Nurul Izzah keeps up pressure over RM100m walkways

Nurul Izzah said the public had a right to know as Petronas had reportedly poured money into the project. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 — Nurul Izzah Anwar has continued to press the Federal Territories Ministry to reveal the costs of an ongoing 12km pedestrian walkway project to connect the city’s major locations.

The Lembah Pantai MP also called on Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin to clarify a report by state news agency Bernana last September, which said Petronas had contributed RM100 million to the project.

“If the Bernama report is accurate... then it is the citizens’ right to now question this spending as Petronas is a government-linked company, and thus, is answerable to the citizens,” she said in a press statement today.

“How is such high cost justified?” she asked.

Nurul Izzah also demanded that Raja Nong Chik reveal the cost to maintain the walkways.

Last Friday, Raja Nong Chik had dismissed Nurul Izzah’s claim that RM10 million was excessive for a recently-completed 142m pedestrian walkway at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, saying the lawmaker had failed to consider the amenities with which the walkway was equipped.

The walkway was the first of a larger project that would connect Jalan Kia Peng, Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Imbi, Jalan Perak, Jalan Sultan Ismail and the Bukit Nanas monorail station, Ampang Park LRT station and the Assyakirin Mosque.

According to the minister, all 12km of the walkways are expected to be completed by the end of the year. - Malaysian Insider