Time to decide on Kidex and Dash, Azmin

Cecilia Jeyanthi Victor, The Ant Daily

Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali’s pledge to look into the controversial Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) is seen as an effort by the new MB to reach out to the residents opposing the project, a different approach from that of his predecessor Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Khalid had envisioned more highways being built despite the growing opposition from residents, concerned parties and even Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers themselves.

It was no coincidence that the public lost confidence in Khalid’s leadership at the height of the controversy.

Khalid had previously stressed that the Kidex project would proceed as planned and that he was waiting for the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) to brief him on the RM2.42 billion project.

It was later confirmed that the highway was one of seven highways slated for construction next year.

But now with Khalid gone, residents are setting their sights on other PR representatives who were in support of Kidex.

Residents’ association member for PJ Section 14A, Michael Kum called on re-appointed Selangor exco Teng Chang Kim to keep his promise to the Pakatan election manifesto.

“YB Teng, when PR took over Selangor in 2009, and subsequently in 2013, the Buku Jingga (Orange Book) Manifesto clearly spelt out on the abolition of tolls and no highways.

“SNTK (Say No to Kidex) has proven with valid and quantifiable results that Kidex is not beneficial, and their grounds are not substantive to prove their value at RM2.4 billion,” added Kum, who is a member of SNTK.

He suggested that Teng state his stand on Kidex, calling the DAP man’s actions to support Khalid then as impractical and unjust.

Another controversial highway project – the Damansara-Shah Alam Highway (Dash) – is also set to proceed despite objections and protests from nearby residents.

Residents were angry and disappointed when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, during the tabling of Budget 2015, said the construction of the highway will go on as planned. The project was approved in 2012.

Just a few days before the budget was tabled, Damansara Perdana and Mutiara Damansara residents’ representatives met with Bukit Lanjan assemblywoman Elizabeth Wong to discuss matters pertaining to Dash.

In a media statement, a resident from Damansara Perdana expressed disappointment with Azmin for failing to address matters surrounding Dash.

“Dash has been strongly opposed by the residents of the affected neighbourhoods in Mutiara Damansara, Damansara Perdana, Desa Temuan and Kota Damansara since 2012 when we first found out about this proposed highway,” said resident Michelle Wong.

Dash is a 20.1km, six lane-highway that would run right into the densely populated and developed residential neighbourhoods of Kota Damansara, Mutiara Damansara and Damansara Perdana.

Wong, like many other residents, is concerned for her family’s well-being as the pollution and congestion caused by the project far outweigh the stated benefits listed by Prolintas, the developers.

In the statement, Wong said that Works Minister Datuk Fadhillah Yusof could not guarantee that Dash would solve traffic woes as there will still be bottlenecks and congestion associated with the project.

Therefore, she urged Azmin to review the highway as part of the PR manifesto.

“We do not want Dash at our doorsteps. Dash the Dash highway before it dashes our homes, safety and environment,” Wong added.

Wong said Azmin should instead fulfil the PR manifesto as stated in the Buku Jingga and improve public transportation.

“Also, where is the governance and transparency of these approvals? We did not elect a government to appear to look different but is the same.

“We elected a government who will dare bring and make changes. Be this government. We place our hopes in you.”

With such sentiment on the ground, it is vital that Azmin do things differently.

Azmin certainly faces a tough challenge ahead. Can he resist working with the developers for the good of the people in Selangor?

Can he ensure his government would be held accountable and transparent over every deal made on behalf of the state’s development?

Will his credibility be tarnished by a future highway project?