KUALA LUMPUR – The government should now provide alternative solutions to Taman Medan residents who had supported the Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) elevated highway, said the area’s assemblyman.
Perikatan Nasional’s Dr Afif Bahardin said since the government has decided to discontinue the federal-approved project, it should help to overcome traffic congestion problems local residents face daily.
“The majority of residents in Taman Medan supported the PJD Link because we have been dealing with road congestion problems for too long,” Afif told Scoop.
He said lawmakers from the unity government, namely Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung and Damasara MP Gobind Singh Deo, must provide alternative solutions, as the alignment of the proposed elevated highway had passed through their constituencies.
Afif said it is not enough for the two leaders to issue statements on the government’s intentions to build more public transport facilities when there are no solid proposals to achieve that.
“For me, these two MPs (Petaling Jaya and Damansara) have failed to understand the needs and concerns of the people. As the decision makers, please stick to the facts,” the assemblyman said.
Yesterday, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, who is also the spokesperson for the unity government, announced the decision to discontinue the PJD Link.
Fahmi said the cabinet decided to cancel the project after the developer failed to meet six of the 11 conditions set.
The project had received federal approval in principle, in November 2017, and conditional approval in April 2022. However, it also had to fulfil other requirements for the Selangor state government.
The Selangor government had said it would not go ahead with the project before last year’s state election, but this year said it was waiting for the developer to fulfil other requirements.
The proposed 25km long PJD Link, with 11 interchanges, would have connected Bandar Utama to Bukit Jalil as a means to disperse traffic and reduce traffic congestion within Petaling Jaya.
It was to have had main connections with other major highways such as the NKVE, SPRINT, Federal Highway, Pantai Baru Expressway (NPE), Shah Alam Highway (Kesas) and the Bukit Jalil Highway.
While various resident groups in Petaling Jaya suburbs had opposed the highway, Taman Medan residents voiced their support for it.
In addition to the required assessments for the project for traffic, environmental and social concerns, Afif said the government should also conduct a comprehensive and inclusive study of Petaling Jaya residents’ views.
“From talking to residents, especially those living in Taman Medan and Kampung Dato’ Harun, most of them are working in Puchong and they have told me there is a need for a new highway because the roads are congested.
“I also know there are protests against the project from residents in Bukit Gasing and the Petaling Jaya area, so there should be a comprehensive study on the matter so that we can know who needs the highway and who doesn’t need it, and if it is really the solution,” Afif said.
“A proper study with real feedback to identify the reasons for residents’ objections is needed.
“For example, is it because the trees will be cut down or is it because they are afraid that the road will go over their houses? We need to know.
“It is better to have studies that are documented, rather than playing with polemics and sentiments,” he added. – April 18, 2024