Residents of Taman Bukit Margosa in Seremban had been having sleepless nights due to the construction of a highway four metres away from their homes.

Efforts in seeking legal remedy had come to naught following the transfer of Seremban High Court judge Datuk Azhar Ma'ah to the Court of Appeals. This case had been postponed thrice and the next hearing is only scheduled to be heard on Sept 3.

Residents now fear that the legal delay would hamper efforts to halt construction works and legal intervention would be futile once construction nears completion.

They are also furious that enquiries to the developers and complaints made to them had not been entertained.

taman bukit margosa seremban resident protest 100609 02 "We are in the dark as the developers have not revealed their construction plans and withheld information from us.

"This is a hilly area. We do not know if there are bridges or tunnels and even if there are, we do not where they will be situated.

"We want the highway to be diverted. If not, we seek compensation," said Zakaria Othman, Taman Bukit Margosa Action Committee president.

Residents had filed an injunction at the Seremban High Court on April 3 to put an immediate end to all construction works.

Their legal counsel Zorah Jan confirmed that the writ of summonses, statement of claims and certificate of urgency had been filed.

Among the 12 defendants named in the suit were Lebuhraya Kajang-Seremban Sdn Bhd, IJM Construction, IJM Corporation, Malaysian Highway Authority director-general, Seremban municipal council president, Negeri Sembilan Public Works department director, local government and federal government.

No action from state state rep

Over 330 residents and 220 houses in this 12-year-old suburb had experienced flash floods during heavy downpour as the developers failed to comply with the regulative rules.

taman bukit margosa seremban resident protest 100609 03 Complaints made to Lenggeng assemblyman Mustapha Salim have fallen to deaf ears and protests held by residents have gone unnoticed.

Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Mohamad Hasan had previously threatened to temporarily stop construction works in March if developers failed to adhere to the rules and building specifications.

"Despite issuing a warning, the same thing has happened again," he reportedly told New Straits Times.

The project was approved by the government in 1997 and the construction of the expressway began on 2002. Due to financial constrains faced by the original concessionaire, Kajang-Seremban Highway Sdn Bhd (Kaseh), construction works had to be put on hold.

The project was revived in November 2006 after a takeover by a new concessionnaire, Lebuhraya Kajang-Seremban Sdn Bhd (Lekas).

IJM Corporation Berhad held 50 per cent of the stake while the original concessionnaire, Kajang-Seremban Highway Sdn Bhd held the remainder. This project has been scheduled to be completed by Dec 2009.