KUALA LUMPUR – Stakeholders in Petaling Jaya have lauded the Selangor government’s move to cancel the implementation of the proposed Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) project.
Prominent lawyer and local resident Derek Fernandez welcomed the decision to scrap the PJD Link, saying it was done in line with the policies under the Petaling Jaya local plans (RTPJ1) and (RTPJ2).
“The RTPJ1 and RTPJ2 policies do not encourage elevated intracity tolled highways,” he told Scoop when contacted.
“Elevated highway infrastructure running over mature and dense cities is inconsistent with the sustainable development and low carbon goals of the city, hence, we are delighted that this project has been scrapped.”
Protest group Residents Against PJD Link (ScRAP) chairman David Yoong said he was relieved over the announcement by the Selangor caretaker menteri besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
Yoong, who is a senior engineer and a long-time critic of the project, said he last met Amirudin in March to speak about the negative impact of the project on locals.
“The PJD highway would not only fail to solve traffic jams in the area, it would add more problems such as tolls, the dropping of property prices, and pollution, among others,” he said.
Meanwhile, Muda’s Seri Setia candidate, Dobby Chew, had welcomed the move by the state government, but she questioned the timing of the announcement.
“While we receive the news warmly, it raises the question of whether this decision is made based on political calculations rather than an honest understanding of why the PJD Link is unnecessary,” she said in a statement.
“It is equally crucial that the reasons behind the cancellation and all associated documentation be made accessible to the public.”
Another local activist, Chakaravarthi Thillainathan, who is chairman of the Sustainable PJ Association, had also praised Muda for its involvement in resisting the project, saying that its president, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, played a crucial role in amplifying the voices of the local community.
“Compared to Pakatan Harapan (PH), Muda has always shown more interest in our concerns since day one, unlike PH, whom we have been chasing to convey our disputes on this project, and they have always never had a (clear) stand.”
“I believe that the state government has purposely delayed this issue so that they can use this announcement as political mileage for their coalition prior to the upcoming state elections,” he said.
The PJD Link was planned as a four-lane dual expressway to commence after the NKVE toll plaza on the Sprint Highway, ending at the Bukit Jalil Highway Interchange. – July 31, 2023