MB Khalid tosses Kidex hot potato to federal highway authority

(Malay Mail Online) – Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said today he has no details on the preliminary study of the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway’s (Kidex) impact on traffic congestion, and that the onus is on the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) to furnish the relevant details.

The Selangor Mentri Besar said LLM has been instructed by the state government to appear tomorrow at the Selangor state Economic Action Council (MTES) meeting, and that queries will be made then.

“I don’t know, I don’t know the figures… the LLM will provide the answers,” he told reporters at a news conference here.

Khalid was asked to comment on Kidex Sdn Bhd’s preliminary traffic impact assessment (TIA) report which stated that the RM2.42 billion highway is projected to reduce just 3.05 per cent of traffic congestion by 2028.

The TIA by project developer Kidex Sdn Bhd, which was made available during a press conference by Selangor DAP assemblymen earlier today, states that the projected total traffic without the highway in 2028 will be 1.917 million passenger car units (pcu).

With Kidex, traffic is aimed to be reduced to 1.858 million pcu.

The TIA also states that Kidex will only relieve immediate traffic congestion by 5.84 per cent upon completion by 2018 — from 1.546 pcu to 1.455 pcu.

“The Selangor government is of the view that LLM which is responsible for monitoring tolled highways in Malaysia has to play an important role to provide a better understanding to people especially the people of Petaling Jaya,” Khalid said.

“I cannot comment, that will be answered by LLM as they will eventually own the (Kidex) highway,” he added.