Zaid questions why Kidex still on the table if conditions not met

(Malay Mail Online) – Datuk Zaid Ibrahim today queried why the Selangor government does not immediately bin the controversial Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex), if it is true that the project has yet to meet approval pre-conditions.

The former de-facto law minister implied that it was convenient for DAP lawmaker Tony Pua to claim that there was nothing for the Pakatan Rakyat-led state administration to approve since the preconditions have not been fulfilled by the highway developer.

“Mr Tony Pua says Kidex has not met the conditions so there is nothing for state govt  to approve,” Zaid posted on Twitter.

“Smart reply from DAP that says nothing,” he said in another tweet.

Earlier today, Pua deflected criticism of his PR colleagues by residents potentially affected by the Kidex alignment, insisting that it is Putrajaya that is responsible for approving and awarding the highway project.

Yesterday, aggrieved residents pilloried PR lawmakers and the Selangor state government at a rally, accusing them of doing nothing to support or even “betraying” their cause against the highway project.

Zaid, who was invited to speak at the event, offered to foot the bill for residents to take the developers of Kidex and the Damansara-Shah Alam Expressway (DASH).

The Kidex project was rejected three times previously by the Petaling Jaya city council (MBPJ) as the developer failed to provided sufficient details.

Under the Town Country and Planning Act, construction of the highway cannot start unless it fits with the MBPJ’s local plans.

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