Use Kidex fight as first step to abolishing tolls, critics tell Selangor MB

(Malay Mail Online) – Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim should head the resistance against the proposed Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) and use it as a platform to honour Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) Election 2013 pledge to abolish tolled highways, critics of the RM2.42 billion highway project said today.

Kidex opponents, which include some PR leaders, have repeatedly questioned Khalid’s support for the federal project and reminded the Selangor mentri besar that PR’s common manifesto has expressly stated the pact’s commitment to do away with tolled highways.

“Voters expect politicians, political parties to walk the talk. Take your election promises seriously.

“Abolishing tolled highways was agreed upon as part of Pakatan’s common agenda framework… whether it is in the Federal or Selangor manifesto, it is clear that we are opposed in principle to tolled roads and this is the position we took throughout the 2008 and 2013 general elections,” Selangor DAP deputy chairman Gobind Singh Deo told The Malay Mail Online when contacted.

“Khalid cannot run away from this,” he added.

Gobind’s remarks were in response to a statement made by the Selangor MB last weekend, where he was reported to have said that the elimination of tolled highways was never part of Selangor PR’s manifesto as highways were under federal authority.

He was quoted as saying that some of the opposition coalition’s pledges, such as toll-free highways and free education, would first require PR to form the federal government.

“Khalid should put up a fight against Kidex and lead Selangor’s objection to it and use this as a platform to firm up on Pakatan Rakyat’s national plan to abolish toll.

“Now is the time for Selangor to show leadership and put into clear perspective why it is the people should support us in Pakatan Rakyat and our ultimate objective to abolish toll,” Gobind later added in a press statement sent to The Malay Mail Online.

The Puchong MP stressed that Khalid needed to assure Selangor residents that he is at the very least “open to shelving the project” since he has directed the highway developer Kidex Sdn Bhd to arrange a briefing this Friday for Selangor federal and state lawmakers.

“If this is just an attempt at window dressing, a briefing just to tell us what will happen without really giving us options, then I think such a meeting would not be of any help,” Gobind added, saying that the MB must stop giving out an impression that he is “weak and helpless” in the matter.

Say No to Kidex (SNTK) committee member Mak Khuin Weng agreed with DAP’s Gobind, and pointed out that there was nothing to stop MB Khalid from delivering PR’s election promise on a state level.

“It just makes him a hypocrite (for saying that). You got the state, so deliver (what you promised) on a state level.

“Since that pledge is on a federal level, I suppose abolishing cronyism and corruption is also a pledge which does not apply in Selangor?” he told The Malay Mail Online when contacted.

Mak also called on other PR leaders to be “consistent” in stating their views on the Kidex, and used DAP and PKR’s objection towards PAS’ renewed push in implementing hudud law in Kelantan as an example.

“When PAS tried to push hudud, which is against your Buku Jingga, DAP and PKR disagreed.

“Is this (Kidex) also not part of the common manifesto? Where is the consistency on your stand?” he asked.

The Selangor government has ordered Kidex Sdn Bhd and the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) to hold a special briefing this Friday, June 6 to explain the controversial federal project to state and federal lawmakers as well as local councillors.

The Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MBPJ) will act as a “coordinator” for the special briefing.

The briefing will not be open to residents, who will be briefed separately after this Friday.

The Kidex project has been rejected on three occasions by the city council as developers had failed to provide sufficient details.

Under Section 18 of the Town Country and Planning Act (TCPA), construction cannot start unless the highway fits with MBPJ’s plans.

Kidex is currently not incorporated into the council’s blueprint for Petaling Jaya city.

Despite the growing opposition, mounting evidence in the form of replies in Parliament and the state legislative assembly indicate that the project is set to proceed.

Among the areas that could be affected by the project are Tropicana Mall, SS2 Mall, Rothman’s traffic lights, Section 14, Amcorp Mall, Hilton Petaling Jaya, Tun Hussein Onn Eye Hospital, Jalan Templer roundabout, Taman Datuk Harun, Taman Medan Baru and Bandar Kinrara.

Construction of the multi-billion ringgit highway could begin as soon as next year and be completed by 2018.