’ Associations to take the initiative to find out more about the guarded neighborhood concept and how to obtain approva;
I wish Muslim readers Selamat Berpuasa. — datukbandar@dbkl.gov.my
Read more: Guarded neighbourhoods must follow guidelineshttp://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/Guardedneighbourhoodsmustfollowguidelines/Article#ixzz1TE981wfZ
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