Critics ask how PJD Link will benefit residents

 

Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Risyakaran says his office has been briefed by the developers on the proposed PJD Link.

PETALING JAYA: The proposed PJ Dispersal Link (PJD Link) highway has again come under fire from critics who say the developers have yet to explain how it will benefit the people of Petaling Jaya.

Rajiv Risyakaran.

Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Risyakaran shared on Facebook last week that his office had been briefed by the developers on the proposed highway and urged Petaling Jaya residents to engage with them on their concerns.

Former municipal councillor Mak Khuin Weng, who has long opposed both the PJD Link and Kinrara Damansara Expressway (Kidex), told FMT that residents would need to have access to the pertinent documents before any discussion could proceed.

“If you ask residents to consider a project, there should be documentation provided on what is being considered,” he said.

“If there is no documentation for reference, there is no discussion. Residents cannot be specific about what it is they are commenting on.

Mak Khuin Weng.

“The traffic impact assessment, the environmental impact assessment, meeting minutes on what was deliberated on, including the concession agreement on how many years this project will burden the rakyat, should be on the table.”

He said he saw no reason why Rajiv could not ask for documentation on the PJD Link project to be released, noting that he previously lobbied for citizen access to information.

Esham Salam, co-founder of MyPJ, a coalition of resident associations, said no document could change his mind on the proposed highway.

“The people have already spoken many years ago to say there should be no highways across PJ,” he said.

Esham Salam.

“Before we even look at these reports, we need to know why PJ even needs these? The conclusion drawn when Kidex was discussed was that we don’t.”

He urged assemblymen to speak on behalf of people and questioned whether their true interests lay with the wellbeing of their constituents.

“Our assemblymen are supposed to represent the people, not the menteri besar, the state government or the developers,” he said.

“They are supposed to be the ones with the most intimate knowledge of the people of PJ.”

Rajiv did not respond to attempts by FMT to get his comment on the matter. - FMT