Road barricade is illegal, says Liu

Bandar Mahkota Cheras residents showing their disapproval over the fracas on Thursday night.

NST (date unknown): The Cheras-Kajang Expressway operator, Grand Saga Sdn Bhd, can not block the access road to Bandar Mahkota in Cheras as the road is on state land.

State executive councillor for local government and research Ronnie Liu said what the company did, by placing concrete barriers on the road, was illegal.

He said a survey by the state Survey and Mapping Department (Jupem), which he received on Friday, confirmed that the land belonged to the state.

"I have forwarded the report to state legal advisor (Datuk Zauyah Lothy Khan) for necessary action, including informing the company on the status of the land," he said during his visit to the area on Saturday.

Also present were Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching, Hulu Langat MP Dr Che Rosli Che Mat and state executive councillor for new village development and illegal factory Ean Yong Hian Wah, who is also Seri Kembangan assemblyman.

Liu said so far, the company had not showed any documents to prove that the land was theirs or belonged to the Federal Government.

He said the company did not employ any land surveyor to determine the status of the land before erecting the barriers.

"In a way, no one can block the access road and the residents have the right to use it."

Liu said to find an amicable solution on the issue, Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had agreed to hold a meeting between the residents, company and the federal governmment's this week.

He said to avoid another controversy, the state government would also check with the Public Works Department to determine whether the other access roads to the expressway belonged to the state.

Bandar Mahkota residents have been fighting for their right to use the toll-free access road since three years ago, after Grand Saga barricaded the road.

Upset with the company's move, residents had several times dismantled the barriers but the company continued to erect new ones.

The dispute turned ugly last Thursday when 2,000 residents in the area demonstrated and demanded the authorities to stop the construction of the concrete barrier.

More than 1,000 Federal Reserve Unit personnel were present and had to resort to using water cannons to disperse the crowd. Police also arrested four people.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who was present, suffered cuts and bruises on his arms and body.

He had claimed that he was kicked and punched by plainclothes policemen while trying to prevent the FRU from using water cannon on the residents.

Lim had sought treatment at Kajang Hospital.

Following the incident, Grand Saga applied for an injunction against Bandar Mahkota Cheras Open Access Committee head Tan Boon Wah, Kajang Municipal Council and Liu to stop them from entering the disputed land.

On Friday, an injunction to stop the company from erecting a barricade along the access road was filed at the High Court by Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching.

It was reported that the access road was built by Bandar Mahkota Cheras developer, Narajaya Sdn Bhd, to enable easier access for the residents to the expressway.

After the road was built, the Kajang Municipal Council gave the green light for its opening. Grand Saga, however, was against the access road as it bypassed the Batu 11 toll plaza and blocked the road.

The company was also reported to have asked for RM400 million from Narajaya for the loss in toll collection if the access road was to be allowed.