Tough barrier to cross for Klang RAs

The Bidara Precinct at Bandar Botanic is one of the newly approved gated-and- guarded schemes in Klang. — filepic

ISSUES surrounding the conversion of residential areas into gated-and-guarded (G&G) schemes are getting more and more complex with each passing day.

It is evident that implementation of G&G schemes would never be easy, especially when views differ from resident to resident.

Then there is the tough hurdle of fulfilling the guidelines set by local governments.

This forms the crux of the matter, as local governments in one state have different sets of guidelines for approving G&G schemes in their respective municipalities.

In Selangor, although the state has a policy that at least 75% consent is required from residents of a neighbourhood for the approval of G&G schemes, it is a known fact that all 12 local authorities have their own guidelines pertaining to this.

While in the past it was almost impossible for residents associations (RAs) to seek approval for G&G schemes from their respective local councils, there have been many approvals of late.

The issue of G&G schemes has become a prominent topic of discussion at monthly full board meetings of local councils.

I can personally vouch for this as over the past two months, the matter was raised several times at the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) and Sepang Municipal Council (MPSp) full board meetings.

In StarMetro’s article on May 23, MPSp said it would soon come up with guidelines to convert existing residential areas into G&G schemes.

Council president Datuk Puasa Mohd Taib had instructed its Planning Unit to refer to the Selangor Housing and Real Estate Board (LPHS) guidelines while pointing out that MPSp was the only local authority in Selangor that did not have its own guidelines for G&G schemes.

Puasa was quoted as saying that the council had so far granted approval to 20 neighbourhoods for G&G schemes.

Meanwhile, the situation in Klang is far more complex compared to other municipalities in the state.

This is especially so after MPK council secretary Adi Faizal Ahmad Tarmizi, who chaired April’s full board meeting in the absence of president Datuk Mohd Yasid Bidin, announced that 100% consent was required from residents of any neighbourhood before approval could be granted for G&G schemes.

The announcement became a subject of controversy, with Klang’s RAs openly expressing their dissatisfaction.

On May 26, StarMetro reported that MPK’s policy, which came into effect this month, had not gone down well with RAs.

Having interviewed both the MPK secretary and the residents on their reaction to the council’s new ruling, it appears that residents have a strong basis for their case, pointing out that “it is impossible to get 100% consent from all households in a neighbourhood”.

The frustration expressed by the RAs is understandable as they face increasing security issues in their neighbourhoods.

Almost all the RAs interviewed were of the view that the G&G scheme was no longer an option in view of the rise in crime cases.

On the part of MPK, it had its own reasons for such a tough ruling.

After facing numerous challenges with residents in areas where the G&G schemes were implemented, regardless of whether there was approval or not, the council merely wanted to play it safe.

A councillor said MPK was in no way against the G&G scheme, but it realised that the matter was creating much trouble among residents, especially between RAs and residents opposed to the idea.

A 100% consent, I was told, meant that there should not be objection from any resident in the area to implement the G&G scheme.

So long as no one objects to the G&G, there should be no real problem. However, a condition like this is near impossible to achieve.

As for now, the RAs in Klang face a mammoth task when it comes to implementing G&G schemes as they will have a lot of convincing and canvassing to do.