PJD Link among seven highway projects under consideration in Selangor

SHAH ALAM: The controversial Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) Expressway project, which was discontinued in April, may now be back on the board.

It is among the seven highway projects under consideration in Selangor, said the state infrastructure and agriculture committee chairman Izham Hashim at the Selangor State Assembly sitting on Thursday (July 4).

This is despite news reports quoting Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil’s statement in April that the project had been discontinued as the developer had failed to meet certain requirements.

Izham was responding to Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran’s (Pakatan Harapan-DAP) question on new highways in the pipeline at the state assembly.

“The PJD Link developer has made some changes to the alignment in Petaling Jaya, based on the social impact assessment (SIA) and objections from the public.

“The new alignment would be discussed at the Selangor Economic Action Council meeting.

“The developer has proposed a mitigation plan based on the objections received.

“The new alignment needs to be studied again and a new SIA must be conducted with the affected people before it is presented to the state and Federal Government for consideration,” he said.

Izham said many of the objections were for the alignment in Petaling Jaya.

He also said that other highways under consideration include Putrajaya-Bangi Expressway, Kuala Lumpur Northern Dispersal Expressway, Lebuhraya Senawang-KLIA- Salak Tinggi, Lebuhraya Pintasan Lebuhraya Persekutuan, Lebuhraya Kuala-Lumpur-Shah Alam and Lebuhraya Bertingkat Sungai Klang Link.

Rajiv asked if it was possible for the state to appoint a consultant paid by the developer to conduct the SIA, to avoid conflict of interest.

Izham said the procedure was for the developer to appoint an independent consultant that was licensed.

“If we are not happy with the report, we can ask them to do it again.

“In the previous SIA report, it was clear many people in Petaling Jaya had objected but Puchong residents were more in favour of the project,” he said.