Residents of Bandar Mahkota Cheras have staged another protest against a concrete barricade erected on a road which would enable them to access the Cheras-Kajang highway without paying toll.

About 100 residents chanted slogans demanding that the road be opened, as they placed flowers at the barricade where the access road meets the highway.

"We give white flowers to dead people, and these flowers are for a dead end," said one resident.

Two minutes later, they dispersed in response to repeated pleas by a police officer, who also instructed them to stop chanting slogans. Another 18 police personnel, including members of the light strike force in riot gear, stood watch.

The protest - the seventh to date - was considerably less emotional than previous ones.

Addressing the residents, DAP Selangor publicity chief Ronnie Liu - acting as advisor to the commitment - said the matter would be raised in Parliament as it involves several ministries.

On Aug 18, property developer Narajaya Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the Lion Group, said in a letter to residents that the access road was built following approval by the Malaysian Highway Authority.

"Regrettably, this access road has been blocked by the toll concessionaire company (Grand Saga Sdn Bhd)," said Narajaya senior general manager Liew Choon Yick

"The structures used to block the road have been erected on land that comes under their concession right of way... we are in no position to remove such structures."

'Passing the buck'

Responding, Bandar Mahkota Cheras Free Access Road Action Committee president Tan Boon Hwa said the developer is trying to absolve itself of responsibility.

"If they had solved this problem as early as 1994 when the housing project was approved, then this problem would not have arisen because Grand Saga only started toll collection in 1997," he said.

In 2002, Lion Group had advertised the access road as a selling point for the township, as this would allow the residents to avoid the proposed toll both ( see map ).

Grand Saga, however, reportedly objected to the access road as motorists from areas neighbouring Bandar Mahkota Cheras would also try to escape paying toll.

A massive campaign against closure of the access road began in April, with several thousand signatures collected and protests being mounted.

A rowdy protest on July 2 saw angry residents tearing down the barricade with bare hands and a sledgehammer. The barricade was rebuilt the same day.

For the past two weeks, residents have been using a stretch of private land a short distance from the barricade.

This has been tarred to allow motorists to enter the highway without paying toll, but is only meant for one-way traffic.