SHAH ALAM, Dec 5 — A technical report on a proposal to take over land at two forest reserves for the construction of the Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Highway (DASH) and Sungai Besi-Ulu Klang Expressway (SUKE) will be submitted to the Selangor Economic Action Council (SEAC).
State Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman, Elizabeth Wong said the report contained detailed explanation from several government agencies to enable SEAC make the right decision on the two forest reserves, in order to make way for the expressways.
“Among the agencies involved in coming up with the report are the Selangor Forestry Department, Selangor Water Management Authority, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, and Forest Research Institute of Malaysia.
“The decision on this matter will be known by the end of this month,” she told reporters after attending a public protest over the construction of the two highways, here, today.
Also present at the session were representatives of Bukit Segar Residents Association, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur and a non-governmental organisation, Say No To SUKE.
Wong said although the state government gave priority to public transport improvements in order to reduce road congestion, highway constructions would be considered if they were beneficial to the people of Selangor.
In a public investigation notice issued on March 16, the state government had proposed to utilise about 3.2 hectares of land from the Bukit Cherakah Forest Reserve for the construction of DASH and about 29.6 hectares from the Bukit Sungai Puteh Utara and Selatan Forest Reserve for the construction of SUKE.
The proposal has raised the ire of various parties who are concerned that the construction of the two highways would affect both forest reserves which are water catchment areas. — Bernama
