Kepong folk upset over DBKL action

Kepong folk upset over DBKL action
By CHRISTINA LOW

RESIDENTS of four areas in Kepong are angry over the sudden removal of security boom gates by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officers on Monday.

The affected residential areas are Petaling Garden, Taman Megah phase 2, Kepong Baru and Taman Sinar Suria.

Petaling Garden Kepong Residents’ Association chairman Augustine Chua said the security gates had been put up by the residents two years ago and were monitored by guards after a sudden increase in crime in the neighbourhood.

However, the residents said a notice to remove the boom gates was issued last week. No clarification or reason was given.

“We went to meet the officers from the DBKL Jinjang branch after receiving the letter, to seek clarification, but were told that the gates had to be removed as they were causing difficulty for fire engines entering our housing area,

“But, if such an incident were to occur, I am sure the guards at the gates would allow the firemen to enter without problem,” Chua said at a meeting recently.

He said he pleaded with the officers for a two-week grace period before action was taken, but the officers went to the residential area four days later with trucks and excavators.

Chua said the officers dug up the boom gates without entertaining the residents’ queries.

Businessman Ong Beng Lam, 51, who lives in Taman Sinar Suria, said the officers were rude and heartless.

“I felt really insulted when they told me, Kalau susah sangat, beli banglo sendiri dan guna sekuriti guard sendiri lah (If it’s so difficult, you should buy your own bungalow and employ your own guards for it),” said Ong, who pays RM80 a month for the security service in his neighbourhood.

Meanwhile, teacher Irene Tan, 53, from Kepong Baru, said the security service in her residential area had definitely helped in preventing crime.


“Since the system was introduced in our area months ago, we don’t fear and worry so much at night,” she said.

She added that the boom gates did not cause traffic problems for the residents or the public and wondered why the DBKL erected boom gates only at a few housing areas in the constituency.

“They have to be fair to everyone; they can’t just erect boom gates in certain areas, as they wish,” she said.

Kepong MP Dr Tan Seng Giaw said he understood the residents’ anger as he felt the DBKL should have given them a longer grace period.

“They should feel for the people, especially in bad times like this,

“Crime rates are on the rise, especially serious crimes, and it has become a main concern of the residents,” said Tan, who will be meeting the new KL mayor soon to voice the problems affecting his constituency.

Kepong Community Centre chairman Yee Poh Ping and Gerakan publicity bureau head Dr Wong Ruen Yuen, who were also at the recent meeting, also expressed their concerns and promised to solve the problem soon.
Source: The star