Residents of Medan Harun Indah in Petaling Jaya Selatan this morning picketed in protest against the developer of a highway for allegedly not living up to its promise to give adequate compensation for their relocation.

Around 50 people, joined by local Umno and DAP leaders, stood under the scorching sun as work on the New Pantai Expressway proceeded uninterrupted just 300m away.

Placards demanding that the residents' plight be heard attracted honks of support from passing vehicles on the busy thoroughfare.

"We are not against development and we are willing to be moved from the area but we would like the developer, New Pantai Expressway Sdn Bhd, to sit down and discuss with us our demands," said the local Umno branch deputy chief Mohd Ali Awang.

Mohd Ali, who is also one of the Medan Harun Indah residents' action committee leader, said they raised the compensation demand to RM15,000 after the initial offer of RM11,000 from the developer fell through. They have been told to move out within three days.

"We are not anti-government but if the developers are acting this way then maybe they are anti-government. Our government has many times reiterated that mega-projects should not be at the expense of the normal folks," Mohd Ali said.

DAP member of Parliament for Seputeh, Teresa Kok, and the party's publicity chief Ronnie Liu were also present, demonstrating a rare co-operation between the local Umno leaders and the DAP.

"We will continue to support the residents and urge them to continue on with their struggle," Kok said to the cheers of the residents.

'Complicated situation'

Construction of the 19.6km highway connecting key spots in Klang Valley started in 1997 and was due for completion by 2003. The highway cuts across several squatter areas such as Medan Harun Indah, off Old Klang Road.

Last year, the residents were promised a compensation package worth RM11,000 plus rental for two years in the resettlement area and guaranteed new lost-cost houses which are currently under construction.

In July, they were told that they would be given 18 months of rental plus RM1,000 instead, of which some RM300 will be deducted for water and electricity deposits in their new temporary homes, leaving them with slightly more than RM700 as moving cost.

On Oct 4, malaysiakini reported developer NPE as saying that it was facing a "complicated situation" due to a change of ownership - NPE was formerly owned by Berjaya Group but has been sold to Road Builders Bhd this year.

"The RM11,000 was promised by the old management which has been replaced since the takeover," said the NPE executive who declined to be named.

Meeting ministers

Mohd Ali also spoke of a meeting with the officers from the Malaysian Highway Board (LLM) and the developer early this month but said that even before receiving any word from the LLM the NPE had already asked them to move.

"It seems that the NPE has more authority than the highway board; it's like there is something going on here," he said while behind him someone waved a placard urging the Anti-Corruption Agency to investigate the matter.

Mohd Ali added that they have approached local leaders such as the state assembly representative for the area, Norkhaila Jamaluddin, and Petaling Jaya MP Donald Lim, but there was no response from them.

Both were not at the picket either.

Misfan Tumiran, the local Umno branch youth head, added that they would also be meeting with Works Minister S Samy Vellu tomorrow at his office at 11am.

"We are also hoping to meet with the state Mentri Besar Mohamad Khir Toyo to resolve this issue as nobody from the local level has taken any action," he said.

The picket ended shortly after with no untoward incident in the presence of three police officers.

Mohd Ali said the residents would continue to protest until their demands are met.