Duke turns lives of kampung folks upside down

Residents of Taman Sentul Utama and Kampung Puah Seberang who have been dependent on each other for decades are now experiencing difficulties in adapting to the new environment when an expressway was built in between the two residential areas.

When Duta-Ulu Klang Expressway (Duke) was opened to the public a week ago, residents from both sides had been sighing over the “imperfect” pedestrian bridge located too far away and the incomplete ramp exits.

This had resulted in them tearing down the barrier that blocks residents from crossing the expressway without having to make a detour and use the pedestrian bridge which is 400m away from the entrance to Kampung Puah Seberang.

For housewife Kamariah Kassim (right) who has been living in Kampung Puah Seberang for more than two decades, she could still remember vividly that there used to be a football field, longhouses and playground where the expressway is now built.

Taman Sentul Utama, said Kamariah, has everything - shops, stalls, schools and bus stops - while the kampung she lives in has nothing much except a mosque and a religious school.

“It used to be very easy for me to get to the other side, I just walked through the houses and football field and reached my destination in less than 10 minutes. Now I have to use the pedestrian bridge which is so far away and my knee problem is not helping,” said the 54-year-old lady.

Duke has been dubbed one of the most important networks in the Kuala Lumpur Road Master Plan and is the vital ‘missing link’ that completes the intermediate ring roads of KL.

It bridges North Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE), Sprint and Middle Ring Road II (MRR2), three core expressways within the city that allow motorists to travel from one end of the city to another.

Delay in building ramp exits

With a six-year-old grandson who attends kindergarten in Taman Sentul Utama and daily shopping for groceries to do, Kamariah seemed to get tired of having to walk about 500m to the pedestrian bridge every day. Thus, she has decided to move out of the kampung.

“It’s quite sad to leave because this is where my family grew up but we have no other choice. Since the expressway was opened, there is nothing but trouble for us,” she sighed.

Last Friday, Sinar Harian reported that residents from Kampung Puah Seberang had torn down the barricade that blocked the people from crossing the expressway. They claimed that the Duke concessionaire did not build the ramp exits as promised before the expressway was opened.

The ramp exits were supposed to be attached to the pedestrian bridge but when Malaysiakini visited the area three days ago, they were nowhere in sight.

Contacted today, resident Razali Hussein, a mechanic whose workshop is situated next to the expressway said the ramp exits were now built early “this morning” and should be “functioning as of now”.

“The developers had promised to get the ramp exits completed by Jan 15, and when I had a look at it yesterday, they were in the midst of putting them up. So it should be done by now,” said Razali.

Future of residents uncertain

According to Kamariah, the residents are now living in fear of crimes as the pedestrian bridge is not lighted at night.

“It could be very dangerous for the residents, especially women who come back from work late at night. They could fall victims to snatch thieves or rapists. This place can be very dark and quiet at night,” she said.

For Razali (left), it would be much more of a trouble when there is a funeral, where the residents from Taman Sentul Utama have to carry the coffin using the pedestrian bridge to get to Kampung Puah Seberang where a Muslim cemetery is situated.

“I just can’t imagine what that would be like,” said 45-year-old Razali who has been a resident since the 1970s.

Both Kamariah and Razali were however much more concerned of the future of Kampung Puah Seberang now that half of the village has been demolished to build the expressway.

“Now there are only 200 people living in this kampung, but we are all not sure what is going to happen to it in the near future. There was no notice given to us, or anything like that. That’s why most of the residents have decided to move,” said Razali.

Razali also faced another problem - his once strategic workshop is now ‘hidden’ from public view.

“Many people especially from Taman Sentul Utama used to come to my workshop. Now, I think I’ve just lost my source of income,” said the father of three.

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