More confident of police role in ensuring safety

Brickfields deputy police chief Superintendent Aida Abdul Hamid meeting residents of a housing area for feedback on crime-related issues.                                       

2011/08/23: TNS Research International has found through its survey that the index for fear of crime among Malaysians has improved.

The market survey company saw a decrease in fear of vehicle crime, although further containment was seen as needed against robberies, burglaries and other violent crimes. 

                                                                 

"Malaysians'    fear    of    crime    index   has   improved  from 52  per cent (November  last year  to January)  to  48.9  per  cent   (March  to May).

"The survey saw a decrease in all categories, especially vehicle-related crimes (from 53.8 per cent in January to 49.2 in May," it said.

It further revealed that women were consistently more concerned about crime compared with men (60.3 per cent against 38.3 per cent).

"Among Indians and Chinese, the fear of crime dropped to 49.2 per cent and 37.5 per cent respectively. Malays and other Bumiputeras, however, are still concerned about becoming victims to robberies and burglaries, although their fear level decreased in vehicle and violent crimes," it said.

The survey also found that urbanites were less worried about crime compared with rural folk (48.7 per cent against 50.9 per cent).

Pemandu had commissioned TNS Research International to conduct the survey in December 2009, and it had monitor the trend every four months.

The survey was conducted with a sample size of 1,212 respondents aged 18 years and above who were randomly picked proportionately according to state distribution.

The method used was face-to-face interviews.

TNS Research International Malaysia chairman John Smurthwaite said police efforts in reducing the fear of being a victim of crime had seen improvement and registered more favourable responses from the people.

"It is good to see improvements and continuous reduction in fear of crime over the past year."

Pemandu's Crime National Key Results Area (NKRA) director, Eugene Teh, commended the police for executing and implementing the various initiatives spelt out under the Crime NKRA of the Government Transformation Programme (GTP).

"The continuous decrease in the overall level of fear of becoming a victim of crime shows that we are on the right track in ensuring that the people feel safer. But we will not rest on our laurels. We will take note of areas that can be improved."

Security companies reminded not to hire foreigners as guards

13 August 2011: KUALA LUMPUR: Security companies in the country have been reminded not to hire foreign workers as security guards at any premises.

Association of Professional Security Agencies (ASPA) president Datuk Mustapha Ali said companies still employing foreigners can be fined under the Private Agencies Act 1971.

"There is no need for foreign workers in the security industry because there are many local workers who can serve as security guards.

"Why do we still take in foreigners to take care of us and our homes? Are we confident with the training and experience they have? It is an offence to hire foreign workers as security guards," he said Thursday, when asked comment on the need to employ foreign labour to the point of incurring expenses to the Government in terms of management and costs.

Mustapha, who is also Security Services Association of Malaysia (PPKKM) deputy president, wants all quarters including residential management not to compromise or use foreigners as security guards.

"We know foreign labour is cheaper than local but we must remember that lower cost does not necessarily promise security.

"We don't know the background of foreign workers and should they be arrested by police or Immigration, their employers can be charged. If anything happens, who will take responsibility?" said Mustapha, adding this differed from the construction sector which needed more foreign workers for national development. - Bernama

Boomgates need not be dismantled

Faizal Nor Izham

Friday, August 5th, 2011 11:04:00

CITY HALL has clarified that resident' associations (RAs) which have put up security barriers at access roads leading into their neighbourhoods need not bring them down for the time being.

Its Urban Transport Department deputy director, Abdul Hamid Surip, says whether the barriers remain depends on the approval of City Hall, which will take about four weeks.

"Until then, the situation in each neighbourhood will be allowed to remain," he says when clarifying a Hotline report yesterday the RAs have to bring the barriers down immediately, pending City Hall's approval of their application.

It was reported that of the 97 guarded communities in Kuala Lumpur, 67 are awaiting approval from City Hall for their proposed security measures.

City Hall will meet the residents' association of the 67 communities in stages. The first meeting, with 15 RAs, was held on Wednesday

Barriers must go

RAs told to comply until City Hall approval obtained

Faizal Nor Izham

Thursday, August 4th, 2011 12:34:00

CITY HALL has ordered 15 residents' associations (RAs) in Kuala Lumpur to dismantle all obstructions blocking entrances into their neighbourhoods pending council approval.

The order was issued yesterday during a meeting between City Hall officials and representatives from the 15 RAs at the council headquarters in Jalan Raja Laut.

During the meeting, the council's Urban Transport Department deputy director, Abdul Hamid Surip, said City Hall is expected to take up to four weeks to approve applications on security measures submitted by the guarded communities.

The communities whose applications are successful will then be allowed to reinstate the barriers.

Abdul Hamid advised the RAs to abide by the order to avoid further conflict with residents who oppose the obstructions.

All the barriers are to be removed immediately and City Hall will dismantle any found to be remaining.

Abdul Hamid said that under Section 46 (1) (d) of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, obstructions are forbidden to be set up in public areas without proper authorisation.

"City Hall is fully supportive of what the RAs are trying to do. However, we want to ensure it is done properly under our new set of guidelines."

To achieve this, each RA was requested to fill in City Hall's official application form to implement new neighbourhood security schemes.

An 80 per cent vote of approval from residents is necessary for each request to be processed.
"The guidelines will offer a consistent set of criteria for the implementation of guardhouses, boom gates and security guards," Abdul Hamid said.

In addition to representatives from the 15 RAs, those present at the meeting included police and Fire and Rescue Department representatives, who voiced their support of the proposed security measures.

City Hall will organise similar meetings for the second and third batches of RAs after Hari Raya, Abdul Hamid said.

"This process will have to be done in stages since there are so many (applicants).

"We will inspect their neighbourhoods and discuss the guidelines with each RA individually. The sooner the applications are done, the sooner they will be processed."

Yesterday, Hotline reported 97 guarded communities have been identified in Kuala Lumpur.

On July 19, Hotline highlighted the concerns of a Taman Desa Phase One resident who was unhappy that four of the six entrances into the residential area were blocked.

The resident said this not only posed inconvenience to the residents but may possibly be a hindrance in case of emergencies.

This was refuted by the Phase One RA committee, who said the security measures were put up to curb crime.

City Hall responded by saying it only accorded the RA approval for guardhouses for three access roads.

RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATIONS TAKE CASE TO CITY HALL

"EACH RA is requested to fill in City Hall's official application form to implement new neighbourhood security schemes. An 80 per cent vote of approval from residents is also necessary for each request to be processed. Our guidelines will offer a consistent set of criteria for the implementation of guardhouses, boomgates and security guards. We advise RAs to abide by the order to avoid further conflict with residents who oppose the obstructions." — ABDUL HAMID SURIP, City Hall Urban Transport Department deputy director

"WE want City Hall to observe the situation in each neighbourhood individually and not just purely abide by the rules and regulations. According to recent newspaper reports, six cases of crime were reported to have occurred in the Taman Desa area within the past three weeks. Prior to this, Phase One RA's security measures have been strict and efficientlyorganised, resulting in zero instances of crime in the past six months. We also hope City Hall will take the necessary steps to ensure the guidelines will be localised to each individual neighbourhood." — M. GUNASEKAR, Taman Desa Phase One RA committee member

"THE government must recognise local initiatives to ensure neighbourhood safety and should play a role themselves. It would be ideal if City Hall allows our security measures to continue and monitor our activities so they can see this for themselves. We wish to highlight that the new set of City Hall guidelines were created without any prior dialogue with the RAs. Furthermore, how can we be sure if the complaints against these measures are even from residents? They could be from anyone." — PHILIP PHANG, Taman Desa Rukun Tetangga secretary

RAs AT THE MEETING WITH CITY HALL

IN all, 67 guarded communities in KL are expected to hold meetings with City Hall. Among those present yesterday were representatives from the RAs of:

• Taman Desa Phase One
• Taman Sri Petaling
• Taman Bangsar
• Taman Batu Permai
• Taman Kepong Baru
• Taman Sejahtera
• Lake Fields, Sungai Besi
• Taman Tun Dr Ismail
• Bukit Bandaraya
• Taman Bukit Indah

Decision day

Taman Desa Phase One Residents' Association to know fate of security barriers
Faizal Nor Izham
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011 10:45:00

TODAY is D-day for the residents of Taman Desa Phase One.

City Hall is to decide if Taman Desa Phase One will be allowed to retain its guardhouses and barriers placed at four out of six access roads in and out of the neighbourhood.

City Hall Urban Transport Department deputy director Abdul Hamid Surip tells Hotline the council will be meeting with the Taman Desa Phase One Residents’ Association (RA) today, along with 19 other guarded communities, which are awaiting approval to their application to implement the new security measures in their respective neighbourhoods.

Abdul Hamid explains that during the meeting, the communities will be briefed about City Hall’s new set of neighbourhood security guidelines.

According to Abdul Hamid, the duration between an application and its approval is usually one month.

"Within that period of time, we will ask them to remove all obstacles blocking the roads. Enforcement action will be taken if they fail to comply."

Previously on July 19, Hotline had highlighted a resident’s complaint that Phase One RA, which was formed after members of the original residents association could not agree over fees for security guards, had closed the four entrances from 10pm to 6am daily to save cost.

According to the complainant, resident much travel further in order to exit the area and they fear rescue services and ambulances would have trouble gaining entry in cases of an emergency.
It was also alleged the newly-formed RA have yet to receive approval from the authorities to put up the road barriers.

In response, City Hall said it has only accorded Taman Desa Phase One RA approval for guardhouses only three of Taman Desa's access roads -- Jalan Desa Damai, Jalan Desa Ria and Jalan Desa Permai. while guardhouses for roads leading into Jalan Desa Aman, Jalan Desa Setia and Jalan Desa Murni have yet to be approved.

The council had told Hotline conditions set by the approvals do not allow any obstacles to remain on these entrances until guards have been allocated for them, and action will be taken against any such obstacles.

Its Corporate Communications Unit head Anwar Mohammad Zain said the Neighbourhood Coordination and Control Committee (JPKK), established last June 14 is carrying out a screening programme for all areas that are yet to be approved.

However, on July 21, Phase One RA insisted its decision to place security barriers was because of rampant crime occurring in the neighbourhood.

KUALA LUMPUR'S GUARDED COMMUNITIES

• 97 guarded communities have been identified in Kuala Lumpur.
• Of these, 30 have City Hall approval.
• The remaining 67 are awaiting authorisation of its intended security measures.
• City Hall will be meeting the 67 guarded communities in stages, beginning with 20 today, including Taman Desa Phase One.