SHAH ALAM, Dec 1 — After meeting affected residents and setting new conditions for the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex), Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali has set his sights on tackling yet another controversial highway issue — this time involving the Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (Dash).

Malay Mail Online understands that Azmin has set up a meeting next month with Say No to Dash (SNTD), the lobby group comprising residents and representatives of those opposing the highway, following their steady stream of complaints against the proposed highway that is expected to rip through the densely-populated Damansara Perdana.

"MB Azmin will meet them on December 16… specifically Say No to Dash," Selangor state executive councillor Elizabeth Wong told Malay Mail Online.

SNTD has claimed that the highway developer, Prolintas Bhd, has tried to conceal the fact that work on the Dash project has already begun despite no official confirmation from the Works Ministry or the Selangor government.

Attempts by the anti-Dash lobby to use the state government's Freedom of Information Act (FOI) to release the state executive council's meeting minutes on the highway have been unsuccessful so far.

It is understood that the Work Ministry's concession agreement to Prolintas, which ended on September 25, has been extended till December 24.

Wong confirmed this with Malay Mail Online, saying that it will ultimately be up to the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) to decide whether to award Prolintas a further extension on the concession agreement.

Wong, who is the state executive councillor in charge of tourism and environment, added that the Selangor government has neither approved nor gazetted any state land for the Dash highway so far.

"No land gazetted or acquired… Prolintas has filed intention to acquire.

"But alignment will depend on public hearing of local plans," the Bukit Lanjan state lawmaker explained.

According to Prolintas, Dash will be a 20.1 km, three-lane, dual carriageway expressway starting from Puncak Perdana in Shah Alam to the Penchala interchange.

In September, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) moved to repeal amendments to the city’s plans following public concerns over a number of issues, which included the Dash highway.

Some of the amendments which have been halted include the inclusion of the controversial 20.1km dual carriage Dash.

With 12 interchanges, the RM11.5 billion expressway plans to link drivers to Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong and Sprint highways, which residents claimed are already congested during peak hours.

Dash will serve motorists from Puncak Perdana, Alam Suria, Denai Alam, Kampung Melayu Subang, Jalan Sungai Buloh, the Rubber Research Institute Malaysia, Kota Damansara, Damansara Perdana and Mutiara Damansara, Prolintas said.

SNTD and the residents were concerned that in addition to traffic congestion, construction in the highly-populated area will be detrimental to their safety, health and the environment.