Laman Putra residents show support for gated and guarded community

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LAMAN PUTRA residents are standing by their guarded community and about 50 of them turned up at The Star office in Petaling Jaya yesterday to show their support.

Headed by Laman Putra Residents Association (LPRA) chairman Roy Ho, 50, the residents who showed up were in agreement that the security services, which contributed to the zero-crime rate in their neighbourhood throughout 2011, provided them with peace of mind and was much needed in their neighbourhood.

On Dec 15, StarMetro reported that resident Jason Lim was upset with the security system implemented by the LPRA, which caused inconvenience to non-paying residents because boom gates were installed and they had to press a switch next to the gates to exit.

Ho said when residents started moving into the homes in stages between 2007 and 2009, several break-ins and thefts occurred.

We are all for it!: Laman Putra residents who turned up to show their support for their guarded security scheme.

“Even though security guards were stationed by the developer in the vicinity during that time, their primary purpose was to look after their yet-to-be-handed-over properties.

“We are thankful for a group of civic minded residents who voluntarily formed a pro-tem committee of LPRA in 2009. Having the association registered in 2009 with the Selangor Registrar of Societies, LPRA became a legal entity which, among other things, organised the Security Service with full accountability to its members. The committee members are also available every Tuesday evening at a service desk except in case of inclement weather,” said Ho.

Ho clarified that residents who paid RM50 per month for the service were not automatically given an access card to open the boom gates.

“Those who want an access card can pay a one-time fee of RM30 or RM100, depending on the type of card. Residents who prefer not to have the card also exit the area by pressing the switch,” he said.

We have the support: Ho (left), Looi (right) and about 50 residents with their signed consent.

Vice-chairman Adrian Looi, 38, said there was a CCTV installed near the boom gates to monitor those going in and out when they wind down their window to press the switch.

“Our first line of defence is to have visitors register with the guards. The CCTV is an effective system that further discourages criminals as it captures their faces on camera,” said Looi.

Looi said that they worked closely with the Putra Heights Police Station and were constantly in communication with the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ).

“We also have signed consents from 95% of the Laman Putra residents,” said Looi.

Ho said the LPRA have never forced anyone to sign up for the security scheme and all those who signed up did it voluntarily.

“Our accounts are audited and provided to the ROS but we find it rather odd for Jason (Lim) to demand accounts of an association which he is not even a member of.

“Many times, we have forgotten how to live as a community and are insistent of having the rights of the individual upheld above all else. In a crowded residential neighbourhood as ours, it may sometimes do well for us to accept a little bit of inconvenience for the sake of the larger community. It is simply an act of good neighbourliness,” said Ho.