KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 — The federal government has confirmed receipt of little-known developer PJD Link Holdings Sdn Bhd’s submission to build an elevated highway in Selangor similar to the axed Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex).
Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, whose confirmation corroborated earlier information regarding the Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) project, also said Putrajaya’s concession agreement for Kidex has been extended to the end of the year despite Selangor’s rejection of the highway.
When contacted by Malay Mail Online, Fadillah said PJD Link made submissions via the Public Private Partnership Unit (Ukas) and the Prime Minister’s Department, but insisted the matter was still at the preliminary stages.
"Until now, there has been no agreement on the matter [of approval]," said the minister.
Private companies usually submit proposals in an open national tender process undertaken by Ukas.
Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) chairman Datuk Ahmad Hamzah also confirmed the existence of PJD Link’s bid to build a highway running along the same line as Kidex that drew vociferous opposition from Petaling Jaya resident groups.
"In short, this is a new proposal by the company whereby its suggested alignment route is the alignment for Kidex, but has been modified a little bit to fulfill technical needs and perhaps a little people-friendly.
“The proposal, I believe, is still under consideration by Ukas and has not been agreed by the federal government," Ahmad told Malay Mail Online.
Selangor executive councillor in charge of infrastructure, public amenities and agro-based industries executive councillor Zaidy Abdul Talib said the state government has not received any official information on the proposed PJD Link highway.
Regarding the Kidex project, Fadillah said the developer was initially obligated to meet the preconditions of the concession by November 2014, based on the 2013 agreement signed with the federal government.
This was extended to February 2015, then to November 2015, and now, to end of this year.
"The government for now has agreed to approve an extension for the duration of the condition precedent [to be fulfilled] until November 2016, based on Kidex Sdn Bhd's application," the minister said, without elaborating on the reason for the extension.
In February 2015, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said his government cancelled Kidex because its developer did not produce relevant supporting studies for its proposal, namely a traffic impact assessment, a social impact assessment and an environmental impact assessment besides failing to reveal the toll rates and full concession agreement.
The discovery of the PJD Link now, however, has raised concern that the project was being repackaged under a new name.
The PJD Link expressway is a 34.3km dual-carriage expressway with four lanes and eight interchange or ramps, according to the information published in the promotional pamphlet sighted by Malay Mail Online.
Similar to Kidex, the new proposed expressway is to act as an alternative to the heavily-trafficked Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong, providing access to the fast-growing development corridor connecting Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Puchong, Kinrara and Putrajaya.
The highway will start from the intersection of the North Klang Valley Expressway and link up the townships of Bandar Utama, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Petaling Jaya, Taman Datuk Harun, Taman Medan Baru, Taman Sri Manja and Bandar Kinrara.
It will end at the Bukit Jalil interchange linking road users to a proposed new highway. Eight interchanges will be built to support rapid development along the alignment covering Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Puchong and Bandar Kinrara.
