Embrace all, feedback welcome

To Mark and other anonymous Seputeh residents,

Yes, it is rather sad that it seemed two groups of well-meaning people cannot see eye-to-eye. One group wants to "boss" the other around. The other unwittingly stepped on fragile toes.
I like Mark's description of "playground" though it was not what SSTF set out to do. Everyone at SSTF will remember these dates: April 7, May 7 and Sept 7 and probably today Dec 19.
So, Mark, it's more than 4 months -- more like 8 months!
And now the SRA "bosses" wants to do what they were supposed to be doing (refer Clause 4 of SRA Constitution) and who had been given mandate year-after-year to do so.
Let us hope in the next one year, there will not be any untoward incident that makes us regret not having done anything proactive.
And, let's hope the interest (and furore) over security will not die down... only to be raised when some unfortunate residents among us become the next victim(s).

Oh, Mark, if you are a member, please come and say your piece. The SRA -- like any organisation -- needs full, active participation and support of members.

Best regards,
Orang Seputeh

p.s. Please also give feedback and comments to the official SRA website. Address is on the left panel of this blog. I hope they will also embrace all and take comments.

Towards A More Secure Future

SSTF's Resolution: Annotated

Folks! Here's the SSTF's resolution which was named Resolution 2 with my comments. (It's called Resolution 2 even though it was submitted earlier than Resolution 1 endorsed by SRA Committee).

Recognising that:

1. The security situation of the Seputeh area has deteriorated in the past year making it necessary for a community self-help programme to be instituted;

2. A group of concerned SRA members have taken the initiative to form a Seputeh Security Task Force (SSTF) at a public meeting on April 7, 2008, to lead such a community self-help programme;

3. Initial studies by SSTF have indicated a majority of Seputeh residents do not support Rukun Tetangga patrols;

4. While Neighbourhood Watch can be implemented, there is no measurable level of acceptance within the community yet;

5. SSTF surveys have clearly obtained the support of 45% of households in Seputeh based on the proposed subscription rates;

6. With the subscriptions collected based on the 45% of households, SSTF is confident of mounting a private security scheme working in close collaboration with Brickfields’ police;

7. Such a private security scheme can also be further augmented by those residents who believe in the Neighbourhood Watch concept and who may want to organise a voluntary Neighbourhood Watch group; to embrace those who want and believe in Neighbourhood Watch

8. Such a scheme needs to be run by a legally-constituted body – the most appropriate of which is SRA for Seputeh residents – to be able to open bank accounts and enter into service agreements; a responsibility of the RA

9. Security is a stated objective of the SRA under Clause 4.3 on safeguarding property and security of members; any committee must abide by Clause 4.3

10. The SRA is duty-bound under Clause 4.4 to resolve problems faced by SRA members AND the community at large; embrace all, boleh juga, Constitution allows it under Clause 4.4 e.g. an SRA lantern festival surely cannot exclude children of non-members :)


Considering that:

11. The past SRA Committee:

a. has decided against such a private security scheme in the belief that either a Rukun Tetangga Scheme or a Neighbourhood Watch would be a better alternative; opinion respected but disagreed with

b. had initially agreed on May 7, 2008, to endorse SSTF as a sub-committee to run such a security scheme but rescinded its initial agreement for the aforesaid and other reasons in on Aug 17, 2008; "nuff said about SRA Committee's decision-making process and influencers within"

and,

c. had instead advised SSTF to form a Company Limited By Guarantee to run such a security scheme; Sept 7 Japan Club meeting of residents re-affirmed "tak boleh"


Further Considering that:

12. The SSTF, having considered all options, recommended that any security scheme for residents should rightly be under the auspices of the Residents’ Association (RA) as proven by the fact that most security schemes in Klang Valley are supported by the RAs;

13. A residents meeting held on Sept 7, 2008, at the Japan Club attended by over 100 persons has also evaluated these options and endorsed the recommendation of the SSTF that the security scheme should be “parked” under SRA;

14. This same residents meeting has concluded that a firm resolution be put to the SRA to facilitate such a security scheme as envisioned by the SSTF;


And,

Bearing in Mind that:

15. The past SRA Committee had concerns over:

a. depleting existing SRA funds for running such a security scheme; won't touch it, promise!

b. involvement of non-SRA members; embrace all, apa susah?, check Clause 4.4

and,

c. having to supervise and operate any such private security scheme and deal with security service providers, given its already heavy workload; Committee will be spared extra security workload, kita buat semua itu kerja



We, the under-signed members of the SSTF, request the Annual General Meeting – being the highest decision-making body of the SRA – deliberate and pass the following resolution pursuant to Clause 8 of the SRA Constitution:


This Annual General Meeting on December 19th, 2008, held at Japan Club premises RESOLVES THAT:

1. The SRA endorses the formation of the Seputeh Security Task Force (SSTF) with the status of a sub-committee and with its initial members drawn from the current proposers and seconders of this resolution for the specific purpose of managing and regulating security matters, including but not limited to providing, sourcing and operating security services for Seputeh residents; enabling clause

2. The SSTF, being formally endorsed as a sub-committee of the SRA, will choose two representatives to sit on the SRA Committee as ex-officio members with the expressed portfolio of overseeing security matters; still report to committee -- still in charge, no one wants to usurp

3. The SRA facilitates the SSTF to set up a bank account in the name of “Seputeh Security Fund” or any variation of such name as the SSTF’s chosen banker may require, including but not limited to endorsing any banking form, note or document to enable the account to be operational within 30 days from the date of this AGM; operational necessity

4. The “Seputeh Security Fund” bank account, or any such name as the SSTF banker may stipulate, shall be operated by the SSTF which shall nominate five (5) signatories on a signature condition that cheques and all banking documents or notes be endorsed by ANY three (3) of the five (5) signatories; ensures total accountability and transparency

Provided always that:

5. The security scheme shall be the responsibility of the SSTF which shall absolve the SRA Committee of any responsibility in running such a security scheme nor any direct involvement in its operations; SSTF takes the responsibility, committee can still be boss yet blameless

6. Existing SRA funds will not be drawn upon for the use of the security scheme; as promised

7. The SRA has obligations only to its members and expressly has no obligation whatsoever to non-members, including those who opt to subscribe to any such security scheme; reassuring clause

8. The SSTF maintains and operates the Seputeh Security Fund solely for the purpose of running the security scheme and matters directly or indirectly related to security; defining use of fund and scope of work

and,

9. Copies of the monthly bank statements of the Seputeh Security Fund account be forwarded to the SRA Committee and the account be independently audited. ensures good governance

So why this refusal to accept resolution and going to great lengths to draw up a "rival" resolution for the first time in 10-year history? Remember, we all have a common objective -- ensuring better security for all.

Final analysis: Let's see what's done in the coming year and whether all Orang Seputeh benefit.

Best regards
Orang Seputeh

What SRA 2008 Committee's Resol 1 means

Lest we forget, let us look at what Resolution 1 means.

Point 1: A PROMISE to work security into every project undetaken by SRA Committee like they have been doing all this while.

Point 2: Another PROMISE to continue to do so without asking members for money specially for security. Like they have been doing all this while.

Point 3: Another PROMISE not to accept funds from anyone else. Like they have been doing all this while.

Point 4: Another PROMISE not to expose members to outsiders who may "threaten" them. Like they have been doing all this while.

Orang Seputeh must ponder: Why the need for such a special resolution in the name of the SRA itself (note resolution on letterhead of SRA, not any individual member) if they have been doing this all this while?

Orang Seputeh must also ponder: Isn't security and welfare of members and Seputeh community at large already a "given"? (Please read Clause 4.3 and 4.4 of SRA Constitution). Why must there be a special resolution this time?

Orang Seputeh saw the "light": It is because the existence of SSTF put the focus on security that people become "security-conscious" though sadly defensively so. Cheers to Robert Quah and team for this initiative has already achieved the objective. But for not being docile and obedient. So, this Friday's AGM will see not 1 but 2 resolutions. Knotty, knotty :)

More on resolutions later...

In conclusion, let us work together. So what if people disagree, let's agree to disagree but get the job done -- paid or unpaid.

With apologies to Deng Xiao Ping: Never mind if the white cat is not paid and the black cat is paid, as long as both cats catch the rats. Let us not focus on checking which cat, whose cat and who pays the cat to the extend that "while the cat's away, the mouse comes out to play"!

Miao

Towards A More Secure Future

Come One, Come All, Japan Club Friday 7pm

Fellow Seputeh Residents,

The moment is near! All those of you who are concerned about security -- in whatever form and manner -- please come to Japan Club at 7pm this Friday to attend the SRA AGM.

Come and take part in the AGM. Come and support SRA.

Let us remember we are all ONE -- united in our resolve to improve security and safeguard our property and loved ones. It does not matter whether you believe you should pay for added security or not, we are in the same boat.

On that note, Resolution 1 is a given. EVERYTHING that is stated in Resolution 1 should be carried out by ANY responsible SRA Committee without having to pass a resolution. Please read Clause 4 of the Constitution.

Whatever it is, the SSTF is heartened to see prominent and influential members of the current committee NOW feel strongly enough to put in Resolution 1 -- even if these are the exact things which they should be carrying out without having to pass a resolution.

What about Resolution 2? We will discuss that in a separate posting. Watch this space.

Whatever it is, please come and attend the AGM. SRA belongs to all Orang Seputeh, not a select group. And nobody will be forced to pay anything they don't want to.

Last we checked, we are still living in a democratic country :)

Best regards,
Orang Seputeh

Towards A More Secure Future

Sept 7 SSTF Public Meeting & Wait For Dec 19 SRA AGM

Fellow Seputeh Residents,


Orang Seputeh has deliberately held back updates arising from the Sept 7 Public Meeting as the SSTF wanted to "leave no stone unturned" in our effort to make the best approach possible with the end in mind -- the end of having a more secure Seputeh for all.

Apologies to those who have emailed and sent SMSes asking what happened. By now many may have found out from their neighbours -- after all it was a PUBLIC meeting.

For the record -- and lest we forget -- the SSTF present various options from a Sdn Bhd, a company limited by guarantee, forming another society and of course, parking the security scheme under SRA.

The full-house crowd at Japan Club voted overwhelmingly to park the scheme under the SRA. The SSTF facilitators initially suggested an appeal at the next SRA AGM but those present insisted that it should be a full-fledged resolution. So, acting on that mandate, SSTF has gone ahead to draft a resolution.


There will be more on this later.


For now, this post is to show some pictures of that public meeting and to alert you that the SRA Committee has fixed Dec 19 as the AGM date. We believe it will be 7pm at the Japan Club. Watch out for your notice in your post-box.


Meanwhile, enjoy the photos...

• From Top To Bottom

1. Brickfields police officers briefing the residents at the start of the meeting.
2. Hear Ye! Hear All! A vocal resident making his point.
3. Full house at Japan Club venue.
4. We insisted on a full resolution at SRA AGM
5. Yes, we -- concerned Seputeh residents -- insist.

Towards A More Secure Future