Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) today riled up two backbenchers when he accused them of "betrayal" for supporting a controversial highway project.

When he claimed that the duo had become "cheerleaders" for Works Minister S Samy Vellu, it paved the way for fireworks in the Dewan Rakyat.

The minister later joined in the fray, describing DAP as batu api (instigator).

The drama enfolded when Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) and Mohamed Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) agreed with Samy Vellu over the Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya highway project.

In the ministerial winding-up on Budget 2006, Samy Vellu said construction of the six-lane elevated highway, a portion of which cuts across a residential area in Sri Petaling, will proceed despite protest from the residents.

Residents have protested the proximity of the highway to their houses and claimed that construction work had caused structural damage.

Samy Vellu said the highway meets the criteria set by Kuala Lumpur City Hall and reiterated that noise barriers would be erected on both sides.

On Sept 28, Backbenchers Club head Shahrir Abdul Samad had inspected the site and called on the local authority to issue an immediate 'stop work' order until an independent investigation is carried out.

'Bad assumptions'

Angered by the turn of events, Lim said: "I don't know why the backbenchers are supporting the minister today. Kinabatangan (Bung Mokhtar) and Sri Gading (Mohamad) have become cheerleaders."

He pointed out that even the head of the Backbenchers Club (BBC) had called for a 'stop work' order.

"That was the call from the BBC chair, now everybody has been betrayed," he said, stoking a war of words.

Responded Bung Mokhtar: "Don't make bad assumptions about the backbenchers."

Lim, saying the matter is important as it involves public interest, called on the backbenchers to be seated and remain quiet.

This upset Mohamad Aziz, who retorted:"How is it possible for the opposition leader to ask the backbenchers to be quiet?"

Deputy Speaker Lim Si Cheng's repeated attempts to defuse the situation proved futile.

At this point, Samy Vellu said: "From what I have observed over the last five minutes, this is just batu api (instigation from DAP)."

The minister said he would meet the residents at his office tomorrow to discuss the steps taken by the government to alleviate their problems.

The 26km highway stretches from the Kampung Pandan roundabout to the administrative capital of Putrajaya.