A guard manning a boom gate in Taman Antoi, Kepong.
RESIDENTS in Taman Antoi, Kepong, want Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to approve their gated-and-guarded scheme, following three cases of house break-ins in the last two months.
Out of the three cases, Taman Antoi Residents Association (TARA) secretary Kevin Ooi said two involved the theft of items like shoes and helmets from a house porch.
In the third case, thieves entered the house when the occupants were away and stole cash.
“The requirements set by DBKL to implement gated-and-guarded schemes are difficult to comply with for old neighbourhoods like Taman Antoi, which is over 50 years old.
“One of the requirements is for a guard to be stationed at every barrier at all times, which is not feasible.
“There are 544 houses in the neighbourhood, of which 520 units will benefit from the scheme.
“From the 520 houses, 84% of the owners have agreed to the scheme,” he said.
He added that the residents set up the gated-and-guarded scheme in 2015 because of a rise in snatch theft and house break-in cases.
“The implementation of the scheme has reduced the number of cases significantly and we have been trying to get DBKL to approve the scheme.
“However, we have failed thus far because of the requirements.
“I hope DBKL can be more lenient with older neighbourhoods,” he said during a press conference held there.
Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, who was at the press conference, supported the idea as it would provide better security for residents.
He also allocated RM20,000 from DAP Kepong Service Centre for the installation of an “anti-climb” perimeter fence around the neighbourhood.
“I will raise the approval issue in my next meeting with the Kuala Lumpur mayor.
“The implementation of gated- and-guarded schemes in non-strata title properties in Kuala Lumpur is difficult.
“The guidelines need to be clear. Perhaps we can look at how it is being implemented successfully in Selangor and come up with a similar model in Kuala Lumpur,” said Lim.
DBKL has yet to comment at press time.
