Vexed residents protest against toll hike
Malaysiakini.com
Dec 18, 2006
Bede Hong

Some 800 residents in Kuala Lumpur took to the streets yesterday to voice their grouses against the hike in toll prices.

The residents from Bandar Mahkota in Cheras demanded the removal of the concrete barricades which prevented them from accessing the Cheras-Kajang highway without having to pay toll.

During the hour-long protest which began at 10am, the residents carried placards and banners, which among others, called on Works Minister S Samy Vellu to resign.

They also chanted slogans demanding the removal of the barricades and toll rates to be reduced. About two dozen anti-riot police personnel were at the scene but no untoward incidents were reported.

The protest was organised by the Bandar Mahkota Cheras Open Access Road Action Committee (BMC-OARAC).

Also present were numerous DAP leaders, including parliamentarians Dr Tan Seng Giaw, Fong Kui Lun, Tan Kok Wai and Teresa Kok.

Contacted today, DAP Selangor publicity chief Ronnie Liu said another protest will be held on Dec 31 near the Grand Saga toll plaza along the Cheras highway.

“The protest will involve opposition parties and residents,” he added.

Closed-door meeting

Last week, Samy announced that toll prices will rise between 20 to 60 percent for five highways in the Klang Valley.

The highways are the Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP), Shah Alam Highway, Cheras-Kajang Highway, KL-Karak Highway and the Guthrie Corridor Expressway.

He also said that eight other highways will be up for toll price review by 2008.

These are the North South Highway (Plus), Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway, North South Expressway Central Link (Elite), Seremban-Port Dickson Highway, New North Klang Straits Bypass (Shahpadu), Malaysia-Singapore Second Link, Butterworth-Kulim Expressway, and the Penang Bridge.

In another development, opposition parties and consumer associations will hold a closed-door meeting in Kuala Lumpur tonight to outline their next plan in the protest.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), DAP, PAS, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and other consumer groups will hold their discussions at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.

“It would not be public dialogue. We will be discussing what the parties can do with local associations to make clear that the hikes are unjust and unfair,” said PKR information chief Tian Chua.

“It is an informal meeting to discuss what we can do,” he added when pressed further.

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