Residents still in the dark on SUKE highway

SOME residents in Ampang claim they have not been informed by the local government if their homes will be acquired for the Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) project.

Resident Rizuan Kassim, 40, who had just purchased a house in Bukit Ampang three weeks ago said he received a notice last Thursday that his home would be acquired for the construction of the highway.

“On Thursday, an officer from the land office told me to fill up the Borang E to apply for compensation as my property will be acquired for the highway project.

Bukit Cheras resident Lau Choi Pong, 63, said a notice was pasted on the front wall of her house about the acquisition of her property.

“Just few days ago, there was a notice pasted near my postbox that my house was going to be acquired.

“I have lived here for 17 years,” she said.

The Say No To SUKE group (SNTS) briefed residents on Saturday on the cons of the project based on a study by the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW).

SNTS committee chairman Muhammad Agos Abul Hasan Ashari said they had submitted the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report by Prolintas to ELAW last month and received feedback last week. “SUKE highway is considered illegal as it is not in the Ampang Jaya or Kuala Lumpur local plan which is a requirement under the Town and Country Planning Act 1972.

“The study also clearly states that there is not enough information in the Prolintas EIA report about the project’s benefit to justify human cost,” he said.

He added that extreme noise and air pollution were some of the adverse effects of SUKE as the highway would be 10 metres away from residential areas.

Muhammad said SNTS had proposed a new realignment design of the highway, however Prolintas was not willing to consider their proposal. “We do have an alternative design which does not affect the residential area.

“It will be a bit more expensive but it is worth considering the human lives that will not be affected.

“Prolintas contacts me only to talk about my house which is one of those affected by the highway. Its not just about my house, its about the whole community,” he said.

More than 80 residents from Taman Bukit Ampang, Taman Seri Ampang, Taman Permai, Taman Len Sen, Bukit Mandarina as well as Ara Ampang traders attended the briefing.

While the group are currently seeking advice from lawyers and Suhakam, Muhammad Agos said they would not be taking legal action against Prolintas.

“The approval for SUKE was actually given by the authorities, so we are not going to sue Prolintas.

“We will take legal action against the Selangor government and the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council for approving the project.

“Our lawyers will submit affidavits in Duta High Court next month,” he said.

StarMetro had reported that many shopowners in century-old premises in Pekan Ampang were worried that they might have to make way for the highway project running through the township.

The pre-war shophouses are expected to be demolished when construction of the highway starts in June next year.

SUKE is a 24.4km, three-lane, dual-carriageway, elevated expressway that will start from Sri Petaling, passing through Sungai Besi, Alam Damai, Cheras-Kajang, Taman Bukit Permai, Taman Putra, Taman Permai Jaya, Taman Dagang Permai, Taman Kosas, Ampang and Taman Hillview before exiting in Ulu Kelang.