KUALA LUMPUR: The Taman Desa Phase 1 Residents’ Association has alleged that conflicting decisions, bureaucratic delays and governance failures by Kuala Lumpur City Hall have undermined its efforts to improve security for nearly 1,000 residents.
The association said its dispute with City Hall is “far more complicated than it appears”.
A key point of contention is a recent directive by City Hall’s Urban Transportation Department requiring the association to alter its neighbourhood security scheme, which has been in place for more than 15 years.
Representatives of the association gathered today at City Hall’s headquarters in Jalan Raja Laut and submitted a formal memorandum to Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud, urging him to intervene.
Residents’ association president Frank Yeh said the dispute began after residents sought to improve traffic flow and neighbourhood security following a fatal road accident in 2024, in which an elderly resident was killed after being struck by a vehicle along Jalan Desa Ria. The association also planned to build a guardhouse in the area.
He said that in August last year, the association applied to City Hall to relocate its main guarded entrance from Jalan Desa Ria to Jalan Desa Setia and install an Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system.
“City Hall officers informed us during a meeting on Oct 30 that approval, through a letter of no objection, would be granted once support letters were obtained from the Royal Malaysia Police and the Fire and Rescue Department.
“We submitted the supporting documents from both authorities to the council on Nov 14,” Yeh said.
“On Dec 3, City Hall informed us by letter that it had no objection to the scheme. However, it imposed a condition requiring the guard post on Jalan Desa Setia to remain open to the public without barriers.”
Yeh said the association subsequently wrote to City Hall to protest the condition.
“In December, City Hall’s enforcement unit advised us to alter the design of the guardhouse, and we submitted revised plans. The council also approved the construction work. However, it halted the reconstruction of the Post 4 guardhouse following a complaint by a resident.
“Subsequently, the association followed the advice of the council’s Urban Planning Department and amended the design to ensure the guardhouse sat entirely on the walkway.
“The council later said it would hold a resolution meeting in January this year, but postponed the meeting three times.”
Yeh said 81 per cent of homeowners had formally joined the neighbourhood security programme, contributing annual fees as well as a RM300 infrastructure levy to upgrade the security system.
The association also alleged that City Hall conducted site visits on Jan 19 this year without informing its representatives and provided conflicting information to Tenaga Nasional Berhad regarding the installation of an electricity supply for the security post.
It further claimed that the council “showed preference for interacting with external parties, some of whom do not reside in the area”.
Yeh said the association was later informed by City Hall that unanimous consent from every resident was required to upgrade the security scheme.
“That was never the requirement previously,” he said.
Among the issues raised in its memorandum, the residents’ association disputed City Hall’s assertion that the neighbourhood security scheme breaches planning guidelines or relies on facial recognition technology.
“Our CCTV system has been in place since 2012,” Yeh said.
“It is a basic infrared security system. There is no facial recognition technology whatsoever. We believe this allegation is entirely without basis.”
The association also argued that the security barriers and guardhouse comply with existing legislation and do not obstruct emergency access, noting that all entry points remain accessible to emergency services when required.
It said it hopes the mayor will personally review the matter and examine the documentary record before any enforcement action is taken.
Should the dispute remain unresolved, the association said it is prepared to pursue judicial review and other legal remedies to safeguard what it described as the security rights of nearly 1,000 residents.
“We believe there is more to this case than meets the eye,” Yeh said.
Twentytwo13 has reached out to City Hall for comment and is awaiting the council’s response.
