Toll operator Grand Saga today distanced itself from the fracas which occurred last night at the barricaded toll-free access road to the Cheras-Kajang Highway in Bandar Mahkota Cheras (BMC).
The fracas involved residents and several unidentified men and caused injuries to more than 10 residents, some of whom who were seriously hurt and had to be admitted to the Kajang hospital.
"Grand Saga wishes to state that it disassociates itself from the altercations between several parties yesterday and that it does not condone violence in any form," said the company's executive director Zainal Abidin Ali in statement today.
"Grand Saga further wishes to extend its sympathy to the several persons who sustained injuries in the unfortunate incident," said Zainal, who is former Dang Wangi police chief.
He also said that some of its contractors were also injured while carrying out their duties yesterday, adding that a police report has been lodged on the matter.Zainal said the incident could have been instigated by certain parties and that the company would be filing a police report on that fracas.
Yesterday a violent stand-off erupted when the residents decided to tear down the concrete boulders which Grand Saga had placed to block the alternate toll-free road.
Tensions rose when the residents clashed with a group of men purportedly hired by Grand Saga to protect the barricade.According to residents, about a dozen people were injured after they were assaulted by 30 'thugs'.
Armed with rods and sticks BMC Open the Road Committee Tan Boon Hwa when contacted had said that he had received information that the men were armed with iron rods, helmets and sticks.
"At about 7pm, the thugs came and assaulted the residents who tried to bring down the barricades. There was even a female resident who was beaten up by eight thugs," Tan told Malaysiakini.Residents too had lodged several police reports against the attacks on them.
Residents too had lodged several police reports against the attacks on them. It was also learnt that two residents were admitted at Kajang hospital after suffering injuries caused by the thugs. One of them was said to have suffered facial injuries and a broken hand.
Residents only dispersed from the site after 11pm after repeated requests by the police to do so. In the meantime, the residents managed to dismantle three of four of the huge boulders.
On Monday Zainal Abidin gave notice that Grand Saga would be rebuilding the barricade after having a court ruling in its favour.Its contractors then started work at 1am yesterday to build the five-foot high wall across the double-lane access road and finished their work by 3.30pm yesterday, after which the residents had gathered in big numbers and attempted to tear it down.
The Selangor state government had previously shown its support for the residents and is expected to make an announcement on the matter today.
