FRUSTRATED Bandar Mahkota Cheras (BMC) residents handed a memorandum to Pakatan Rakyat MPs in Parliament for the ?road barricade? issue to be raised with Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed.

Bandar Mahkota Open Road Committee Secretary Tan Han Kuo said the residents are appealing to mohd zin to cofirm the public?s ringht to use the road linking the housing area and the Cheras ? Kajang Highway.

He said the highway concessionaire Grand Saga Sdn Bhd?s act of erecting barricades on an existing road junction had caused untoward incidents and unhappiness among the residents.

"At least 10 people, including an MP women and reporters, were injured in the incidents to remove and rebuild the barricades," he said in the memorandum.

Tan Said the road was approved by the government in 1994 and the cost of RM16million was paid when the residents bought their properties there.

"The objective of privatization of highways should be helping the people to save time and transport cost. It should not be for profiteering and forget its corporate social responsibility," he added.

The committee representatives were received by Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut) and Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Serdang). Only several residents were disallowed into the house after a peaceful demonstration outside Parliament.

Teo said:" I'm extremely disappointe. The Speaker rejected my urgent motion to debate the issue,"

Lim said: "I wish to thank Selangor CPO Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar for ordering the concessionaire to stop putting up barricades and Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim fo trying to resolve the issue amicably."     

He also proposed that committee chairman Tan Boon Wah be appointed by the Selangor government as the Kajang municipal councilor as he had sacrificed his job and "is facing pressure from his family just to serve the community."

Writer Alliance for Media Independence Chairman Wong Chin Huat condemned the thugs who assaulted the three journalist and photographers who covered the Bandar Mahkota incident on Tuesday night.

"We call upon Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan to ensure that the thugs are brought to face justice.

"The must also investigate why the policemen present failed to intervene in the incident," he added.

Earlier in the Dewan Rakyat, Teo tabled a motion to debate the abuse of power by the police in Tuesday night?s brawl at the BMC barricade.

Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar rejected her motion on the ground that the issue was pending in court and there was no need to discuss the matter.

Teo said: ?It concerns abuse of power, it has nothing to do with the court case in which the  residents are suing Grand Saga Sdn Bhd to remove the barricade on the slip road linking the housing area to the Cheras ? Kajang Highway.

The other Pakatan Rakyat parliamentarians, including Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam), also voiced their concern over the grounds to dismiss the motion.

"It seems as if ther is no law and this issue is appropriate for the house to discuss," Chong Eng said, referring to the police?s action and inaction.

However, Wan Junaidi stood his ground and told the MPs to raise a motion with a two-day notice.

"What will make you satisfied to hear this issue? This is a serious issue involving people's live. They were beaten and they sustained injury," said Khalid Abd Samad (Pas-Shah Alam). 

The noisy fracas continued with Wan Junaidi calling for calm. "If students can listen to their teacher, why can't yang berhormats, listen to the Speaker? Please sit down."