Highway concessionaire Grand Saga Sdn Bhd has instructed its lawyers to write to Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng asking him to refrain from making press statements on the police helping the toll operator.

lim lip eng This was in response to Lim's revelation Tuesday that Grand Saga had admitted that the police assisted the company in re-erecting the barricade blocking the toll-free access road to the Cheras-Kajang Highway from Bandar Mahkota Cheras.

The admission, according to the DAP politician, was made by Grand Saga executive director Zainal Abidin Ali - who is a former top cop - in a sworn affidavit dated May 20.

mahkota cheras grand saga road barricade fru assault 280508 07 "On May 7 and May 8, the company attempted twice to re-erect the barricade with the help of the police," read the affidavit submitted to the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Commenting on this, Zainal said the company views with concern certain statements made to the media by Lim misinterpreting the statements contained in affidavits filed in a court proceeding.

zainal abidin ali apcet "Grand Saga wishes it to be made known that the court proceedings are still pending and the affidavits referred to in recent media articles have not yet been properly read by the court for determination," he added in a brief media statement today.

Clarifying the issue, Zainal said at all material times, the presence of the police was to safeguard law and order, particularly in light of the tense situation and the large number of people gathered at the location.

Residents: Police siding Grand Saga

The High Court is hearing the case to determine whether residents have the right to access the highway from Bandar Mahkota Cheras.

Nearly 40,000 residents have persistently asked the highway concessionaire to remove the initial barricade which were erected in 2005.

The barricade forces residents to take a longer tolled route to gain access to the highway.

cheras mahkota conflict 080508 lim lip eng arrested Things boiled over when various altercations occurred in May involving residents, hired help for the company and the police, including Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel.

It resulted with the federal government ordering the road to remain open until the legal dispute is resolved in court.

Residents have accused the police of siding with Grand Saga, but this was denied by Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar.

On July 1, Works Minister Mohd Zin Mohamed also denied in Parliament that the government instructed any enforcement agency to assist Grand Saga.

The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) is currently holding a public inquiry on allegations that the police used 'excessive force' against the residents.