Love your neighbours

22/12/2007 The Star By JADE CHAN

THE Taman Mastiara Residents Association (RA) has proposed the implementation of a neighbourhood watch and alarm system.

According to Taman Mastiara RA chairman Darwis Mohamed, the proposed security system is a sort co-operative neighbourhood crime watch, with neighbours helping to monitor each other's house.

»A harmonious neighbourhood is one where everyone has concerns and respect for each other« DARWIS MOHAMED

“If a break-in or something suspicious happens at a neighbour’s house, you just switch on your house or car alarm, and the other neighbours should also start doing the same. This would alert the neighbourhood and scare the perpetrator,” Darwis said.

“Every road in Taman Mastiara will have a RA representative, so that the residents can report anything untoward to the representative, who will, in turn, report to the committee or call the police,” he said.

Darwis said that the RA committee had a meeting with the residents on security and development issues in their area, and to brief them on the activities organised by the RA.

He said the residents were briefed on the crime rate in their area and the measures proposed and taken by the RA to resolve the problem.

“We have a population of about 5,000 people who stay and work in the 1,400 units of office and shop lots, apartments and houses in Taman Mastiara,” Darwis said.

“A harmonious neighbourhood is one where everyone has concerns and respect for each other. It’s not just saying hello when we meet, it’s how we react and live in the neighbourhood, like being more considerate when driving in the neighbourhood,” he said.

According to Darwis, one of the latest development activities in Taman Mastiara is the soil-testing for a much-needed flyover at Jalan Ipoh, opposite Taman Wahyu, an alternative route that had been promised to residents since 2004.

Another major issue is the request for strata titles for four blocks of 224 shop lot and office units located at Jalan 18D1 to 18/D4.

“The temporary CFs for these four blocks expired in September 2005, and we’ve brought up this issue since 2004. The residents are asking why there is no action or procedure enforcement,” he said.

“We’ve sent letters to the Land and Mines Department and the developer. Recently we sent a complaint letter to the Housing and Local Government Ministry,” he said.