SHAH ALAM, Dec 2 — The Selangor government identified land it may acquire for the Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (Dash) as far back as 2012 and 2013 despite state officials claiming otherwise, documents have now indicated.

Two Land Acquisition Gazettes under Section 4 of the 1960 Land Acquisition Act sighted by Malay Mail Online showed that the Selangor government had on two separate occasions published notices of possible acquisition of land lots for the Dash highway project.

The gazettes — dated July 27, 2012 and October 24, 2013 — stated that relevant authorities may enter the premises of land lots listed in the gazette for the purpose of “examining” and carrying out measurement purposes.

“Compensation will be paid in the event of any damage during the time of carrying out these purposes,” the gazettes stated.

While there were only 209 land lots listed in the gazette for the Dash highway in 2012, this increased to 2,292 land lots in 2013.

“For us, these gazettes, added with the fact that the land lots had increased last year showed the Selangor government had intended for this project to be carried out despite them saying otherwise,” Say No to Dash (SNTD) spokesperson Michelle Wong told Malay Mail Online when contacted.

“We will definitely raise this when we meet the Works Minister (Datuk Fadillah Yusof) later today,” she added.

Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act states that the state government may publish a notification in the form of a gazette if it is satisfied that any land in any locality in the state is likely to be needed for either public purposes or reasons beneficial to the economic development of Malaysia.

“What was the basis of the Selangor government to publish these gazettes?” Wong asked.

Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali has set up a meeting this December 16 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.

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.

Selangor state executive councillor Elizabeth Wong, who is in charge of tourism and environment, told Malay Mail Online recently 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 had said.

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.