Modern Look for USJ5 Guardhouse

Hmmm ... look canggih but not sure if the guardhouse design is functional i.e. if rains, and visitors have to register, basah also. Still prefer the one in Bukit Rimau or even Kemuning Utama ... doesn't look "sexy" but very functional.

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Modern Look for USJ5 Guardhouse
By Lim Chia Ying, the Star, 5th August 2008


Stylish: The new guard house with its automated boomgate is a modern marvel.

THE USJ5 Residents Association (USJ5 RA), which started as a neighbourhood watch, has evolved to become one of the most self-contained communities today.

Its gated and guarded concept has proven to be a success with crimes on the decline compared with when the neighbourhood watch was formed in 1999.

The association, which was formed in 2003, recently built a modern guardhouse in Jalan USJ5/4.

The guardhouse, which faces the main road, is hard to miss with its white concrete walls and glass panelling. It has become a symbol of sorts for the residents and, to many, is an icon of the area.

“We want residents to be proud of their community,” USJ5 RA president K.C.Tan said.

“The guardhouse had been planned for a while and when it was unveiled, everyone was positive comments.

“If we want to improve security, we have to do it well. Even the guards look smart too,” he said.
The official opening of the guardhouse was held last Sunday with USJ5 RA committee members and residents present.

Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) secretary Slamat Hamzah, Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannay Yeoh’s political secretary Edward Ling, councillors Datuk Dr Subramaniam Nadarajan, Ismail Kamal Abdul Rahman and Keshminder Singh, and Kelana Jaya MCA division chief Ong Chong Swen were also present at the launch.

Tan said the guardhouse cost about RM25,000 and the perimeter fencing and an automatic gate, RM42,000 and RM8,500, respectively, would be built soon.

“So far, we have collected about RM60,000, thanks to contributions from our residents. The perimeter fencing will cover just the bungalow area and should be ready in about two weeks,” he said.

USJ5 RA committee member YS Lore said the association was speaking to residents from the terraced and semi-detached homes about joining the RA. Currently, the owners of these homes have a committee association but it is not registered with the Registrar of Societies.

“We have 168 bungalows in our neighbourhood but only 120 have signed up as members. Each members pays about RM100 a month as our monthly expenses for operations and security run up to about RM12,000.

“We hope more residents will participate as with more funds, we can add more features like landscaping and CCTVs,” Lore said.

The association added that it would also upgrade other guardhouses within the neighbourhood and to have two more gates in Jalan USJ5/3B and 5/3.

Slamat said it was common to see neighbourhoods that were either gated and guarded, or just gated.

“Sometimes, it is a problem when only 50% of residents pay for security services especially when many are just students and tenants,” Slamat said.

Tan thanked the MPSJ for its support and approval for the perimeter fancing, adding that the committee managed to get about 85% of the signatures in the area.

Slamat also said boom gates were allowed for cul-de-sac areas with strata titles and he was not sure if USJ 5 could close the road during the day since the units had individual titles and the road was a public one.

“If it’s a through road, we usually don’t allow it; however, the gated and guarded guidelines are still being revised by the state government. Perhaps the councillors present today can look into this matter.”

It is learnt that the boom gate will come down from 11,30pm to 6am. During the day, guards will take down the numbers of any vehicles without stickers entering the area.