KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 — Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s “arrogance” in dealing with resistance towards the controversial Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) is also a reason why some state residents are opposing the highway, DAP’s Gobind Singh Deo said today.
In his latest salvo against the Selangor mentri besar, Puchong MP Gobind accused Khalid of ignoring the growing protests against the RM2.42 billion federal project, claiming that the latter was not even “putting up a fight” in addressing the concerns of the residents who may be affected by the proposed elevated highway.
“This has come across as arrogant and is consistent with the ‘one-man show’ label sprung against him in the State Legislative Assembly sitting recently. This is the reason why people are protesting. This is why people are unhappy and they have reason, I think to be,” the DAP federal lawmaker said in a statement here.
Gobind was responding to Khalid’s remarks earlier this week in which the MB defended the project, saying it was not within the state’s purview to object and that Selangor only had the power to suggest amendments to the highway’s alignment route.
Khalid had also said that there needed to be a “compromise” on the highway, and that it would be beneficial for most Selangor residents, despite complaints of a lack of public transparency surrounding the project.
“Khalid argues that this is a federal project beyond his control. He may or may not be right and the federal government should be criticised as well but it is for him to convince the people that this is the case.
“But we do not see Khalid putting up a fight. We do not see him trying to understand the problem from the perspective of those affected. We do not see him speaking up against toll. We do not see him speaking up over the mass destruction such a project will bring to the lives of the many who would be affected by this project,” added Gobind.
The DAP central committee member reminded Khalid that abolishing tolled highways was part of Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) collective election manifesto in Election 2013, and that to support Kidex and to ignore the views of residents would be a betrayal to voters who had supported the federal opposition pact in last year’s general election.
“We all support the push to reduce traffic congestion in Selangor but this does not give Khalid the right to ignore everything else. There must be, whatever the case, good governance,” he added.
Khalid has repeatedly maintained his administration has no say over the approval of the highway project and plays only an advisory role.
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.
