SHAH ALAM, 2 June: The State Government targets for 40 more apartments to join the apartment neighbourhood security scheme (SEROJA) next year.
The Executive Councillor for Housing, Building Management and Urban Settlers, Iskandar Samad, said that the additional 40 apartments brings the total to 50 apartments joining the scheme, with a provision of RM1 million.
He said that by 2020, the State Government targets 250 residential areas, a total of 1313 low-cost apartments, to join the programme.
“Based on the planning by the State Management Standing Committee, this involves 20 percent of participation which will benefit from this scheme over the next five years (50 apartment areas each year).
“The assistance of this scheme will be used as a catalyst for local residents to take care and take responsibility of the safety of apartments lived in,” he said at the opening ceremony of the premier Seroja Scheme course at the Silver Jubilee Hall yesterday.
Iskandar informed that five strategies will be used to realise the scheme for its success, among them would be for the Joint Management Bodies (JMB) or MCs to form a team of volunteers to identify any elements of crime (self-monitoring).
In addition, JMB or MC Chairmen would act as coordinators to plan the implementation of safety programmes with community organisations, neighbourhood watch, martial arts associations, rakan COP, youth and women.
“Committee members or police officers specially appointed will be a medium to residents to channel their complaints.
“Meanwhile, a smart partnership with the police to settle security issues at apartments, on the whole, will also be performed.
“The best practices in safety undertaken by any apartment will be modeled and communicated in a sharing of knowledge between other apartments,” he said.
Iskandar said that this year, the State Government will continue it from the five additional apartments, Cemara apartments 1 and 2 at Ampang Jaya, Desa Mentari in Petaling Jaya, Melur in Taman Sutera Kajang, Cempaka at Taman Gombak Permai and Kenaga at Taman Bunga Raya.
“The scheme is not an entity of the neighbourhood watch, but financial aid given by the State Government.
“We provide a set of equipment amounting to RM4,000, an annual grant of RM10,000, death benevolent or injury fund to residents during patrolling, a minimum of RM2,000 to RM10,000,” he said.