Bandar Mahkota Cheras toll dispute

The Bandar Mahkota Cheras toll dispute occurred at a bypass road in the 11th mile of the Cheras-Kajang Expressway in the town of Bandar Mahkota Cheras, Selangor, Malaysia since October 2005, and more recently in a dramatic turn of events between April 2008 and early-June 2008.

Background

In October 2005, during the construction of the Bandar Mahkota Cheras, an access road connecting the new township and the Bandar Tun Hussein Onn Interchange (MES-EXIT|704) was built by the developer to provide access to Bandar Mahkota Cheras from Cheras-Kajang Highway and vice-versa."Grand Saga the latecomer", Gabey Goh, "The Malay Mail", 31 May 2008] The access was closed by the toll concessionaire, Grand Saga, under the direction of the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) due to disputes between Grand Saga and the developer of Bandar Mahkota Cheras, Narajaya, on compensations since the link road would allow motorists to bypass the 11th mile toll plaza on the expressway. As a result, residents travelling to Kuala Lumpur are required to enter the expressway via Bandar Sungai Long or vice-versa, while having to pay fares for both the 9th mile and 11th mile toll plaza. Over the years, the access road became a source of dissatisfaction and gripes by the local residents of Bandar Mahkota Cheras. [http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/55692 Seventh protest against barricade] , Andrew Ong, Malaysiakini, 22 August 2006] [http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/62388 21 arrested in anti-toll hike protest] , Malaysiakini, 21 January 2007]

Several protests were held over the years against the barricading of the access road, but to no avail. It was not until the 12th Malaysian general election, the state government, which owned 30% of Grand Saga fell under the control of the opposition government following the defeat of Barisan Nasional in Selangor. [http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/83563 S'gor MB: State firm owns stake in Grand Saga] , Rahmah Ghazali & S Pathamawathy, Malaysiakini, 28 May 2008]

The dispute

On 21 April 2008, local residents took the dispute into their own hands and dismantled the barricades for the first time by hand, temporarily allowing traffic to and from the township to directly enter and exit the expressway for three weeks. [http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/6/7/central/21481319&sec=central Sigh of relief from residents] , Geetha Krishnan, "The Star", 7 May 2008] [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/9/nation/21203494&sec=nation Four arrested in Cheras demo] , Andrew Sagayam, "The Star", 9 May 2008] A few days later, the Hulu Langat land office confirmed that concessionaire Grand Saga had no rights over the access road. [http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/82099 Confirmed - residents can tear down concrete barrier] , Syed Jaymal Zahiid, Malaysiakini, 29 April 2008]

In the following days, it was a game between the residents and the concessionaire, as the barrier was repeatedly rebuilt by Grand Saga only to be dismantled by the residents shortly after. In some instances, residents pooled hundreds of dollars to hire trucks and heavy machinery to bring the barricade down."Residents raise RM700 to hire lorry", "New Straits Times", 29 May 2008]

On 8 May 2008, residents clashed with the Police while they were protecting the access road from being rebuilt by Grand Saga. Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng was allegedly assaulted by the Police and was hospitalised. [http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/82572 BMC residents doused and gassed] , Andrew Ong, Malaysiakini, 9 May 2008] [http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/82637 I would do it again, says assaulted MP] , Andrew Ong, Malaysiakini, 9 May 2008] Several accusations of police brutality were made."MP: Police chief must apologise", "New Straits Times", 17 May 2008] "Bandar Mahkota Cheras: Suhakam wants police to explain use of force", "New Straits Times", 31 May 2008]

The residents attempted to obtain an injunction against Grand Saga to rebuild the barrier on the access road. On 13 May 2008, the court denied the injunction and Grand Saga vowed to put up another barrier. [http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/82724 Barricade row: Court throws out residents' injunction] , Syed Jaymal Zahiid, Malaysiakini, 12 May 2008] [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/13/courts/21231554&sec=courts Construction restarts as court refuses resident’s injunction] , "The Star", 13 May 2008]

On 27 May 2008, a five-foot wall was erected by Grand Saga. Some residents and journalists (including mainstream newspapers) at the scene were attacked by unidentified men who were armed with sticks, pipes and helmets, sitting on the walls to prevent them from being dismantled."Attacked with sticks & helmets", "The New Paper", 29 May 2008] [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/29/nation/21391153&sec=nation Police action on those creating chaos] , "The Star", 29 May 2008] They also smashed the windows of a few nearby vehicles. Police reports were lodged and residents accused Grand Saga of hiring thugs to ensure that the wall remained in place, a charge that the concessionaire vehemently denied."Grand Saga denies resorting to thugs", "New Straits Times", 29 May 2008] [http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/83555 Toll operator: We're not involved in BMC violence] , Malaysiakini, 29 May 2008] The next day, the barrier was torn down once again. [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/29/nation/21392629&sec=nation Cheers as residents pull down controversial barricade] , "The Star", 29 May 2008] [http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/5/29/central/21387733&sec=central Bandar Mahkota Cheras residents urge Federal Govt to intervene] , Yip Yoke Yeng & Fazleena Aziz, "The Star", 29 May 2008]

Members of the opposition state government tried to bring up the issue on the Malaysian Parliament, [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/30/nation/21398134&sec=nation Bandar Mahkota residents take their case to Parliament] , "The Star", 30 May 2008] [http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/content.jsp?id=com.tms.cms.article.Article_37eea2c9-cb73c03a-18992130-6ec5b04a Bandar Mahkota fracas a hot topic] , Sharon Tan, The Edge Daily, 30 May 2008] only to be shot down by the speaker. [http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/30/parliament/21401400&sec=parliament Motion on Cheras issue rejected] , "The Star", 30 May 2008] A few days later, the Federal Government ordered that the access road was to stay open until the court makes a final decision on the dispute. [http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/83695 Cabinet wants BMC access road kept open] , Soon Li Tsin, Malaysiakini, 30 May 2008] "Bandar Mahkota Cheras: Cheras road to remain open for now", David Yeow, "New Straits Times", 31 May 2008]

On 4 June 2008, the Malaysian Highway Authority and Grand Saga were ordered to install traffic lights on the junctions of Bandar Mahkota Cheras to ease the traffic flow of the residents.

References

External links

* [http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/82584 Malaysiakini on the Bandar Mahkota Cheras toll dispute]