From the Malaysian Insider - 08/09/10
New rules for residential security barriers
By Lee Wei Lian
September 08, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 — Security barriers such as guard houses, boom gates and fences that have been mushrooming in neighbourhoods in and around the city have to comply with new guidelines or risk being demolished by local authorities.
The new Cabinet approved guidelines were released today by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and are effective immediately.
Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung said however that if existing guarded neighbourhoods are not found to be “overly contravening” the guidelines, they will be allowed to continue.
“They (the barriers) can be demolished if complaints are made,” he said at a media briefing today.
The new guidelines require that a temporary occupancy license be obtained for permanent security booths and that boom gates and warning signs restricting access to a neighbourhood will only be permitted if it is manned by a security guard 24 hours a day.
Neighbourhoods can also only be become guarded ones if at least 51 per cent of residents agree and no legal action can be taken against those 49 per cent who disagree with having a guarded neighbourhood.
Perimeter fencing will also not be allowed and security guards need to be registered with the Home Affairs ministry.
There are over 400 guarded neighbourhoods in Selangor of which 98 have perimeter fencing.
Residents established guarded neighbourhoods due to concerns over crime rates in urban areas. The haphazard construction of security barriers however elicited complaints that it restricted access to public roads and amenities such as playgrounds and were also criticised for being unsightly.
From The STAR - 08/09/10
Published: Wednesday September 8, 2010 MYT 4:51:00 PM
Gated schemes allowed if 51% of residents agree
KUALA LUMPUR: A gated neighbourhood can only be set up with the approval of 51% of the residents, said Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung.
He said perimeter fencing and guard houses would not be allowed to be built under the new guidelines for gated and guarded neighbourhood schemes.
He said the local authorities have the right to tear down the fencing and guard houses which caused inconvenience to residents.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin recently said the guidelines - which were approved and endorsed by the National Council for Local Government - would be imposed with immediate effect on new applications.
Existing gated communities and guarded neighbourhood schemes are exempted.