In 2006....

Dear Residents,

I picked up this article while surfing the internet a couple of days ago. This article was published in 2006. What is interesting is that, we in USJ 11/3 merely followed what others have already done. We are indeed not the first one. This is merely for record and for your reading as well.

Jeffrey Khoo
Advisor
11 Trees @ USJ

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Tuesday September 5, 2006
USJ 17 folks opt to pay for security
By LIM CHIA YING

Residents of USJ 17 Zone A have installed their own security measures in the wake of the many crime incidents occurring in the USJ township.

Starting Sept 1, these proactive residents who used to carry out their own night patrols under the Neighbourhood Watch programme have paid security guards to patrol their neighbourhood.



Dr Kow (second from left) putting up a sign at the USJ 17 Zone A security guardhouse during the launch of the paid security system. On his left (in striped shirt) is Thai.
The round-the-clock security service is made possible through the collection of RM40 monthly from each household.

Currently, about 160 out of the 224 households in the zone have agreed to be part of the paid security programme.

The residents’ spokesman Felix Thai said four guards work on three shifts to monitor vehicles coming into and going out of the neighbourhood.

“The guards patrol the neighbourhood from 11pm to 7am but they’ll be at the guardhouse during the day.

“The area now has a single entry and exit system that enables the guards to check and verify those entering our neighbourhood.

“There have been cases of snatch thefts and daylight robbery by parang-wielding robbers at the quieter lanes. Even cars parked in front of our homes have been stolen.

“We are doing our bit to fight or at least minimise crime incidents here,” added Thai when met at the launch of the paid security system recently.

Thai said the neighbourhood only had a pro tem committee currently as a residents’ association (RA) had not been formed.

Guest-of-honour at the event, Kinrara assemblyman Dr Kow Cheong Wei, was taken on a tour of the neighbourhood by the residents to see some of the security measures which have been implemented.

These include the putting up of chain-link fencing around the entire zone, starting from the dense bushes and trees that lead into adjacent neighbourhood of USJ 13.

On one particular lane which students regularly use to walk to SMK USJ 13, a narrow gate has been put up to prevent motorcyclists from entering the neighbourhood.

“Snatch thieves are often motorcyclists and the width of this gate makes it passable only to pedestrians and cyclists,” said Thai, adding that the gate was only opened from 6am to 9pm to allow students to pass. It is locked after the said time.

“Barricades have also been installed on small lanes so that no cars can ply these routes and they'll all need to exit via the guardhouse,” he explained.

Residents also cleared parts of the bushes bordering USJ 13 as the area could make a perfect hideout for criminals.

Kow said the land with the thick undergrowth belonged to Petronas subsidiary Gas Malaysia, and underground gas pipes run beneath the area.

The residents hoped Gas Malaysia would send workers to cut grass there more often as the area was infested with mosquitoes.

Kow, who pledged a RM2,000 contribution to the neigh- bourhood's efforts, said the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) were aware of the measures implemented by the residents.

“Since 2002, MPSJ has issued letters of ‘no objection’ to residents for their efforts in building their own guardhouse and other security initiatives.

“The council cannot give their approval, but they can issue the ‘no objection’ letters,” he added.