SHAH ALAM, May 21 — The proposed Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) will benefit the “majority” of Selangor by solving the state’s traffic congestion, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim today told residents increasingly opposed to the controversial highway project.

The Selangor mentri besar also denied that his administration was under pressure to approve the project, stressing that it was a federal government initiative given to private developer Kidex Sdn Bhd.

“It would be unprofessional for us to just say no because it (Kidex) comes from the federal government… the highway also deals with other states including the KL city council (DBKL).

“People are happy as long as it (the project) is not on their doorstep, so that is the issue....but there are areas where we need to compromise because it’s a built-up area,” Khalid told reporters when asked to comment on growing protests against the 14.9km long elevated highway plan.

The federal government is controlled by the long-ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition while rival pact Pakatan Rakyat administers Selangor.

Today, Khalid said the issue was about “priorities” and that his was to provide a better system to ease traffic congestion.

He also reiterated that the state had no power to reject the federal project, and that its authority was limited to fine-tuning the Kidex’s planned alignment route.

“You must also understand that the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) and the federal government will not do this if they did not have the Selangor public in mind... it is a solution worth considering if it can help traffic issues,” the Port Klang assemblyman added.

Khalid has maintained his administration has no say over the approval of the highway project and fulfils only an advisory role.

In a statement yesterday evening on his Facebook page titled “Selangor has not agreed to the Kidex project being carried out and wants the developer to fine-tune the alignment route”, the Selangor mentri besar pointed out that the federal government is solely the authority for the Kidex approval and framing of its alignment route.

“On record, the approval for the highway and alignment is under the responsibility of the federal government while the state government has a right to advise,” said Khalid.

The mentri besar, however, has never gone on record to say that the state might oppose the project, which critics have interpreted as tacit approval for the highway.

When asked about this last month, the Selangor MB told the Malay Mail Online that calling off the project would be “unfair” to the developer.

While far from official approval, he also said yesterday that the Kidex is an integral part of Selangor’s new structural plan for 2035 and that the highway, in addition to improving public transportation, is necessary for the state’s future growth.

Khalid also confirmed that arrangements will be made for another town hall meeting on the Kidex project, after a chaotic one last Friday ended abruptly following protests from some 300 residents who accused the developer of using the meeting as an excuse to push the controversial project through.

The Kidex project has been rejected on three occasions by the city council as developers had failed to provide sufficient details.

Under Section 18 of the Town Country and Planning Act (TCPA), construction cannot start unless the highway fits with MBPJ’s plans.

Kidex is currently not incorporated into the council’s blueprint for Petaling Jaya city.

Despite the growing opposition, mounting evidence in the form of replies in Parliament and the state legislative assembly indicate that the project is set to proceed.

Among the areas that could be affected by the project are Tropicana Mall, SS2 Mall, Rothman’s traffic lights, Section 14, Amcorp Mall, Hilton Petaling Jaya, Tun Hussein Onn Eye Hospital, 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.