PJ residents mull over protests, judicial review against new highway

PJ residents mull over protests, judicial review against new highway

BY EILEEN NG
MAY 01, 2014


A Petaling Jaya residents' group is considering public protests and judicial review to press the Selangor government to stop the contentious RM2.42 billion Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) highway project which they say will cause more traffic congestion and affect their quality of life.

Ironically, several Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers might join them in the protest against the PR state government.

Say No to Kidex committee secretary David Yoong said they had been rallying affected residents along the highway route to hold banners and stand on the streets to voice their protests against the project, tentatively on Wesak Day on May 13.

"This is one of the things in the pipeline, if not on Wesak day, then it will be on one of the weekends," he said after briefing Jasmine Towers residents in SS2 on the impact of the 14.9km highway.

At 24m high, the proposed project has been seeing opposition from residents who are worried that it will bring more noise and dust pollution, as well as obstructed views.

Residents are also upset over the sparse details of the project, that they were not consulted and that properties will be acquired under the Land Acquisition Act to make way for the highway.

Some PR MPs, such as Puchong DAP's Gobind Singh Deo had urged the state government to stop its construction, saying that is contrary to Pakatan pledge to abolish tolls in the state.

Although it is a federal project, the state government's approval is essential as the proposed highway will run through familiar landmarks in Petaling Jaya.

Among the areas that could be affected by the project are Tropicana Mall, SS2 Mall, the Rothman’s T-junction, Section 14, Amcorp Mall, Hilton Petaling Jaya, Tun Hussein Onn Eye Hospital, the 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.

Yoong said they are also considering filing for judicial review against the state government if it goes ahead to acquire properties.

"Once the notice is sent out to owners, we have 60 days to file a judicial review to delay the process, and at the same time to stamp our mark that we object to the project," he said.

However, prior to implementing these steps, the committee had hand delivered letters to Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, his excos, assemblypersons and Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua and Petaling Jaya Selatan MP Hee Loy Sian to invite them to a briefing with affected residents on May 9.

"We want him to come and listen to people's views and then he can decide who to kesian," said Yoong using the Malay term for pity in response to Khalid's latest remarks that cancelling the project would be unfair to the developer.

In the meantime, Yoong is appealing to residents to write, email, tweet and call their elected representatives to voice their disapproval for the project. – May 2, 2014.