KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 — Putrajaya has given its assurance that both the Kinrara Damansara Expressway (Kidex) and the Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Highway (DASH) will not get further extensions to their concessions automatically if the developers still fail to meet existing criteria.

Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof said both projects are closely scrutinised by several government agencies and must be returned to the Public-Private Partnership Unit (Ukas) of the Prime Minister's Department (JPM) for review should their concession agreements expire a second time.

"If the condition precedent is not fulfilled according to the specified time in the concession agreement, it will be referred back to Ukas JPM," he told Malay Mail Online via text message when contacted.

Fadillah stressed that any decision on extending the concession agreement of both proposed Selangor highways would be made only after a "detailed discussion" with government entities including the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) and the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM).

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Kidex Sdn Bhd, the developer of Kidex, was granted a three-month extension to its concession deal after this hit the one-year expiry on November 15, without having fulfilled the necessary preconditions for full approval by Putrajaya.

Similarly, Dash's developer, Prolintas Bhd's concession agreement ended on September 25, and was extended until December 24.

Lobby groups opposed to both previously said the minister had conveyed that the concessions would “sent back” to the Prime Minister’s Office upon a second expiration, and expressed apprehension over what this would mean for both highway projects.

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

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

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

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.

With 12 interchanges, the RM11.5 Dash 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.

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