Fence anxieties: Back to living in fear
23/05/2007 By N.Y.M., Ulu Tiram, Johor

TAMAN Desa Cemerlang in Ulu Tiram has become a notorious place.

Burglaries, snatch thefts and robberies are so rampant that most residents live in fear of their lives and property.

In January, we put fencing around our housing area.

We also hired security guards. This is in line with the government’s advice that communities should help the government prevent crime.

All of us were happy.
For the first time in Taman Desa Cemerlang, there were no criminal cases during the Chinese New Year holidays.

We let our children go out and play in the playground and interact more with their neighbours.

But our peaceful life was not to be.

On May 10, about 20 people from the Johor Baru Tengah Municipal Council and a few policemen came to our housing area and removed our fencing and gates.

This has caused anxiety and sleepless nights to many of us.

I urge the council to fix the gates before a crime is committed again.