PJD Link related PC by residents in regards to the pc by MP's in parliament. (NOV 30 2024) — ART CHEN/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Residents and stakeholders here are urging the Federal and Selangor governments not to reverse the decision to scrap the controversial PJD Link expressway.
The follows news reports stating that the Cabinet had approved the realignment of the proposed expressway.
Action group Stakeholders cum Residents Against PJD Link (ScRAP) want the authorities to explain details of the realignment, and for more transparency over the project.
The controversial highway project had been on and off for a number of years, before being finally cancelled by the Selangor government in July last year.
ScRap spokesperson David Yoong said the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) is responsible for taking the lead and explaining the details of the PJD Link Expressway.
“Residents are still in the dark over the proposed highway realignment. It is the responsibility of the authorities to disclose the Social Impact and Environment Impact studies to the public and most importantly the alignment of the highway.
“The government has a responsibility to safeguard public interest and we call on LLM and the Selangor government to give residents details of this project.
“Come and speak to us - the residents and the stakeholders, as we have objected to this project numerous times,” said Yoong during a press conference on Saturday (Nov 30).
VKK Rajasekaran from the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) central executive committee, who was also at the press conference, called for immediate transparency and accountability regarding the highway.
Rajasekaran urged the government to release the impact studies and re-engage with residents.
“The government must honour its previous commitment to cancel the project, as recent discussions about its revival feel like a betrayal of promises made during the Selangor state elections in August 2023,” he said.
Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung brought the matter to light on Nov 28 when he revealed that federal authorities had approved the new realignment plan for the PJD Link highway.
According to news reports, Lee said MPs were informed that the Cabinet agreed on May 8 to allow project developer PJD Link (M) Sdn Bhd’s fresh proposal for a new alignment during a briefing held by the parliamentary select committee on infrastructure, transport and communications.
On July 31, 2023, Selangor MB Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari announced the cancellation of PJD Link, stating that the project did not meet the conditions set.
On April 17 this year, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced that the project had been discontinued as its developer failed to meet six out of 11 conditions set by the government.
However, in July, during the Selangor state assembly sitting, infrastructure and agriculture committee chairman Izham Hashim announced that PJD Link was among seven highways in consideration in the state.
