Security Fund Raising Dinner

My Neighbourhood is raising fund on this coming Saturday for the security scheme project. When it comes to security and safety, everyone is concerned and nobody will dare to say NO as you might not know some unexpected encountering might have happened to you and your family members next moment of time. Currently, the residents paid RM50 per month per household for private patrolling and the payment is expected higher with the proposal of deploying more security guards and coverage of wider area and longer time. However, many are still not satisfied with the service performance of the existing company. The Committee is on the look out for other companies as well. To me, no matter how well we have done in selecting a good company, safety level is not guarantee simply because criminals are also on the look out for new opportunities for crime. We can only make things difficult for crime to commit, it is no way of achieving zero crime.

While many arguments on gated and guarded community were brought up for the past few weeks, the debate has been gone into two different end, one 100% for that and the other one was not supportive at all. Both have valid argument and strong reasons behind it. Those in support are fearful about safety for themselves and families in which many of them have been at the receiving end of crime personally or through their families members. Those opposed the scheme are reasoning it with the legal points of view. It is true that the legislation do not allow closure of access or controlled point for accessibility in a public road. It is true that placing a blockage permanently at the ingress is becoming fire and emergency hazard. I think nobody denies the possibility of danger and right of way for every individual. It is a matter of priority and scarify.

If all are sharing the vision of creating a safe community for all, then it is an obligation and responsibility for all in making all efforts for doing that. Perhaps this include controlled ingress and egress of the neighbourhood. The question is how to make it friendly to all users of the public road while maintaining high level of safety within the neighbourhood. I personally think that engaging security guards and put up a watching post at the entrance of neighbourhood is not the only solution, but an easy one through paid service. We should explore others as well. For example, making a vibrant neighbourhood with more community activities, encouraging the housewife and senior citizen to go on street for community chit-chatting and morning work out, having the voluntary patrolling scheme, organising knowing your neighbours campaign, keeping watch on any vice activities in your area, inculcating good neighbourliness and etc. It should be integrated and collectively.

Please support the Dinner as an encouragement for those making an effort for a safer community.