So, is this your idea of gated community living?
The above article on Gated Communities certainly makes you think and ponder if you would like the lifestyle of living in an exclusive gated community that comes with lots of fabulous amenities such as swimming pool, gymnasium, clubhouse and even a golf course... apart from privacy and security.
So, how do the residences here in Malaysia qualify or categorized as a "Gated Community"? What are the requirements and criteria needed before you can call your residence a gated community? What are the basic attributes of a real and proper legal "Gated Community"?
There are freehold individual-titled residences (eg: 2-storey terrace houses) here (especially in the Klang valley) that also call themselves "Gated Community" (or gated community wannabe) even though these properties do not have any amenities to offer at all.
The funny thing is these residents associations (RA) are so desperate in wanting to convert and operate a "Gated Community" scheme despite not having to maintain any amenities except for their own-procured self-appointed private security guards.
The little neighborhood playground is the only amenity there is and it is being maintained by the local council and not by the RA. (The local council also provides other basic amenities such as garbage collection and maintenance of streetlights, and some minor grass-cutting periodically).
How can they operate a "Gated Community" scheme even though there are no private amenities at all? If the residence do not have any amenities to offer (like a swimming pool, or a gym, etc.).. then it is not a legal gated community at all. It's that simple. By right, the local authorities should not allow these RAs to apply for a gated community scheme in the first place if the residence is not a private property with shared amenities.
If your residence do not have any shared amenities like the swimming pool, then you cannot call your residence a gated community! Somehow corrupt RAs have been able to manipulate and coerce unsuspecting residents into signing up for it. No amenities to offer but you will have to pay monthly maintenance fees for their questionable security guard services.
The next thing you see is they put up a booth, station a security guard, and start harassing those who did not participate in their scheme. They then install boom-gates with card access system to make it more painful and shameful for those who don't pay. They block public roads that do not belong to them... to make it more inconvenient for everyone in the neighborhood. They are blatantly flouting the laws for their selfish agendas and the authorities do not seem to care.
Doesn't this sound like daylight robbery? Sometimes we wonder how they can get away with these. Why have the local council turn a blind eye on them? Many questions unanswered... but somehow my guess is that most the RAs are all doing it for profit. Anyways, the residents partly should also to be blamed for their ignorance and for allowing these corrupt associations to flourish in the country in the name of neighborhood security.
What the residents got was far more worse than paying for a legal "Gated Community" scheme... they are paying for an illegal GC scheme minus all the amenities. No swimming pool, no clubhouse, no gym, no nothing - no problem... never mind it's still okay to call it a "Gated Community". It's sad.
If you can't afford to live in a legal and exclusive gated community with all the amenities that come with it, why bother to subscribe to a self-proclaimed "gated community" at all? If you are not a superstar, a moviestar or a rich tycoon, then live in a normal and average neighborhood like the rests of us. Do not worry as there won't be any paparazzi chasing or spying on you. If you are not an expatriate from a renown US tech firm, or the owner of a large corporation, or a CEO of a GLC, you should have nothing to worry.
If you don't keep loads of cash and gold bars in the house, you also have nothing to worry, okay?
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Setia Ecohill residences (proper gated and guarded community) with superb amenities such as swimming pool, clubhouse, gym, playground, wading pool, jacuzzi, BBQ pits, jogging track, cafeteria, business centre, parking.. and a 24-hour security system at only RM80 per month.
So, what facilities do the residents in BBR get from the RA for RM80 per month...?
