From Today's "the Star" newspaper

Remove the barricades, say traders
By THO XIN YI

SOME traders at USJ 11/3 in Subang want the barricades set up by the residents association in the area removed immediately.

According to the business operators, the Subang Jaya Municipal Hall (MPSJ), in a letter dated Oct 20, has directed the residents association to open the roads.

Restaurant operator Gilbert Chin said that his business had dropped drastically since the barricades were put up as part of the security system implemented by the residents association.

“Our customers can’t come in to this area. The main entry points are now blocked by guards,” he said.


Easy access: Residents from the neighbouring area often use this entry-exit point to get to Taipan as it is more convenient.

“The residents association has no rights to take law in its own hands. It shouldn’t barricade the roads at our expense,” Chin said.

Foo Shou Jee, also a restaurant owner, is also very upset over the whole security system as his business is badly affected by it.

“My customers complained that they have to get the security passes from my workers before they could enter the area,” he said.

“Such an inconvenience is causing me to lose customers,” Foo said.

The gated and guarded community concept was implemented at USJ 11/3 by the residents association in late September, following complaints from house owners about the increasing crime rate in the area.

The residents blame the many entry-exit points at the residential area as a major contributing factor to the many snatch-thefts, car thefts, break-ins and even robberies.

They then decided on a massive security plan to safeguard their community, including the setting up of barricade at certain entry-exit points.

Security guards are now stationed at three of the 11 entry-exit points while drum gates are placed at the other entrances.

Vehicles are only allowed to enter the area via the three guarded gates, after being subjected to scrutiny by the guards.


Tight security: A security guard asking some questions before allowing a motorist to enter the neighbourhood.

The other entry-exit points are either closed all day or opened only during certain hours.

Several roads leading to the shoplots are also blocked and this has caused an uproar among the business operators.

The MPSJ, acting on the complaints from the business operators, has written to the residents association, instructing it to remove the barricades at Jalan USJ 11/3K (from Jalan USJ 11/6), Jalan USJ 11/3J (from Jalan USJ 11/3K), Jalan USJ 11/3J (from Jalan USJ 11/3F), Jalan USJ 11/3F (into Jalan USJ 11/3).

However, the letter, signed by MPSJ urban planning director Ismail Muhamad, allowed the residents to close the roads from midnight to 6am.

Residents association pro tem chairman Ng Peng Hin insisted that the security system was necessary and urged the MPSJ to reconsider its decision.

“The police officer in charge of USJ 8 has confirmed that USJ 11/3 has one of the highest crime rates in Subang.

“We are all victims or witnesses of crimes such as snatch thefts, robberies, break-ins and stolen cars,” he said.

“We did open Jalan USJ 11/3K for a few days to gauge the effectiveness of the security system, and a robbery involving six foreigners happened on the second day of its opening,” Ng said.

Ng, a business manager, said there were still two entry-exit roads leading to the shoplots from Jalan USJ 11/3, while the barricade at the junction of Jalan USJ 11/3J and Jalan USJ 11/3K had been removed.

“Customers from outside USJ 11/3 would have no problem in getting to the shops at all. They can just tell our guards where they are heading to and they are free to enter after the guards recorded their car plate numbers,” he said.

But restaurant operator Chin argued that with the current security arrangement, residents from the neighbouring areas would need to make a detour to get to Taipan now, instead of the more convenient way via Jalan USJ 11/3K.

“To turn into Jalan Perpaduan from Jalan USJ 1/16 is dangerous. It’s an accident prone area,” he said.

Ng, however, explained that Jalan USJ 11/3K was a residential road, but many cars sped and caused accidents despite the humps on the road.

“The junction is dangerous as a field is located at this road. We are worried about the safety of our children,” he said.

“Furthermore, the motorists using this road to get to Taipan are making illegal u-turns at Persiaran Bakti to get to the business area,” Ng said.

Ng and committee members of the residents association told StarMetro that many residents were contemplating about moving out of the area because of the frightening high crime rate.

“Many had been injured, with one having her shoulder dislocated after they were assaulted by thieves or robbers,” Ng said.

“Some residents will stay on if the current security system continues to operate.

“Nearly 88% of the occupied houses in USJ 11/3 are subcribers of the security scheme and the number is increasing each week,” he said.

However, the three business operators who called a press conference last week said that they had not encountered any security problem recently.

“They should leave it to the police to take care of the security problem,” Chin said.

Another trader, who wished to remain anonymous, said the business had become slow because of the unfavourable economic situation and not the result of the security system.

“It is certainly an inconvenience, yes, but my customers and workers were victims of snatch thefts. Some were robbed of their handphones when they left them on the table while having their meal,” he said.

Ng urged the shop operators and customers to look at the positive aspects of the security scheme.

He said the security set-up at USJ 11/3 had contributed to making the restaurants, coffee shops, barber shops, pubs, laundry shops, convenient stores and pet shops into very safe places to patronise