Walled home compounds growing in Malaysia
Wed, November 12 2008
But in the past few years, a rise in crime and particularly in burglaries has forced many Malaysian neighbourhoods to turn to the benefits of a close-knit community with a modern twist.
From resort-style guarded communities to hiring private security surveillance in residential areas, the concept of a secured housing area has grown in popularity.
According to government statistics, total reported criminal activity in 2007 came to 209,559 cases, a surge of more than 33 per cent from 2005. More than 16 per cent were house burglaries. From January to June this year, a total of 18,005 house break-ins have been reported.
In response to rising crime rates and complaints of police inefficiency, security is now the number one priority for property buyers.
Residents of neighbourhoods without gates and other security features are pooling their money and employing private security companies.
Whether these measures have lowered the crime rate is debatable, but it has resulted in a growing sense of community in the guarded enclaves.
“Employing the services of a security watch is not just for safety’s sake, but is also to foster a sense of community living,” said William Chan, president of a residents’ association in a middle-class suburb encompassing more than 1,400 homes.
Since hiring a security firm in 2005, participation in community projects and festive gatherings has risen, Chan said.
“I suppose because we all have a share in employing the guards, there is a sense of solidarity and some neighbourliness,” he said.
But the security and camaraderie comes at a price – homeowners have to pay anything from 30 ringgit ($10) to 1,000 ringgit ($360) a month, depending on the area and level of security.
“Charges are based on the number of security guards needed, and if it’s a 24-hour or 12-hour patrol job,” said a spokesman for Progressive Security, a guard-and-patrol service provider in Kuala Lumpur.
“Over the years, clients are more willing to pay higher premiums to ensure greater security,” he said.
“It’s a small price to pay, and it really makes a difference,” said Tan Jek Hui, an IT consultant who lives in a secured residence in the central Selangor state.
Critics of this new trend say the concept gives residents a false sense of security, as guards have neither authority nor training to arrest suspected criminals.
