Selangor has no right to cancel Kidex, says former Khalid aide

PETALING JAYA: The Selangor state government has no authority to cancel the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) as the deal was struck between the Federal Government and the concessionaire.

Former Mentri Besar Incorporated (MBI) chief executive officer Faekah Hussin said the state government was only tasked with providing the land and had no involvement in the deal.

“(Mentri Besar) Azmin Ali might have used the wrong term when he said the project was cancelled. It was not him who signed the deal.

“The state government only has the authority to give development approval for land which is in the state’s jurisdiction,” she said when contacted.

“The state government is only authorised to give a go-ahead on the use of the land, that is all,” she said.

Faekah said by announcing the “cancellation” of the deal, Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor was opening itself to legal suits.

“But I do hope that this decision was made after analysing the reports of all stakeholders, not just based on the conditions set by the state government,” said Faekah, who previously served as Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s political secretary.

She said during Khalid’s tenure, the former Mentri Besar had outlined conditions and pre-conditions which had to be fulfilled for the state to issue development approval.

Earlier Monday, Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali announced the cancellation of the controversial project following the developer’s failure to meet three stipulated conditions by the Feb 14 deadline.

Kidex is a 14.9km elevated superhighway, which could reach six to eight storeys and aimed to reduce travelling time by 25% between Damansara and Kinrara.

Kidex Sdn Bhd strategic communications head Datin Hasnah Abd Rahman, when contacted, said they were aware of the latest development.

“We will release a statement in due time,” she said.

Khalid could not be reached for comment.