RESIDENTS affected by the Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) Expressway project are seeking a meeting with Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari to get clarity on the project.
“We want a meeting with the Selangor Mentri Besar as we have been left in the dark since learning late last year that the project has been revived,” said Stakeholders cum Residents Against PJD Link (ScRAP) spokesman David Yoong.
“We don’t know if the project has a new alignment or if it’s the old alignment but with new amendments.
“We would like to know how PJD Link was revived if the developer had previously failed to meet several conditions set for the project.”
Besides the action group ScRAP, non-governmental organisation Sustainable Petaling Jaya Association (SPJA) and affected residents learnt about PJD Link’s revival following a press conference by Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung in November last year.
Lee said he was told that a Cabinet meeting had agreed on May 8, 2024, to allow PJD Link (M) Sdn Bhd to present a counter-proposal for a new highway alignment.
“The ball is now in the court of the state government to decide whether this project will be implemented or not.
“Any attempt to gain approval through retail amendments is an insult to policymakers and the people," Lee was quoted as saying.
PJD Link is a proposed 25.4km dual-lane elevated expressway connecting Damansara to Bandar Kinrara in Selangor.
In July 2023, Amirudin announced the cancellation of PJD Link, stating that the project did not meet the conditions set.
In April 2024, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced that the project had been discontinued as its developer failed to meet six out of 11 conditions set by the government.
However, in July 2024, Selangor infrastructure and agriculture committee chairman Izham Hashim announced during the state assembly sitting that PJD Link was among seven highways in consideration in the state.
Meanwhile, SPJA assistant secretary Parimala Nesamany said the group is hoping the High Court will make its decision on a judicial review application submitted by four residents - three from Petaling Jaya and one from Kinrara - related to PJD Link.
She said the plaintiffs had applied for several documents and reports undertaken by the project’s developer and its consultant, as well as during engagements with Petaling Jaya and Kinrara residents and stakeholders.
These documents comprise the environmental impact assessment, social impact assessment and traffic impact assessment reports, plus focus group discussion reports.
“Our case was first filed on June 7, 2023, and affidavits have been exchanged and submitted between 2023 and 2024. A decision was initially scheduled for October 2024, then postponed to Jan 13 and now March 26.
“We are hopeful that a decision will be made next month, as it will be close to two years since the case was first filed,” said Parimala.
Parimala added that a town hall meeting will be held on Feb 15 at 10am at Brickfields Asia College, Petaling Jaya, to update the public on the project.
“We have also invited the developer, their consultants, all approving government ministries and agencies as well as elected representatives to the meeting,” she said.
Taman Kinrara 7 resident Dhanaraj Arumugam said those residing in Kinrara, Puchong, are also against having PJD Link built due to the negative impact it will have on the area’s traffic, economy and environment.
“It feels as if this project is being forced on residents. We are also disappointed that some politicians said Kinrara residents are supportive of the project when my neighbours and I are not,” said Dhanaraj, who is also Gerakan Menentang Penilaian Impak Tebuk Atap (Gempita) spokesman.
He added that Gempita will be organising a protest on Feb 22 at 9am near Jalan TK 7/1, which falls under the project’s alignment, to continue their objections against it.
For updates on the project, visit https://www.saynotopjdlink.org/
