Gated community, or not?
Sim Kwang Yang
Oct 29, 09
2:51pm
I moved into a brand new housing estate at the top of a hill in Cheras more than five years ago, and have seen how the area develops into a very pleasant neighbourhood, with shops, an Econsave, a pasar malam on Sunday, and even a wet market in the morning every day.
Then, the usual crimes crept in, the usual personal assaults, the snatch thieves, and the break-ins. My neighbours had their houses broken in a few times. Strange looking people used to walk up and down the back lane. Cars with tinted windows and idle motor-cycles drove up and down the lane in front of my house everyday.
NONEI was getting a little worried about security in the neighbourhood. A few private companies offered to provide security, but looking at the so-called security guards, I did not know whom to fear more, the guards or the criminals.
Over a year ago, the Resident Association (RA) was formed, and they hired their own guards to man two check-points. Over 90% of the residents joined in, paying RM50 each month, for the salary of the 11 guards. Every hour or so, the guards would patrol the lanes on their motor-cycles.
The guards are mostly Sabah natives; they wear smart uniforms, and are always courteous to residents and visitors alike.
Immediately, the crime rate dropped down to zero. It is a rare success story, as far as I know, of community effort in ensuring security in their own neighbourhood.
Even so, not all people are satisfied. A local business person is in the process of suing the RA for blocking the roads and checking her customers' cars.
I am aware that a raging debate is going on in the Klang valley about whether such gated communities should be allowed. There are the inevitable grouses that such RA that put up the gates are committing an illegal act, because the roads within every housing states belong to the State of Selangor and they are under the jurisdiction of the local council, the MPKJ in my case.
Amoeba-like growth invites woes
Even if the local council has given their blessings for these RAs to block up their neighbourhood, some residents still complain about the legality of such a move, because the job of public security belongs to the police.
Personally, in theory at least, I support the idea of the gated community.
Klang Valley is developing like a giant amoeba, and there are simply too many housing estates even in the Cheras area, for the few policemen to ensure their safety around the clock.
suaram upm memo protest 250907 policeWith the Rakan Cop scheme in place, the police have assured citizens that police personnel would respond to calls for assistance within 10 minutes of a phone call. The police station nearest to my home is at Cheras Batu 9, and indeed on the two occasions that I called them in the past, policemen arrived at the scene within minutes.
But the setting up of road barricades in the neighbourhood RA has eradicated my need to call the police station altogether.
The local residents who take the initiative to form RAs and hire their own guards are actually model citizens who have shown their sense of civic responsibility for their own safety.
The presence of ther guards alone is often an effective deterrent against petty thieves from invading into their area.
RAs add value to society
The RAs are also the civic organisation of citizens at the grass-root level that promote the spirit of public engagement for their mutual benefit. They are the very instrument that makes neighbourhoods out of mere collection of lonely houses. In sociological terms, they are the vibrant civic societies that accumulate social capital for a good cause.
Recently, the RA in my neighbourhood organised a Mid-Autumn festival on the park, and 1000 residents turned up to eat moon cakes and watch performances on the stage.
Of course, we know that a RA is as good as the spirit of co-operation, honesty, integrity, dedication, and diligence of its committee members. They must be registered with the ROS, have regular meetings and their AGMs, with properly audited accounts and meeting minutes passed at these meetings.
I know that sometimes, a RA can be paralysed by factional fights, personality conflicts, or people having their fingers in the till. Selfishness is often the cause of collapse of any local community. Sometimes, party politics also sour the neighbourhood spirit of any RA.
But properly run, the RA offers the best solution towards ensuring public and personal safety in the numerous housing estates throughout Klang Valley.
mpsj parking woes 290905 park housingThere is another strong basis for this sort of neighbourhood watch organisation. Many house-buyers have invested large sums of money in the purchase of their expensive houses. If their neighbourhood is crime-infested, it would affect negatively the re-sale price of their property and their rental earnings. The government has the moral authority to encourage the RAs in their effort in protecting their own investment.
As for the argument that the RAs have acted illegally in blocking up public roads, it is a matter of amending the relevant laws, either for the state government and the local councils to find the legal instrument to empower and entrust the RAs with some kind of authority over the roads in their jurisdiction, or simply to lease the roads out to the RAs.
Land is under the state's jurisdiction, and so the Selangor PR state government should look into this aspect of the problem, so as to settle this long-standing dispute about the legality of the gated communities. (Will someone send this article to the office of the Selangor MB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim please?)
If a law is good for the people, then it must be kept. If a law is bad for the people, then it must be repealed or amended. That is the principle of good jurisprudence according to the natural law theorists anyway.
SIM KWANG YANG can be reached at kenyalang578@hotmail.com.
Malaysiakini.com
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Residents suggest leasing roads from the state
Residents suggest leasing roads from the state
By TAN KARR WEI
SOME residents in Petaling Jaya are calling for the Selangor state government to consider leasing roads to the residents’ associations to gate up their communities.
The issue was brought up during a town hall meeting at the BU3 community hall in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, with Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Elizabeth Wong and Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah.
Wong said that the meeting came about because there have been many requests, complaints and suggestions from residents regarding gated and guarded communities.
Keep out: More and more housing areas in the Klang Valley are taking up the gated and guarded security scheme but only about 50 residents (below) turned up for the meeting.
About 50 people attended the meeting.
Gated and guarded communities have been a widely debated issue as many residents’ associations have started to put up barriers and guard houses to secure their housing areas. Under the Street, Drainage and Building Act 133, it is illegal to put up barriers that obstruct access to public roads.
Several residents posed the question of leasing the roads from the state government and asked if they would be charged the market rate or a nominal rate.
Wong said that the matter would be discussed at the state level in a meeting on Nov 2.
Among the issues raised was the difficulty of getting residents to commit to the scheme.
Bandar Utama Residents Association (BURA) chairman Datuk Manpal Singh Sacdev said that the key objective of barricading roads was to make their homes safe and he suggested that the local councils grant allocations to RAs who could not get enough support from residents.
“It is hard to get more than 90% as some houses are rented out to tenants,” Manpal said.
He also suggested councils look at approving developments with less exit points to prevent quick getaways by criminals.
“Currently, the barriers are allowed from midnight to 6am and that is not solving the problem because many crimes happen during the day,” said Manpal.
Resident Dali Sardar from D’Villa Avenue in Kota Damansara said that the problem was that residents could not rely on the police to ensure safety and many residents were allowing foreigners to guard their houses.
He added that the local council should make it legal for gated communities to collect maintenance fees since RAs were having trouble collecting the fees from all residents.
Manpal suggested that RAs should set out a written contract with the obligations of the security company that they hire.
“Create a standard operating procedure for them. You should also list down when and how you can terminate their services so that they don’t continue to insist on payment,” Manpal said.
Taman Mayang Jaya residents association chairman Liew Wei Beng said that as many areas started to set up barriers, the criminals would move on to areas which have not been secured.
To overcome the legal issues, Liew suggested that RAs have mobile security patrolling the area instead of barricading the roads.
Liew, who is also All Petaling Jaya Residents Association (APAC) chairman, reminded residents that gates and barriers are a temporary measure that should be removed once crime rates are lowered, especially after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced a RM1b allocation to beef up the police force and reduce crime.
Several residents from housing areas sold as gated communities by the developers also raised the predicament as they have had to pay maintenance fees for services within their area while also having to pay assessment to the local councils.
Notably absent at the meeting were residents who were opposed to the guarded schemes.
theStar: Residents suggest leasing roads
By TAN KARR WEI
SOME residents in Petaling Jaya are calling for the Selangor state government to consider leasing roads to the residents’ associations to gate up their communities.
The issue was brought up during a town hall meeting at the BU3 community hall in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, with Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Elizabeth Wong and Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah.
Wong said that the meeting came about because there have been many requests, complaints and suggestions from residents regarding gated and guarded communities.
Keep out: More and more housing areas in the Klang Valley are taking up the gated and guarded security scheme but only about 50 residents (below) turned up for the meeting.
About 50 people attended the meeting.
Gated and guarded communities have been a widely debated issue as many residents’ associations have started to put up barriers and guard houses to secure their housing areas. Under the Street, Drainage and Building Act 133, it is illegal to put up barriers that obstruct access to public roads.
Several residents posed the question of leasing the roads from the state government and asked if they would be charged the market rate or a nominal rate.
Wong said that the matter would be discussed at the state level in a meeting on Nov 2.
Among the issues raised was the difficulty of getting residents to commit to the scheme.
Bandar Utama Residents Association (BURA) chairman Datuk Manpal Singh Sacdev said that the key objective of barricading roads was to make their homes safe and he suggested that the local councils grant allocations to RAs who could not get enough support from residents.
“It is hard to get more than 90% as some houses are rented out to tenants,” Manpal said.
He also suggested councils look at approving developments with less exit points to prevent quick getaways by criminals.
“Currently, the barriers are allowed from midnight to 6am and that is not solving the problem because many crimes happen during the day,” said Manpal.
Resident Dali Sardar from D’Villa Avenue in Kota Damansara said that the problem was that residents could not rely on the police to ensure safety and many residents were allowing foreigners to guard their houses.
He added that the local council should make it legal for gated communities to collect maintenance fees since RAs were having trouble collecting the fees from all residents.
Manpal suggested that RAs should set out a written contract with the obligations of the security company that they hire.
“Create a standard operating procedure for them. You should also list down when and how you can terminate their services so that they don’t continue to insist on payment,” Manpal said.
Taman Mayang Jaya residents association chairman Liew Wei Beng said that as many areas started to set up barriers, the criminals would move on to areas which have not been secured.
To overcome the legal issues, Liew suggested that RAs have mobile security patrolling the area instead of barricading the roads.
Liew, who is also All Petaling Jaya Residents Association (APAC) chairman, reminded residents that gates and barriers are a temporary measure that should be removed once crime rates are lowered, especially after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced a RM1b allocation to beef up the police force and reduce crime.
Several residents from housing areas sold as gated communities by the developers also raised the predicament as they have had to pay maintenance fees for services within their area while also having to pay assessment to the local councils.
Notably absent at the meeting were residents who were opposed to the guarded schemes.
theStar: Residents suggest leasing roads
TTDI residents wrangle over gated concerns
A tug of war is brewing in the posh neighbourhood of Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) as one group is out to create a gated and guarded community while the other disagrees.
The TTDI Facebook page, its Google group and the local media has been abuzz with debates on the pros and cons of the guarded community concept.
A few months ago, a young man was held at knifepoint for a mere RM12 and a handphone. The five thugs on two motorcycles sped off within minutes and that was the last straw for the youth’s father Mohd Hatim Abdullah, the project co-ordinator of the TTDI guarded community committee.
Keeping an eye out: The guards in TTDI are equipped with motorcycles to patrol the area as well.
According to him, there were 60 cases of robberies and snatch thefts a month within the TTDI neighbourhood alone.
“A group of us decided to approach the resident’s association to set up the guarded community but we were told we could do it only if we do so for the whole of TTDI,” he said.
Initially, their plan was to set up the guarded community at high-risk areas like Rahim Kajai and Jalan Aminuddin Baki.
The response at Jalan Rahim Kajai was good but the rest of the TTDI residents were not in favour of the idea, although residents of Jalan Aminuddin Baki did join in later.
The group first put up barriers on Aug 16 but, three weeks later, were told to remove them by the police.
They were given verbal consent to go ahead as long as the guards only monitored cars driving in and out.
On Sept 15, the committee and the TTDI RA were called for a meeting with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to resolve the issue.
“We were told to write in with the proper planning and we hope to get a good boom gate to watch the cars,” Hatim said.
The RA and Hatim’s committee were told to get at least 85% support from the residents before putting up the barricades.
For now Lorong 5, 6, 3 and 2 of Rahim Kajai are monitored while Lorong 5 is blocked by barrels as the road is the common path used by snatch thefts to escape.
Hatim said once approval was given, it would allow the guards to stop cars and see the faces of the drivers before allowing them to proceed.
The residents have been given car stickers and the rate is RM50 a month to pay the guards.
From 10pm onwards, the two lanes are narrowed into one lane as not many cars pass through the road and at 6am the roads are opened as usual.
“Since we implemented the system, there have been no cases of crime but the people are still not convinced,” Hatim claimed.
The committee is also planning on providing different coloured stickers for those who are residents but are not paying for the services.
The stickers would allow them to move in and out of the area without being stopped.
Hatim added that when snatch thefts occur, neighbours and friends may witness the incident but they are too afraid to come out and help.
One of the residents who is against the guarded community said crime prevention was a task for the police and not the residents.
“You cannot barricade a road, it is against the law, people can take you to court and you would lose,” said the resident who declined to be named.
He added that in the case of safety, residents could place a guard inside their houses as it private property but placing them on the roads was not going to help.
The concerned resident added that if the guarded community porject goes on, within a few years all the streets would be crawling with security guards.
“These guards and their companies may turn out to be the villains if the demand for guards dwindles as the situation improves.
“They might start harassing the residents or resort to crime to secure their positions,” he said.
He believed the robbers were smart enough to figure out another way to start committing crimes again in spite of the added security.
He also said that if they do get the 85% approval from residents, the committee would have to inform the general public as well.
“They do not like others breaking the law but they themselves are breaking the law now, they should think about it,” he added.
The resident said instead of closing some of the smaller roads, they should consider monitoring the main entry points leading into the neighbourhood.
Another worrying issue for the resident was that the guards all seemed to be foreign workers.
TTDI RA president Datuk Abdul Latif Mohd Som commended the efforts of the residents but he was wary of the legal implications.
“In light of the increasing crime rate, beefing up security is definitely good but I feel that it is a job for the DBKL and the police,” he said.
He added that under the law, residents had no power to block a public road.
Latif added that when the residents have taken such an initiative, the RA would love to support them but it had to look into the regulations.
“The RA would be liable for law suits, especially the office bearers. They should come up with a law to safeguard RAs,” he said. He added the Parliament should review the policemen’s salaries and working conditions to encourage more to join the force.
Source: theStar: TTDI residents wrangle over gated concerns
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Circular number 2
Dear Neighbour,
Many thanks to those of you who responded to our last letter and the comments and suggestions although the number of respondents was a little lower than what we had hoped for.
As it stands, we had another 12 houses that responded positively which brings our current total of houses participating or willing to participate to about 75 houses, still short of the 95 we need.
Some of the issues that were brought up through the telephone conversations were as follows :
1. Many wanted a gated 24 hour patrol which included closing the area up. They were not so keen on 24 hour patrols only.
2. A number of people were concerned how we were going to close the area up as there were so many entrances into the area.
3. Those staying closer the main road on SS3/6, 3/8 and 3/2 as well as those on 3/1 want to have the road fenced to minimize foot traffic, motorcycles and those taking part in nefarious activities from using it as a convenient escape route.
Based on some feedback from MPPJ, gating up our area will be difficult as we will need to have the consent of all those who live in the area. As, some have clearly pointed out, there are also too many entrances and the manpower requirements will be substantial.
What we will have to look at now will be 2 or 3 manned Guardhouses(except when they go for patrols) with a possibility of a lifting barrier which will be closed at night between 11:00 PM to 8:00 AM ( Suggested).
While we are not able to close off all access points, we believe that this will be a good first step towards securing the neighborhood and we will of course work with the authorities to progressively close the area and make it safer. I am sure that you will agree with me that Rome was not built in a day.
The important thing for all of us working on this project is that you provide us with your feedback and better still if you believe that you have something to contribute, do take the time to join us. The people involved in trying to make the neighborhood safer are also new at this and we would welcome suggestions. Call any one listed on this list and we will inform you of the next meeting where you would be most welcome to join in.
We believe that there are a few people who do not want to join in because they do not believe this program can work and I think that those people are correct, if all of us believe that it cannot work, then it won’t. It is only with the support and contributions for each and everyone of you, that we can get this program moving. We have made the first step, by having some security at night, it may now be time for us to take the second step of tightening up the security with guard posts and 24 hour security. Then maybe, in the near future we can close the whole area up.
In our case, it may be a step by step process. Other neighborhoods who have security programs have gone through a similar evolutionary process and what some of us see and admire as a sharp program have taken time to develop but with the support of the residents.
Do participate in the online survey
Many thanks to those of you who responded to our last letter and the comments and suggestions although the number of respondents was a little lower than what we had hoped for.
As it stands, we had another 12 houses that responded positively which brings our current total of houses participating or willing to participate to about 75 houses, still short of the 95 we need.
Some of the issues that were brought up through the telephone conversations were as follows :
1. Many wanted a gated 24 hour patrol which included closing the area up. They were not so keen on 24 hour patrols only.
2. A number of people were concerned how we were going to close the area up as there were so many entrances into the area.
3. Those staying closer the main road on SS3/6, 3/8 and 3/2 as well as those on 3/1 want to have the road fenced to minimize foot traffic, motorcycles and those taking part in nefarious activities from using it as a convenient escape route.
Based on some feedback from MPPJ, gating up our area will be difficult as we will need to have the consent of all those who live in the area. As, some have clearly pointed out, there are also too many entrances and the manpower requirements will be substantial.
What we will have to look at now will be 2 or 3 manned Guardhouses(except when they go for patrols) with a possibility of a lifting barrier which will be closed at night between 11:00 PM to 8:00 AM ( Suggested).
While we are not able to close off all access points, we believe that this will be a good first step towards securing the neighborhood and we will of course work with the authorities to progressively close the area and make it safer. I am sure that you will agree with me that Rome was not built in a day.
The important thing for all of us working on this project is that you provide us with your feedback and better still if you believe that you have something to contribute, do take the time to join us. The people involved in trying to make the neighborhood safer are also new at this and we would welcome suggestions. Call any one listed on this list and we will inform you of the next meeting where you would be most welcome to join in.
We believe that there are a few people who do not want to join in because they do not believe this program can work and I think that those people are correct, if all of us believe that it cannot work, then it won’t. It is only with the support and contributions for each and everyone of you, that we can get this program moving. We have made the first step, by having some security at night, it may now be time for us to take the second step of tightening up the security with guard posts and 24 hour security. Then maybe, in the near future we can close the whole area up.
In our case, it may be a step by step process. Other neighborhoods who have security programs have gone through a similar evolutionary process and what some of us see and admire as a sharp program have taken time to develop but with the support of the residents.
Do participate in the online survey
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Robbery at Road SS3/10 (September)
An incident at Jalan SS3/10 on September 28, 2009
Reposting from bro's friend's status earlier: THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE MSG: WGM3391(Toyota Avanza) in champagne coloured van,two Indian males in their 30's .. they just robbed a maid in SS3 on MY street (Jalan SS3/10) some 10 mins ago. Tore her ears ...off to take her gold earrings.
Just got news they attemped mugging another person just up the road from here an hour ago. Pls copy paste into ur status n help nab these buggers.
This is actually the latest in many similar incidents in SS3. Just wanted to get the word out so people are aware of their surroundings and take care.
Reposting from bro's friend's status earlier: THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE MSG: WGM3391(Toyota Avanza) in champagne coloured van,two Indian males in their 30's .. they just robbed a maid in SS3 on MY street (Jalan SS3/10) some 10 mins ago. Tore her ears ...off to take her gold earrings.
Just got news they attemped mugging another person just up the road from here an hour ago. Pls copy paste into ur status n help nab these buggers.
This is actually the latest in many similar incidents in SS3. Just wanted to get the word out so people are aware of their surroundings and take care.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Private security - no snatch theft
Malaysian Insider: Downsizing Polis Diraja Malaysia:
Next the rise of private security. There has not been a snatch theft in my neighbourhood since the resident association hired a contractor. They have no guns, yet they have done more than what the police force has done in that aspect for 20 years in our little hamlet.
Next the rise of private security. There has not been a snatch theft in my neighbourhood since the resident association hired a contractor. They have no guns, yet they have done more than what the police force has done in that aspect for 20 years in our little hamlet.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Mat rempits rampaging Kota Damansara
This article is taken from Art Harun: 1Story and illustrate why we cannot solely depend on the Malaysian Police to maintain security and safety of our community:
The following is an e mail which was forwarded to me by Dato' Marina Mahathir. I have obtained her permission to reproduce it here in its entirety. I do not wish to add or subtract anything. I have however deleted the identity of the Inspector involved as I do not want anybody to be accused of character assassination.
I must hasten to add that I have not verified the story related in the e mail although I must say I do not have any reason to believe that the writer was just making it up.
I hope the authority would really look into this matter. If what is said is true, it would be obvious that the situation is getting dire.
Quote:
"Hi Marina, This is M.
I'm sorry to be emailing you like this out of the blue, but an incident happened last week and I do not know who to turn to.
Last Friday, as my husband, my 5 month old daughter and I were entering the gate of our house at Kota Damansara, we were robbed by four men on two bikes. Two of them had parangs. One of them held it to my neck as he molested me, and the other one took our wallets, phones, my necklace and my husband's watch. After they got our stuff, they both molested me. When my husband pushed their hands away, they cut his head with their parang and left. K suffered a deep wound, but he is ok now and so is our daughter.
But the purpose of this email is to tell you what happened after. My neighbour called the police. The person who answered the phone said, "balai ni tak boleh handle kes to, awak kena call balai lain". My neighbour made another call and the cops came - after 45 minutes. When they got here, they got out of the car, looked at us and said, "pergi balai buat report". We then went straight to the balai at Kota Damansara, and as my husband sat there bleeding, the officer behind the counter took an hour to take our report - all the while because he was watching wrestling on tv. My husband managed to get the plate number of one of the bikes (either WSP8724 or WSP7824) - one was a Kriss Modenas and the other was a EX5. When we gave the number plate to the police (written on a scrap of paper), he looked at it and RETURNED it to us. He didn't even include it in the report. He also did not include the fact that I was molested. We only noticed these after we had calmed down somewhat. He then gave us the name of an inspector (Inspector X of Mutiara Damansara branch) to call - but didn't include the phone number. At that time, we were too much in shock and in pain to notice. We waited a couple of days for the Inspector to call us, but he didn't.
Within this time, my husband did his own police work. This group of guys do a lot of crime around here. A week before we were robbed, a Bangladeshi man was robbed in the park beside our house - by men on the same two bikes. Yesterday, two girls were harassed and molested in the park by the same people. The neighbour opposite had his friend robbed at parang point as he waited outside his house. Another neighbour opposite owns a Petronas behind our house. Three days ago, his station was robbed by four men on two bikes with parangs. The guys are going rampant because the police do nothing!
Today, I managed to get the number of Inspector X. When I called him, he said, "kes samun mana ni? banyak sangat kes samun la."
I told him the report was made last week but nobody called us. I also said the guys were spotted yesterday. He said, "hmmm, kena tunggu la. saya tengah cuti ni." I asked, "sampai bila?" he replied, "sampai khamis depan kot". I asked him what we were supposed to do in the meantime, and he said "nombor plate ada tak?". I said yes. He asked, "dah ada suspect ke belum?". I told him that was his job. He said, "ah, awak cuba dapatkan alamat diorang, lepas tu call saya. tapi lepas cuti la".
The residents here are getting nervous and as you can see, the police are no help at all. Today, they were hanging around my neighbour's house. When the makcik asked them, "nak apa?" they said, "nak beraya". And rode off laughing.
Once again I am so sorry to send you such a long email, but I was hoping you knew anyone in the police force who WILL help us. The residents here have bought their own arms because they are so afraid. And I am so afraid for my family's safety - having a 5 month old baby in the house. Also my mother lives in the street behind me. I hope you can refer me to someone who will not treat this as just another case.
Hope you are well, and best regards.
M."
End quote
The following is an e mail which was forwarded to me by Dato' Marina Mahathir. I have obtained her permission to reproduce it here in its entirety. I do not wish to add or subtract anything. I have however deleted the identity of the Inspector involved as I do not want anybody to be accused of character assassination.
I must hasten to add that I have not verified the story related in the e mail although I must say I do not have any reason to believe that the writer was just making it up.
I hope the authority would really look into this matter. If what is said is true, it would be obvious that the situation is getting dire.
Quote:
"Hi Marina, This is M.
I'm sorry to be emailing you like this out of the blue, but an incident happened last week and I do not know who to turn to.
Last Friday, as my husband, my 5 month old daughter and I were entering the gate of our house at Kota Damansara, we were robbed by four men on two bikes. Two of them had parangs. One of them held it to my neck as he molested me, and the other one took our wallets, phones, my necklace and my husband's watch. After they got our stuff, they both molested me. When my husband pushed their hands away, they cut his head with their parang and left. K suffered a deep wound, but he is ok now and so is our daughter.
But the purpose of this email is to tell you what happened after. My neighbour called the police. The person who answered the phone said, "balai ni tak boleh handle kes to, awak kena call balai lain". My neighbour made another call and the cops came - after 45 minutes. When they got here, they got out of the car, looked at us and said, "pergi balai buat report". We then went straight to the balai at Kota Damansara, and as my husband sat there bleeding, the officer behind the counter took an hour to take our report - all the while because he was watching wrestling on tv. My husband managed to get the plate number of one of the bikes (either WSP8724 or WSP7824) - one was a Kriss Modenas and the other was a EX5. When we gave the number plate to the police (written on a scrap of paper), he looked at it and RETURNED it to us. He didn't even include it in the report. He also did not include the fact that I was molested. We only noticed these after we had calmed down somewhat. He then gave us the name of an inspector (Inspector X of Mutiara Damansara branch) to call - but didn't include the phone number. At that time, we were too much in shock and in pain to notice. We waited a couple of days for the Inspector to call us, but he didn't.
Within this time, my husband did his own police work. This group of guys do a lot of crime around here. A week before we were robbed, a Bangladeshi man was robbed in the park beside our house - by men on the same two bikes. Yesterday, two girls were harassed and molested in the park by the same people. The neighbour opposite had his friend robbed at parang point as he waited outside his house. Another neighbour opposite owns a Petronas behind our house. Three days ago, his station was robbed by four men on two bikes with parangs. The guys are going rampant because the police do nothing!
Today, I managed to get the number of Inspector X. When I called him, he said, "kes samun mana ni? banyak sangat kes samun la."
I told him the report was made last week but nobody called us. I also said the guys were spotted yesterday. He said, "hmmm, kena tunggu la. saya tengah cuti ni." I asked, "sampai bila?" he replied, "sampai khamis depan kot". I asked him what we were supposed to do in the meantime, and he said "nombor plate ada tak?". I said yes. He asked, "dah ada suspect ke belum?". I told him that was his job. He said, "ah, awak cuba dapatkan alamat diorang, lepas tu call saya. tapi lepas cuti la".
The residents here are getting nervous and as you can see, the police are no help at all. Today, they were hanging around my neighbour's house. When the makcik asked them, "nak apa?" they said, "nak beraya". And rode off laughing.
Once again I am so sorry to send you such a long email, but I was hoping you knew anyone in the police force who WILL help us. The residents here have bought their own arms because they are so afraid. And I am so afraid for my family's safety - having a 5 month old baby in the house. Also my mother lives in the street behind me. I hope you can refer me to someone who will not treat this as just another case.
Hope you are well, and best regards.
M."
End quote
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
SS3 among PJ crime hotspot
Source: Mapping crime hotspots in PJ:
Petaling Jaya City Council presented the police with an Australian-based geographic information system (GIS) which will be used to map crime hotspots in Petaling Jaya by analysing data from recent police records.
Among the areas with a high theft rate are Section 5, Taman Medan, Desa Mentari, SS3 and Sea Park.
Petaling Jaya City Council presented the police with an Australian-based geographic information system (GIS) which will be used to map crime hotspots in Petaling Jaya by analysing data from recent police records.
Among the areas with a high theft rate are Section 5, Taman Medan, Desa Mentari, SS3 and Sea Park.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Emergency telephone numbers
Bukit Aman MCC 03 22626444
Hotline Selangor 03 20529999
Hotline Kuala Lumpur 03 21159999
The general emergency number to call is 999 in Malaysia and you need to speak calmly, clearly, disclosing your address so the emergency personnel can attend to you.
Hotline Selangor 03 20529999
Hotline Kuala Lumpur 03 21159999
The general emergency number to call is 999 in Malaysia and you need to speak calmly, clearly, disclosing your address so the emergency personnel can attend to you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
