AMPANG, Nov 1 — The lack of information regarding the Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) has prompted a coalition of concerned citizens to take matters into their own hands.

The Say No to SUKE (SNTS) action group held their first public hearing session for residents and traders hoping to raise awareness on the project.

SNTS protem committee chairman Agos Hasan said the lack of engagement by the relevant authorities on the project have created a void of information in impacted areas.

“We would not be here if they had done enough engagement and provided us with proper information.

“It is unfair for people to only learn now that their houses, shops and places of worship would be acquired by the state.

He said the coalition hopes with more support from locals, the authorities will no longer keep mum.

“We want to equip those affected, directly and indirectly, with proper information on their rights and how the highway will impact their quality of life.

“If the state government continues to ignore us, we are considering legal avenues,” he said.

More than 60 residents turned up at the two-hour session yesterday which was chaired by Agos and SNTS vice-chairman Fraddy Ong.

During the briefing, residents were informed of their the rights if their premises were acquired and the committee members also explained the environmental impact of the project.

Loo Fook Ing, 78, who has been operating the Tong Nam Ah watch shop in Pekan Ampang since the 1970s said she was initially confused how the highway would affect her business.

“There has been a lot of hearsay regarding the project but nothing concrete.

“In September, I received a notice from the land office and that was the first time the authorities stated their intention in black and white.

“At this age, where else am I suppose to go?”

Jordi Arrif, 30, who runs Rumah Api recording studio in Pekan Ampang, said he found it hard to move elsewhere even though he has informed about the project in 2012.

“We were informed by our landlord back then about the highway but nothing transpired.

“It is not easy finding a new studio as we have built a good relationship with the community.

On Friday, Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali said the state had only given approval in principal for the controversial SUKE, Damansara-Shah Alam Highway (DASH), East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE) and the developers of these highways still have to fulfill certain conditions, including submitting the social and traffic impact assessment report before the final green light is given for them to begin works.

On Thursday, SNTS submitted a memorandum to Azmin demanding the state government make public more than 12 reports which are linked to the project. The group had given Azmin seven days to respond.