KUALA LUMPUR – The developer of the Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) will have to “start from scratch” if changes are made to the alignment of the proposed elevated highway, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said.
This includes having to renegotiate the project with the federal government, which had given its approval.
Since federal approval was given for the current alignment, any changes will require the developer to present a new proposal “from A to Z” to Putrajaya, Amirudin was reported as saying at an event in Shah Alam last night.
“Are they willing to do that?” he said.
The menteri besar also said while there was opposition towards the proposed highway, there were also people who supported it.
Amirudin said the state administration received the social impact assessment (SIA) report from the developer which stated that Taman Medan and Kinrara residents wanted the highway, while residents of other areas in Petaling Jaya opposed it.
Thus, he said, the developer was told they could realign the highway to avoid passing through areas where residents reject it.
However, this will mean renegotiating with the federal government.
The proposal for the highway’s construction was approved in principle by the cabinet in November 2017, and by the state government in September 2020 – subject to impact assessment reports.
On Thursday, Selangor infrastructure and agriculture exco Izham Hashim told Scoop the proposed highway has not been cancelled but is delayed as the state government waits for information from PJD Link about revised plans for the alignment.
“The state government’s stand is simple – there is a need to relook the highway alignment, especially in PJ. We have informed the developer to propose some ideas,” Izham said, adding that the state government will make a decision after an internal meeting on the project’s SIA.
It is understood that PLAN Malaysia Selangor has approved PJD Link’s SIA.
Amirudin initially announced the project’s cancellation in July last year, ahead of state elections but days later said it could be revived if it met set requirements and residents’ approval.
He added then that there was still a necessity to further develop Petaling Jaya and to introduce a more effective traffic dispersal system. – February 24, 2023