KUALA LUMPUR – A book launch and an environmental forum last night were disrupted by two members of the Stakeholders cum Residents Against PJD Link (ScRAP).
ScRAP chairman David Yoong and resident Selve Sugumaran suddenly stood up from their seats, holding anti-PJD Link banners and disrupted the end of Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari’s speech.
Although the menteri besar did not acknowledge the disruption while on stage, event organisers repeatedly attempted to persuade the duo to keep their banners and sit down.
Despite that, the two refused to comply, leading to a heated argument between the organisers and Yoong, as well as confiscating the banners. A man from the organising team also accused Yoong of trying to sabotage the event.
Later, Yoong, in denying trying to sabotage the event, told reporters that ScRAP’s letters and four memorandums sent to Amirudin’s office went unanswered, with the latest being submitted on December 18, reported FMT.
He said the Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) will damage the surrounding environment in Petaling Jaya and create heat islands under the highway.
Yoong also expressed concerns over the lack of exits for the PJD Link, which would be inconvenient for residents to commute efficiently or connect to nearby malls.
Amirudin was the guest at the Global Warming and Environment Forum at PJ Live Arts. The forum was moderated by Public Health and Environment exco Jamaliah Jamaluddin and joined by National Water Services Commission chairman Charles Santiago, Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner Hamizah Shamsudeen, UTM Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Centre director Khamarul Azahari Razak and activist Hishamuddin Rais.
Last month, Selayang MP William Leong offered to facilitate the highway developer and the residents of the affected areas to establish a middle ground that would address the concerns of affected residents and allow the project to move forward.
Referring to recent reports that the PJD Link project – initially cancelled by the Selangor government on July 31 last year – was back under consideration, Leong urged the developers to reassess the highway’s alignment and explore feasible alternative options, emphasising collaboration.
Amirudin said on August 1 last year that the cancellation was not final, and that the ultimate decision rested with the federal government.
The PJD Link proposal was approved in principle by the cabinet in November 2017. In September 2020, the state government approved the project in principle, pending impact assessment reports. – February 22, 2024