The Star Online: Metro: Central
The Star Online: Metro: Central |
| RAs have no right to close off public roads Posted: 02 May 2013 06:27 AM PDT IF road barriers are illegal under the Streets, Drainage and Building Bylaw Act 133, then what right do residents' associations (RAs) have to permanently block public roads? Which law or guideline gives these RAs the authority to close off public roads? It does seem that the local authorities are not doing their job by allowing RAs to bend the rules where it suits them, with no regard to the roads being public property. All motorists pay road tax, therefore everyone has a right to use these blocked roads. I refer to the following letters which appeared in The Star — "Guarded communities are now bolder in enforcing own rules" (March 22), "Council should enforce the law" (April 3) and "Illegal structures on public space" (March 26). In USJ Subang Jaya, for example, it has become the "norm" to find roads being closed and blocked with locked boom gates everywhere and perimeter fencing permanently cutting off all excess to public roads. A majority of the residential areas adopting these guarded community schemes are blatantly ignoring most of the guidelines. Some of these residential areas are located just next to the local council's office building. Obviously, the guidelines to setting up a "guarded community" are just for show. Why are the local councils allowing these to happen when it is obviously wrong and illegal? Some of the RAs, like the one in USJ18, have even gone to the extent of making non-residents pay for their security car stickers to enter their "guarded" area. Is this legal? Does this have the approval of the local council as well? I am not a resident of USJ18 but the kindergarten where my son goes to is located in this area. I had to pay RM20 for two security car stickers that are valid for only six months to enter this "guarded" area. Since when and under which law or guideline does the RA have the right to demand that the public buy their security stickers to enter a public area? It is clearly stated under the Guarded Community Scheme guidelines that vehicles cannot be prohibited from entering housing estates and guards employed by residents have no power to seek identification or stop anyone from entering. Based on the Selangor guidelines, the gated-and-guarded scheme is voluntary and residents cannot be forced to be part of it. I urge the RA of USJ18 to refund the money collected from non-residents as it is wrong to force the scheme on any one, even the residents. RAs have a responsibility not only to the residents but also to the public at large and they must adhere to the guidelines as it involves public roads. NS |
| Jalan Gasing-Templer roundabout needs to go Posted: 02 May 2013 06:27 AM PDT MOTORISTS who use the Jalan Gasing-Templer roundabout in PJ Old Town face an enormous amount of stress every day. The traffic at the roundabout is a nightmare during peak hours, especially for elderly drivers. I understand the roundabout was built in the early 1960s when there were few motor vehicles in Petaling Jaya. However, after half a century, the roundabout remains the same and there have been no improvements to accommodate the tremendous increase in the number of vehicles that converge there every day. Roundabouts are suitable only when the number of vehicles approaching it is small, as is common in newly-developed areas. . In this regard, on behalf of Petaling Jaya motorists, I thank the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) for resolving the protracted Rothmans roundabout issue and turning it into a traffic-light-controlled cross junction. In the same manner, MBPJ should now focus on the notorious Jalan Gasing-Templer roundabout with a view to either build a suitable flyover or convert it into a traffic-light controlled cross junction to ease the extremely heavy traffic flow. The sooner it is done, the better it will be for motorists. RAGU |
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