Highway authority finally grants Kidex opponents access to detailed impact study

Highway authority finally grants Kidex opponents access to detailed
impact study

By Shazwan Mustafa KamalAugust 1, 2014

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 — The Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) has finally
granted opponents of the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) access to
detailed traffic and environmental impact assessment reports, after
pressure group Say No to Kidex (SNTK)'s meet with the Works Ministry
over a month ago.

The lobby group, which has repeatedly demanded public access to impact
studies commissioned by highway developer Kidex Sdn Bhd, said it
received a letter on Wednesday from the federal highway authority
informing them of the matter.

Malay Mail Online understands that representatives of SNTK have been
told to collect a copy of the documents from the Petaling Jaya City
Council (MBPJ) tomorrow morning.

"Basically, it is four documents: the traffic impact assessment (TIA),
additional TIA, preliminary environmental impact assessment (PEIA) and
an "early plan" layout of the Kidex alignment route," SNTK committee
member Mak Khuin Weng told Malay Mail Online when contacted.

Mak said that this was stated in an official letter from the LLM to
SNTK, following a meeting with Works Minister Datuk Fadhillah Yusof in
June.

"We are not happy because LLM took their own sweet time to furnish these
documents, and we hope that there will be no issue with MBPJ tomorrow,"
Mak added.

SNTK will hold a press conference tomorrow at 10am to explain the latest
developments on the Kidex highway, as well as to highlight the group's
progress on talks with the Works Ministry.

The impact assessments on traffic and the environment are among the
crucial documents needed for the local authority to approve an amendment
to Petaling Jaya's local city plan to incorporate the highway.

Last month, the MBPJ revealed that the Kidex project had been rejected
on three occasions as the developer had failed to provide sufficient
details, including its final Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) report.

Under Section 18 of the Town Country and Planning Act (TCPA),
construction cannot start unless the highway fits with MBPJ's plans.

Kidex is currently not incorporated into the council's blueprint for
Petaling Jaya city.

Despite the growing opposition, mounting evidence in the form of replies
in Parliament and the state legislative assembly indicate that the
project is set to proceed.

Among the areas that could be affected by the project are Tropicana
Mall, SS2 Mall, Rothman's traffic lights, Section 14, Amcorp Mall,
Hilton Petaling Jaya, Tun Hussein Onn Eye Hospital, Jalan Templer
roundabout, Taman Datuk Harun, Taman Medan Baru and Bandar Kinrara.

Construction of the multi-billion-ringgit highway could begin as soon as
next year and be completed by 2018.

http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/highway-authority-finally-grants-kidex-opponents-access-to-detailed-impact