An article in theStar about a month ago about gated communities caught my attention. Mainly because it invovled an area I am familiar with. Here’s what I think about it.
(1)Some concerns raised included the security guards employed. Most of them are foreign workers: Myanmese, Bangladeshi etc… This is quite true. Putting aside the debit in our invisible trade, the issue was that some of these may be illegal immigrants, or if there is some strife with the neighbourhood or security company, they would become the criminals instead.
In my opinion, this partly falls on the responsibility of the security company. My area had previously employed one, which caused a few more problems. One was that guards were not seen at their posts at times, guards were inviting friends to chit chat during duty, smoking… and this one (which happened to me): this Indian guy showed up at the front of our house, wanting to redo the asphalt in front. But of course, not free la. RM 200 he said. This guy appeared to be one of the guard’s friends. Cut the long story short. It was a scam, and we gave away RM 200 for nothing.
We employed another company soonafter. And so far so good.
(2) The road does not belong to us. We do not reserve the right to block the road . I remember a comment in the article saying that if those who did the aforementioned were brought to court and charged with… setting up stuff without permission etc etc, they would lose.
To this, it is good to know that some still see it this way. But when given enough thought,
(a) Where these “gated communities” are set up, it usually takes the whole stretch of road, to which most residents living along that road are contributing to it. Furthermore, those who refuse to pay still get to enjoy the positive externalities. And, the police are notified of these gated communities.
(b) We don’t simply pay good money to set up these gated communities because we have nothing better to do than to get threatened to be brought to court. The primary concern is the residents’ safety.
Leading to the next point…
(3) It is the responsibility of the police to protect us. Let them do their job.
This is very true… However, how many of us can rely on the police force? As much as I thank God for the peace and harmony we have without any wars, any Malaysian can easily write a full essay on the amount of corruption, lackasidal attitude, and whatsoever loopholes are in the police force. Some even say that they are being moblised too much for the wrong reasons: Preventing protests and infamously: ISA
Besides, the crime rate ain’t anything to not be serious about. My area is literally surrounded with crimes. For example, while I was still taking my exams in November, a neighbour of mine was slashed and robbed right on my road. I even witnessed part of the crime when I heard hooligans on motorcycles laughing maniacally and making a hell of a noise. My parents were the ones who helped that neighbour after the theives left, and imagine the shock when the news spread. A month later, I was the one who kena-d. (Snatched handbag right in mydrive-in) WTHeck. Plus, I was holding a child in my arms at that time. WT#$%^&. I really thank God that no one was physically harmed. But it burned holes in pockets, and instilled some sort of fear.
Even my previous maids had told us of incidents where they heard people being robbed on the road behind ours.
These are, but 3 examples from 1 person. Imagine an entire housing estate. REASON ENOUGH for the people to start taking action by themselves. Even if it means paying more. Realistically, not many people trust the police to uphold the peace and security in the area anymore. In fact, most do not. (This may seem like an argument from a particular case to a general case, but if you or anyone you know have experienced crimes first-hand (imagine approx 60 cases per month in my area), you would understand that what I say is very reasonable)
And since the gated system was implemented, there has not been a single case of snatch theft, break-ins whatsoever on my road. I really do feel safer, as with a whole lot of residents.
Last words? The government and police have to pull up their pants (and socks) and give back the sense of security to civillians. You’d better work your butts off to see this country still standing. (Or sooner or later, security would be an excludable good where people would have to pay hard earned money to employ security companies which would form a lucrative market by then)
Sincerely,
I’d-stick-with-the-idea-of-gated-communities
