Kidex builder passes buck for Suhakam, residents meet to ‘relevant authorities’

(The Malay Mail) – Kidex Sdn Bhd said today it will only meet the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) and residents affected by its proposed highway after it obtains approval to do so from unspecified “relevant authorities”.

The highway developer’s chief operating officer (COO) Dr Shaharizuan Shafiei said this was because “strict requirements” were set by these unnamed “authorities” and approval was needed before any public session could be arranged via the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).

“Kidex Sdn Bhd would like to make clear that we will be keen to meet with resident associations and or/ Rukun Tetangga as well as Suhakam with  regards to this project,” Shaharizuan said in a statement.

“What is important to Kidex is that we have followed the rule of law and abided with regulatory requirements set by the authorities,” he added.

He stressed that the RM2.42 billion Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) is an initiative by both the federal and Selangor state governments to manage the growing number of vehicles in Petaling Jaya and the Klang Valley.

Suhakam said earlier this month that the Kidex cannot take place without prior consent from affected residents and it would be a breach of human rights if this was not done.

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.