Latest news just in. The Selangor state government will not consider and has rejected the construction of the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (KIDEX) for failure to comply with the prescribed conditions. The Chief Minister, Mohamed Azmin Ali, said that the state government finalised that the construction of the Kidex is rejected during the winding-up speech at the Selangor State Assembly (DNS) session yesterday.
“I would like to inform that Kidex failed to comply with the conditions set, therefore the state government has taken the final decision to not grant approval and we will not budge from this decision. “The decision was communicated to the Minister of Public Works and the delegation when they visited Selangor on March 19.
“This decision was not a populist decision but it was taken following objections and support received. In fact, studies such as traffic impact and preliminary environmental impact studies have also been taken into consideration,” he said.
Prior to this, DNS rejected the motion put forward by Sulaiman Razak (BN-Permatang) who wanted the construction of Kidex to be reconsidered. Mohamed Azmin said that the state government has also stated to the central government to respect Section 20 A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 whereby all projects developed should be negotiated with the state government first.
“The central government also admitted that they overlooked and ordered the Malaysian Highway Authority (MAH) to take note in the future and comply with the Section to negotiate in advance with the state government,” he said.
Mohamed Azmin said that the state government also requested for the target of private and public transportation usage to be reviewed and taken before the Cabinet.
“In 2008, the ratio shows 12 (public transport):88 (private), 2012 (27:73), 2014 (25:75). This shows dire need for a transportation system.” “The construction of a highway is not the only solution because we want to move people, no machines. Constructing many highways do not necessarily solve traffic problems. “Thus, the ratio of 40:60 by the central government should be changed to 60:40 so that the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) can be given more space in the public transport system,” he said.
This is great news for Petaling Jaya residents who have been actively trying very hard for months to put a STOP to this highway project.
