FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS & COMPLAINTS

 After having met your street reps for the first time, many of you have brought forward you concerns and complaints. We’ve compiled a list of most frequently asked questions / concerns / complaints and provided you with answers that hopefully address such. We would like you to know that ~ WE HEAR YOU. Should you wish to discuss any issue further, do contact your street rep or SUAC Secretary, Neal @ 012-673-9035

Q:  Why don’t we have guards manning the entry / exit points?

A: We understand the need for having guards at entry / exit points to serve as a deterrent, however, a lack of funding doesn’t allow us to have guards posted at those points. We are hopeful that more residents will participate in our new scheme so as to allow us to increase our staffing levels.

Q: Why did SUAC reduce the fees to RM40 if there is a lack of funds?

A: SUAC is attempting to make it more affordable and hopes for a greater participation by our residents. With a greater number of residents participating, not only can we have better security but we can also build a more cohesive community.

Q: Why are the guards the same people from before and are they trustworthy?

A: These guards have been hand-picked by SUAC. They operate under a strict Operating Procedure with zero tolerance for non-compliance. These guards are briefed almost daily and are required to record all incidences. Residents should also show some compassion on this issue. Their duties are strenuous. They are human beings too. Rest assured, we are trying very hard to change their mindset from thinking of this as just another job to one where they are held responsible for our security and their conduct.

Q: What can the guards do when confronted with dangerous situations? Are they equipped?

A: The guards are equipped with stainless steel batons for self defence. They have also been advised to contact the local police patrol car directly in case of emergency.

Q: Besides participating in the new scheme, how else can I help?

A: Each resident can refer to the safety tips mentioned in our blog. In addition, be a good neighbour – look out for suspicious activity and call the guards immediately.

Q:  How do we know that this new system is effective and workable?

A: There are no guarantees in life. SUAC, as mentioned in our first circular, is employing a 3 prong approach. The guards are only one component. The police are ready and willing to assist us, however, we must first help ourselves. We, the residents, must take a pro-active approach in ensuring the safety of our community. SUAC is a strictly voluntary group of like-minded individuals who are dedicating their time and effort in a bid to secure our community.

Q: What are the main impediments to securing our neighbourhood?

A: Funding is always an issue. We also encounter objections to our plans even if the plans are for the benefit of all. The objections usually stem from the inconvenience that residents face as a result of the implementation of such plans. SUAC is working with the police on these matters.

Q: Why should I pay when my neighbour doesn’t pay and yet gets the same service?

A: SUAC has implemented a no-pay no-service policy. Once the gate tags are ready and installed, guards will only pay attention to houses with the ‘GUARDED’ tag. Non-paying residents will NOT have access to our guards under any circumstance.

Q: How many guards are on patrol at any given time and how do they patrol?

A:  Effective December 7th, we will have 3 guards on each shift, for a total of 6. The guards are on a variable patrol system so that burglars will not be able to determine a safe time to carry out their despicable acts.

Q: I am renting in Seri Utama, do I need to pay?

A: Burglars don’t differentiate between owner occupied homes and tenant occupied homes. Give our guards the opportunity to safe guard your home and your family.

Q: How can I be a part of SUAC?

A: We would love for you to be a part of SUAC. We are always looking for volunteers. Be part of our team, be the voice for the residents on your street. Just call any of our members to find out more.

Monthly Expense Budget

Seri Utama 2N3 Contact List

Updated on 30/11/2010: The committee members contact has been removed. Please call your street rep. or email seriutama2n3@gmail.com if you need a copy of the contact list.

Street Map

Updated on 2/12/10: Street map has been removed for security reason.

CIRCULAR 2/2010: IMPORTANT SUAC UPDATE

Dear Residents,

We wish to thank the numerous residents who have contacted the committee with their show of support and it was truly rewarding to see so many residents show their appreciation for our work.

We sincerely hope that you, the residents have noticed a considerable change in the security format and in its effectiveness. We’ve only just begun and more changes, for the benefit of our community, are yet to come. We’re excited at the opportunity to make Seri Utama a safe and cohesive community. To ensure the success of our efforts, we need each and every resident to share in our enthusiasm. The reality, however, of today’s world is that our safety and security comes at a cost. As mentioned in our earlier circular, we have lowered the cost to each resident to RM40 per month and that collection of such will be conducted by your street rep(s). Collections for the month of November and December will commence shortly. Since we began our new system on November 16^th, 2010, we will only burden each of you with a fee of RM20 for November and the full RM40 for the month of December. Total payable for now will be RM60. In addition, our new gate tags, which will enable our guards to identify paying members, will be ready for distribution in early December. The cost of each gate tag to our residents will be RM10. Please insist on an official SUAC stamped receipt for dues paid. Beginning Jan 2011, the fees will be payable on a quarterly basis. This will allow our treasurer, Danny Lim, to better budget the funds and reduce the workload of all concerned. We must emphasise that each and every RM collected goes toward our security efforts. Street reps (list attached) will liaise with their respective residents on the preferred method of payment. Rest assured, your street rep will provide you with various convenient methods for payment. Street reps will then liaise with our Treasurer who will then offer a full and transparent summary of accounts on our blog (http://seriutama2n3.blogspot.com).

Besides the accounting summary, our blog was developed for the community to voice their say. All complaints / suggestions / compliments are welcome. Also, there will be relevant information, security tips, contacts and new developments posted on our blog from time to time. We, your humble committee, would love to hear from you. Let us know how we’re doing, how we can improve, your vision for Seri Utama or to volunteer yourself to assist in making Seri Utama our little paradise.

Seri Utama Action Committee

P/s: We urgently require street reps for 5/6, 5/8, 5/9 and 5/10. Please volunteer.

SAFETY TIPS FOR OUR RESIDENTS

Although home burglaries may seem random in occurrence, they actually involve a selection process. The burglar's selection process is simple. Choose an unoccupied home with the easiest access, the greatest amount of cover, and with the best escape routes. What follows is a list of suggestions to minimize your risk by making your home unattractive to potential burglars.

The first step is to harden the target or make your home more difficult to enter. Remember, the burglar will simply bypass your home if it requires too much effort or requires more skill and tools than they possess.

1)    Most burglars enter via the front or back doors. The front door supplied by the developer is less than ideal from a security point of view. Residents are advised to either replace their front doors with a solid core or metal door for all entry points or reinforce the existing doors. Reinforcement of existing doors can be done through the installation of high quality deadbolts that extend into the ground.

2)    Good neighbors should look out for each other. Get to know your neighbors on each side of your home and the three directly across the street. Invite them into your home, communicate often, and establish trust. Good neighbors will watch out for your home when you are away, if you ask them. They can report suspicious activity to the guards or to you while you are away.

3)    Interior lighting is necessary to show signs of life and activity inside a residence at night. A darken home night-after-night sends the message to burglars that you are away on a trip. Light timers are inexpensive and can be found everywhere. They should be used on a daily basis, not just when you’re away. In this way you set up a routine that your neighbors can observe and will allow them to become suspicious when your normally lighted home becomes dark. Typically, you want to use light-timers near the front and back windows with the curtains closed. The pattern of lights turning on and off should simulate actual occupancy. It’s also comforting not to have to enter a dark residence when you return home. The same light timers can be used to turn on radios or television sets to further enhance the illusion of occupancy. Exterior lighting is just as important. It allows our guards to better monitor your residence.

4)    Alarm systems definitely have a place in a home security plan and are effective, if used properly. Alarms are a huge deterrent and given that our guards are on constant patrol, they are in a position to respond quickly in case an alarm is triggered. If you have a system that notifies you of a trigger via your mobile, do call the guards to conduct a check.

5)    Report any suspicious and unusual activity to the guards or police immediately. Lately, some heavily tinted cars have been prowling our neighborhood probably conducting reconnaissance for their next victim. These cars have been identified as late model Toyota Harrier and Vios and Honda CRV.

6)    Get a safe deposit box as opposed to a home safe. Recent burglaries in our community have seen entire home safes being removed.

A message brought to you by
SUAC ~ your committee for phase 2N3

CIRCULAR 1/2010: IMPORTANT SECURITY NOTICE

Dear Residents of phase 2 &3,

It is with deep sadness and anger that we inform you that there were 5 break-ins in our community and 1 attempted break-in on November 10^th 2010. It appears that Seri Utama has become a burglar haven. As you may also have noticed, Squad Security Services have ceased their operations in our community.

Numerous discussions have been held to address this urgent issue. We have come to the conclusion that it is not logistically possible for a single committee to address the security matters at Seri Utama. We have therefore decided to split such duties and have therefore formed a new committee to address security issues for phases 2 & 3. The Seri Utama Action Committee (SUAC), comprising of volunteer residents, will now assume responsibility for setting up a security system for phases 2 & 3. SUAC would like to take this opportunity to thank the previous committee for their efforts.

1. We will deploy a local patrol system. Security guards will patrol our respective streets (Phase 2 & 3) 24 hours a day. Patrolling offers us greater effectiveness while reducing cost as opposed to the sentry system which has proved ineffective. You may have noticed that such patrolling have commenced effective Tuesday November 16, 2010.
2. Paying members will have the benefit of having guards respond, in a timely fashion, to the trigger of their house alarm. Guards will undoubtedly be able to respond quickly to any emergency since they will be on constant patrol.
3. Paying members will also be notified if their gates are left open unintentionally.Paying members will receive car stickers that identify them as residents of our community. Cars without such stickers will be tailed by our guards when found loitering within our streets. For the sake of privacy, the new car stickers will not make any mention to Seri Utama.
4. SUAC will use a direct employment approach as opposed to engaging the services of a security company. While this approach is more cumbersome, the committee felt that this approach enhances quality while reducing costs.
5. Paying residents will be supplied with new home identifier stickers that will be bold and easily identifiable. Guards will only focus their efforts on homes with the new stickers.
6. Collection of fees will be carried out by street reps. This allows for greater interaction between residents and the committee and also frees up more time for the guards to carry out their duties. Residents will also be more able to voice any concerns through our new blog which is currently being set up. The blog will also provide up to date information on the goings on in our community.
7. The monthly fee has been reduced to RM40 per month. It is our hope that a greater number of homes will choose to participate in our new program which will then enable us to further improve the said services.
8. Our enhanced system calls for a 3 prong approach. While the security guards will carry out the 24 hour patrol, we have also engaged the police to assist us. BPKD has agreed to place an undercover officer within our community to ensure speedier response to our emergency calls. The Committee had a very productive meeting with Sergeant Major Latiff of BPKD and received a great deal of input on how further enhance the security of Seri Utama. We will be implementing such new measures in the near future. The third prong consists of us, the residents. Each of us must play a greater role if we are going to feel safe in our community.

As you can see, a great deal of thought, effort and time has gone in to address this urgent issue. SUAC members have worked diligently to come up with a comprehensive plan limited only by the funds that we collect. Each committee member only has the interest of our community at heart. It is tedious work and a great sacrifice on our part. Of course, all our efforts will prove futile if you, the residents do not show your support. We urge each and every resident to consider participating in our new scheme.

WE NEED YOU TO HELP US KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE


Seri Utama Action Committee
Working towards a safer community

NUMBERS TO NOTE
POLICE KD STATION           03-6141-8469

FOR SUAC FEEDBACK:
SIMON LOW                           012-210-8030
JET TAN                                  019-311-9268
NEAL RAMCHANDANI         012-673-9035
Email: seriutama2n3@gmail.com

GUARDS:
SUREN                                    014-321-1586
PRAKASH                              010-260-0715
PUGANES                              016-241-2181