'Unfair' to equate PJD Link project to scrapped Kidex, says Selangor MB

 

INTERVIEW | It would be “unfair” for critics of the proposed Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) highway to equate the project to the previously scrapped Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex), according to Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari.

“Yes, definitely (unfair),” said Amirudin in a recent interview with Malaysiakini, when quizzed on his views to objections from several Petaling Jaya resident groups against the proposed highway project.

Amirudin further said the project developer, PJD Link (M) Sdn Bhd, had in its first presentation to the state government pledged to overcome all concerns previously raised by Kidex opponents.

“Because of that (pledge) we (state government) said ‘no problem, go back to the community, meet the local council, meet the resident associations.’

“Present your (developer) case and come back to us with the feedback,” he said, adding that the proposal is still in the preliminary stages.

While he acknowledged that people want to live in a peaceful area, transportation accessibility and connectivity are also important. 

“I am sure it is not easy, but I hope we can be rational. Who does not want to stay in a calm, quiet, traffic-free area?

“But if we live like that while at the same time the entire transportation ecosystem is disrupted? We have to be fair to everybody, lah,” he added.

Last November, Malaysiakini reported concerns by several Petaling Jaya resident groups that the proposed PJD Link highway would be a repackaging of the Kidex project, scrapped in 2015 by then menteri besar Azmin Ali under the previous Selangor Pakatan Rakyat administration.

An initial proposed alignment for the PJD Link reportedly comprised a 34.3km dual-carriage expressway, while the original plans for Kidex would have spanned 14.9km of fully elevated expressway.

Sheikh Moqhtar Kadir, a spokesperson for the resident groups, said they were previously informed by the then Selangor government in 2016, as well as by then works minister Fadillah Yusof, that there were no plans to revive Kidex and plans for the PJD Link were only approved at the federal level.

Public hearing

Their latest objections, however, came after Selangor executive councillor Izham Hashim told the state assembly on Nov 9 that the PJD Link proposal was discussed with the State Economic Council (MTES), despite no approval granted for the project to proceed.

At the time, Izham also said there had been no traffic, social or environmental impact assessments carried out for the project, which is planned to pass through Sungai Kayu Ara to Bukit Jalil, which is the same route as Kidex.

Amirudin, meanwhile, attributed the objections against the PJD Link and other development projects in Selangor to the result of his administration’s open engagements with stakeholders through public hearings.

“These public hearings had caused ‘sparks’ here and there and it shows our willingness to engage.

“On our part as the state government, what is our vision and views? Our vision is clear, we want to resolve long-standing traffic issues,” said the Dusun Tua assemblyperson.

“I understand there are specific objections.

“But give a chance to the developer, and the state government will evaluate (the project) together with other planned developments,” he added.

Noting that highway developments are often unpopular with residents, Amirudin insisted that the end goal would be to ease intra-city connection, in this case bypassing a daily traffic snarl on the Federal Highway.

“This is where we have to find a balance between the state government’s intentions, development goals and the residents’ objections,” he stressed.  - Mkini