Cheras toll saga: Barricade re-erected

Cheras toll saga: Barricade re-erected (Report from MalaysiaKini)
May 27, 08 2:11pm
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/83489

It did not take long for toll concessionaire Grand Saga to rebuild a concrete barricade to block a toll-free access road to the Cheras-Kajang Highway in Bandar Mahkota Cheras (BMC).

MCPXThe task of building the five-foot high wall across the double-lane access road started at about 1am and was completed by 3.30pm today.

Grand Saga executive director Zainal Abidin Ali (left) had issued a statement at 5pm yesterday, vowing to rebuild the barriers within a week.

About 200 residents were at the scene to watch the barricade go up but did not take any action.
The residents have pledged not to demolish the barricade, unlike on two previous occasions, as the highway company has a court order in its favour.

Open the Road Committee chairperson Tan Boon Hwa (right) told Malaysiakini that they would now leave the matter in the hands of the Selangor government.

"We will let the state government handle this. Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim has stated that it is illegal to build the barricade on the road as indicated by the findings of the Ulu Langat Land Office," commented Tan when contacted this morning.

The battle for free access to the highway has been going on for three years but came to a boil on April 21 when the residents demolished the original barricade - built in 2005 - with the support of some newly-appointed Pakatan Rakyat state exco members.

Grand Saga was quick to put up the barrier again, only for it to be torn down again by the frustrated residents.

However, Grand Saga's attempt to rebuild the wall - for the third time - on the night of May 8 was abandoned after volleys of tear gas were fired by the police at the residents.

Four days later, the residents failed to get the High Court to restrain the toll operator from re-erecting the barricade.

With this court ruling in its favour, Zainal Abidin gave notice yesterday that the company was going to build a barricade and hoped the residents would not interfere with the court ruling.

He said the court, in throwing out the injunction, had noted that Grand Saga has the right to build a barricade “within its indisputable concession area”.

The new Selangor government has however argued that the area where the barricade was built, is part of state land and questioned Grand Saga’s right in erecting the barrier.

According to Tan, the new barricade is about two feet away from the old barrier. At five feet, the wall consisting of boulders is much higher than the original three-foot concrete barrier.


State to react within 24 hours

Khalid's political secretary Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, in an immediate response to the rebuilding of the barricade, said the best possible action is being discussed with lawyers.

"We have already told Grand Saga that if they wish to dispute the jurisdiction over the road, they should take it to court. They should not barricade the road until the matter is legally resolved," replied Nik Nazmi.

Nik Nazmi added that the Selangor government will announce its action within 24 hours as it has various issues to consider.

The toll concessionaire had barricaded the access road three years ago - a move which upset the residents who had been using the road to enter the expressway without having to pay toll at Batu 11, Cheras.

The concrete barrier forced commuters to travel an additional six kilometres and pay Grand Saga 90 sen toll for every trip.

Two weeks ago, Khalid had given all the parties involved in the dispute - Grand Saga, BMC developers Narajaya and the Malaysian Highway Authority - seven days to reach an amicable solution.

But Zainal Abidin yesterday said that "the issue unfortunately has not been resolved" after the lapse of the seven days.