Monday, May 19, 2008

Villagers want link across DUKE - The Sun

KUALA LUMPUR (May 19, 2008):

Kampung Puah Seberang residents in Sentul are riled up over the Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE) project which they claim will drive a wedge on the close communal ties they have forged within the neighbourhood.

Carrying banners and placards, about 80 residents staged a protest at 10am today next to an overhead pedestrian bridge at a section of the highway which is still under construction. The highway and cuts through their village.

The protest, led by Sentul MP Tian Chua and Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong, lasted about 30 minutes with residents demanding that the developer, MRCB Group, build an overhead motorcycle bridge linking the village which has been split by the highway.

"It's just like a knife cutting through and the developer does not seem to care what is in between.The people here have built a close-knit community over the last 50 years and they travel around on bicycles and motorcycles.

"When the highway is ready, they will have to go out to Jalan Sentul just to get to the other side, travelling about 7km.The highway will also bring massive pollution to their homes," said Tian Chua, adding that Batu Muda residents nearby were also facing the same dilemma.

He said there was no need for such protests had the developer taken time to meet residents and hear out their woes.

Wee said two-wheelers were the main mode of transport for the villagers to carry out their daily chores and without the motorcycle bridge, it would be a major inconvenient to them.

The MPs said they will raise the matter in Parliament and hoped the developer will resolve the matter amicably with the residents.

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