[Nov 2020] - Thevibes.com

By: Maria Chin Abdullah

The project will connect from the NKVE to cutting through parts of Damansara, various parts of PJ city, Taman Medan, Puchong and ends at Bukit Jalil. 

THE controversial KIDEX and now re-named as PJD Link is being opened up for discussion. Many residents associations, individuals have raised concerns and these have filled our media. Of course, it is not surprising that PJ residents in particular are in the forefront in raising criticisms on PJD Link.

I decided to meet with the proponents of PJD Link, namely HSS Integrated, to get an idea of what they were trying to propose and why the need to bring back a project that most of us in PJ thought had been buried years ago.

I made it clear that the meeting was informal because I was not there to help promote the proposal and I also expressed that PJD Link need to have official engagement with the residents, corporates, NGOs and relevant stakeholders who are most affected by their proposal.

To be fair, the proponents of PJD Link too agreed that they will follow the due process - legally and to have various public consultation with the stakeholders and to share their proposal. 

I was informed that PJD Link is apparently a fully funded private project and it is still at its infant stage of proposing an idea. No decisions have been made to bring it back and the company has been informed by the Selangor State government and MBPJ that they have to follow the due process as the case is for any corporate company who wants to propose any ideas to the state and local authorities.

I believe that no environmental assessment or any impact studies have been carried out nor any formal presentation made to the various authorities.

Briefly the project will connect from the NKVE to cutting through parts of Damansara, various parts of PJ city, Taman Medan, Puchong and ends at Bukit Jalil. It will be about 12 km long with two tolls at SS2 and Taman Medan, respectively.

At the meeting, I raised several serious concerns regarding  the project, PJD Link. Briefly, they are as follows:

Environment and Health impact on the residents.

Will the residents be happy with the noise, dust, dirt, traffic congestion, disruption to businesses and lifestyle of residents and other environmental pollution when the elevated highway is being constructed? It is not only the pollution that will bother the residents but their health will be impacted. 

Tolls to cover the costs.

Given that there will be two tolls along this 12km elevated highway, will residents and users be ready to pay for more tolls, especially during such challenging economic times? 

Acquisition of property to make way for the elevated highway.

Will residents be ready to have their property be bought over when they have been staying there for more than 15 years? Besides this will also mean that property affected by the elevated highway will be devalued especially when it runs at the front or back of their houses?

Is there no other alternative routes or approaches to reduce traffic congestion and mobility that can be explored other than what is being proposed? 

The plans must be made public.

Public consultation have to be carried out with the residents, businesses, NGOs and any other stakeholders before proceeding further. The anxiety of the residents have to be answered. Above are some of the key concerns raised.

There are many more regarding maintenance, sound barriers, and so forth.  

However, from my informal meeting I am not convinced that the proposed project is the answer to reduce the traffic congestion and allow for greater mobility for all. The goals set by PJD Link will need to have better sustainable alternatives which will not bring massive disruption and losses to the stakeholders.

For the moment, I am inclined to stand with the original position on KIDEX and the policy that intra-city highways are not sustainable, cause more harm than good and not in accordance to the principles of sustainable development and the promotion of mass public transportation system as we move towards low carbon cities. – The Vibes, November 4, 2020

Maria Chin Abdullah
MP for Petaling Jaya