Residents oppose DASH expressway project

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia - Damansara Perdana, Mutiara Damansara and Desa Temuan residents staged a protest last Saturday against the proposed construction of Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (DASH).

DASH will allow commuters in Shah Alam to go to Penchala Link from the Guthrie Corridor Expressway and New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE).

The project is by highway concessionaire Projek Lintasan Kota Holdings Sdn Bhd (Prolintas), the company that built the Ampang Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH) and the Guthrie Corridor Expressway.

More than 500 people gathered in front of the Damansara Perdana police station for the Anti-DASH Awareness Campaign.

Campaign chairman David Chai, said residents were opposed to the project as they feared that it would be a health hazard as well as posed safety and security concerns.

He said the proposed elevated highway would be less than 13 metres away from surrounding buildings.

"It will cause noise and air pollution," he said.

Chai said residents had invested in properties there with the thought of settling down in a serene environment.

"The commercial area would also be affected. Property value will go down," he said.

He urged the Malaysian Highway Authority and Prolintas to meet with residents to discuss the best alignment for the project.

At present, the proposed Dash route by Prolintas would cut across Jalan PJU 3/31, Desa Temuan, an oxidation pond, Ritz Perdana 1, Jalan PJU 8/2, Emerald Condominium, Metropolitan Square, Ritz Perdana 2, Neo Damansara and Jalan PJU 8/1.

The campaign's co-chairman Owen Chen, said 3,500 signatures had been collected so far against the project.

"Some 10,000 residents living around the area will be affected by Dash," said Chen.

He said residents are proposing for two alternative routes to replace the proposed Dash alignment.

The first alternative elevated highway begins at Persiaran Surian passing through Jalan PJU 7/1 exiting at the Penchala Link.

The second option was to cross at NKVE into a reserved land next to Jalan PJU 3/31.

Commuters then have to make a U-turn at Rubber Research Institute Malaysia exiting to the Penchala Link.

Emerald Condominium joint management body chairman Eddy Hong said when residents bought the units from developer, MK Land Holdings Bhd, they had a peaceful neighbourhood.

"We were not aware of Dash at the time," he said.

Desa Temuan Tok Batin (village head) Ismail Chat, 61, said the Orang Asli community had been occupying the place long before it was developed by MK Land Holdings Bhd.

"We only got to know about the project last month. We object to it," he said.

After all the representatives had voiced out their objections.

The residents marched while holding placards and banners objecting to the proposed highway.

Meanwhile, MBPJ Zone 2 councillor Chan Chee Kong said at present, the alignment for the highway had not been finalised.

"We urged Prolintas to organise a public hearing. MBPJ will make its decision based on the technical aspects and residents' welfare," he said.

-New Straits Times