Cheras-Kajang Highway operator Grand Saga Sdn Bhd has today warned that it may re-erect the disputed Bandar Mahkota Cheras (BMC) barricade out of ‘safety concerns’.

In a statement today, Grand Saga business development and corporate affairs executive director Zainal Abidin Ali said traffic had become chaotic following the “illegal” removal of the barricade last week by BMC residents.

mahkota cheras road barricade problem location of barricade 300408 He also furnished several photographs ( left ) of the area, known as the Bandar Tun Hussein Onn interchange off the Cheras-Kajang Highway, in his emailed statement to support his claim.

“It is obvious that the illegal opening of the road has not met the safety requirements set by the relevant authorities such as traffic lights, safety signages, etc,” he said.

Zainal Abidin said that the situation endangers motorist not only from BMC and surrounding townships and that Grand Saga was responsible in maintaining the safety of its road users.

“Hence, to maintain and ensure the safety of all road users, Grand Saga has been advised to take the necessary steps to re-erect the barricade,” he said.

However, Zainal Abidin did not reveal where the "advice" came from.

Leave it to the courts

The controversial barricade was erected in 2005 on a road constructed by BMC developers Narajaya Sdn Bhd. The barricade prevents BMC residents from accessing the highway toll-free.

Instead residents are forced to travel an additional six kilometre and pay Grand Saga 90 sen toll for every trip [see Google map below].

BMC residents claim that the barricade was illegal since Narajaya had promised residents that they would be able to use the access road.

Presently, residents are lobbying the new Pakatan Rakyat state government to support the removal of the barricade. In turn, the state government has appointed a land surveyor to determine if Grand Saga had authority over the land where the barricade was located.

On Monday, the Land Office said in a letter that the land used to erect the barrier was the property of Narajaya according to the Selangor government gazette dated May 27, 2003.

In response to this development, Zainal Abidin said that the barricade dispute was being heard at the High Court in a suit filed by Narajaya.

“Grand Saga has since consulted its solicitors and has been advised that any surveyor’s report produced by any party must be put to court for final determination,” he said.

Zainal Abidin also maintained he highway concessionaire’s position that the barricade was constructed within the Cheras-Kajang Highway right of way.

They’re making excuses

In an immediate reaction, BMC Free Access Road ad hoc committee chairperson Tan Boon Hwa said it was the prerogative of Grand Saga to build traffic lights and provide signage to ensure the safety of road users.

“The traffic lights are already there. If they add a few more and tune them properly, they can control the traffic situation if they want to,” said Tan, adding that Grand Saga was “making excuses”.

Tan also told Malaysiakini that he had been informed that the land surveyor’s report which was supposed to be released today by the Selangor state government had been postponed again.

He was however unsure why this was put off.

BMC residents had expressed hope that the state government’s land surveyor report would corroborate their own surveyor’s findings as well as the findings of the land office.

map of disputed access road from bandar mahkota cheras