Works Minister S Samy Vellu today instructed that a stop-work order be issued on the construction of a disputed portion of the Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya highway.

Samy Vellu issued the order to the Malaysian Highway Authorities (LLM) this afternoon during a meeting at his office with three representatives from the affected area in Taman Sri Petaling.

"He (the minister) ordered LLM to tell the concessionaire that while Kumpulan Ikram is doing their investigation of the site to produce an independent report on the effects of the construction, (construction) work should be stopped," said Seputeh MP Teresa Kok who accompanied the representatives at a press conference later.

Kok however admitted that the minister is adamant that the highway project continues and that concrete parapet walls and sound barriers will be erected to protect the residents.

While it is uncertain when the stop-work order will take effect, several residents from the area expressed relief that the authorities are beginning to take note of their protests.

"Its good news for us because the ministry recognises that construction work needs to be stopped pending (Ikram's) investigations," the group's spokesperson Lau Khien Foh told reporters.

Unresolved issues

However, he expressed disappointment that many issues brought up with Samy Vellu remains unresolved.

For example, Lau ( seated far right ) claimed that the minister did not respond when the representatives presented documents showing how the disputed portion did not meet guidelines set by the works department, LLM and recommendations in the Environmental Impact Assessment conducted in 1996.

Lau called for the authorities to give the residents a chance to cooperate and formulate an amicable solution.

Residents had complained about the proximity of the highway to their houses and claimed that its construction was also causing structural damage.

According to Kok, Samy Vellu had promised to compensate the repair cost of the houses, provided that Ikram manages to prove the damages were caused by the construction.

The 26 km KL-Putrajaya highway stretches from Kampung Pandan roundabout to Putrajaya.

A portion of the highway cuts through Jalan 2/149 in Bandar Sri Petaling. The four-lane road is sandwiched between two rows of houses on opposite sides.