People living beside highways not unusual
Malay Mail 20/9/2005 By V. VASUDEVAN

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20

Despite the Works Ministry’s reluctance to realign the Kuala Lumpur-Putrajaya elevated highway, a group of residents are determined to press ahead with their plans.

Alternatively, the residents said if the Government did not want to realign the highway, it should consider acquiring their properties which are located 2.3 metres from the elevated highway.

Sri Petaling Residents Action Committee chairman Lau Kien Foh said the residents were not deterred by the Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu’s refusal to consider their memorandum.

"His word is not the last and we don't think this is a Barisan Nasional stand. We are not against development but we want it done right," he said.

He said the residents feared for their safety and wanted to know what was being done about this.

"Alternatively, they should consider acquiring the houses which are 2.3 metres from the elevated highway. At least it will create a buffer zone for the other houses," he said, after meeting the Minister at the Parliament gatehouse yesterday.

Samy Vellu was leaving the Parliament but stopped and got out to face some 100 residents who had been protesting since 9.30am there.

Though he accepted their memorandum, the Works Minister told the residents their request was not going to be entertained by the Ministry.

He pointed out to them that there were many city folk who live beside highways and their complaint was not new.

He said if the highway is to be realigned it will cost the Government.

Samy Vellu also told the residents the Malaysian Highway Authority had held several discussions with them and explained the project to them.

Before the meeting with Samy Vellu, Lau submitted another memorandum to the Public Accounts committee chairman Datuk Shahrir Samad.

Shahrir said the Committee will most likely visit the area to get a better picture of the situation.