PJD Link: Afif challenges PJ MP to propose alternative solution

 

Taman Medan state assemblyperson Dr Afif Bahardin has challenged Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung to come up with a viable solution for the terrible traffic congestion in the Taman Medan area.

This comes as the two continue to exchange salvos over the federal government's recent decision to cancel the Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link Expressway), a project Afif believed could address the traffic woes.

Speaking to Malaysiakini last night, Afif criticised Lee for allegedly failing to understand the importance of the PJD Link for Taman Medan residents.

According to Afif, the traffic jam problem is a real issue for the residents and a traffic impact assessment carried out showed 68 percent of Taman Medan residents backed the project.

"Lee talked about public transportation (as a way to resolve the traffic problem). So, tell me what mode of public transportation that he is talking about.

"If he is talking about buses, how are buses going to move with the bad traffic jam? If anyone can answer that, I will be more than happy.

"I am more than happy to have alternatives that can help solve this congestion. But even now, none of the MRT projects has any alignment that connects to Taman Medan.

"So how are you going to help Taman Medan residents? The only public transport we have here are buses and (KTM) Komuter," he said.

Afif, who is from Perikatan Nasional, was responding to Lee's criticisms against him for calling Putrajaya to reconsider the PJD Link project.

Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung

Lee had also questioned where Afif got his information on an alleged RM100 million compensation that Putrajaya would have to pay to the PJD Link developer if they cancelled the project.

Responding to this, Afif claimed he got the information from reading news reports.

This includes an article by news portal Scoop last week which quoted sources claiming that the cancellation can cost taxpayers "in excess of RM20 million" and could even "balloon to over RM100 million".

The Selangor state assembly member also panned Lee over a contradiction in the latter's argument in support of PJD Link cancellation.

This was in regard to Lee's statement saying that constructing PJD Link would not ease traffic jams at Taman Medan and at the same time, would allegedly kill businesses including a night market there.

"So, which one do you want actually? Do you want cars to go into Kampung Medan, or do you want to ease the traffic jam?

"You said this highway would cause traffic jams, but at the same time you say it will cause people not to stop by Kampung Medan."

Contradicting stand by PN leaders

Meanwhile, in Lee's statement published by Malaysiakini yesterday, the Pakatan Harapan MP pointed out an apparent contradiction between Afif's position on PJD Link and Selangor Bersatu chairperson Azmin Ali.

Azmin reportedly said in MalaysiaNow August last year that there was no point in building expressways in the city on the grounds of solving traffic congestion.

Criticising the discrepancy, Lee questioned what is the real position taken by the opposition party on the matter.

Responding to this, Afif said he was only speaking for his constituents and Bersatu does not prohibit its representatives from fighting for the people.

"Azmin's opinion is Azmin's but this is my constituency. I don't know about Lee, if he has to listen to others but I listen to the people.

"As of now, there has been no instruction from Azmin that I cannot say anything that represents my people.

"We don't practise that," he said. - Mkini