PJ residents say no to proposed PJD Link expressway
ANIS ZALANI
SHAH ALAM - The heavy rain this morning did not stop angry residents from protesting against a proposed highway in Klang Valley.
They are frustrated over Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link Expressway (PJD Link), a proposed 34.3 km, four-lane carriageway that connects six significant highways (NKVE, SPRINT, Federal Highway, NPE, KESAS and Bukit Jalil Highway).
Tracy Toh has claimed the federal and state government has once again approved a "life-threatening" highway construction that can irreversibly damage the urban environment and mature residential area in Petaling Jaya.
“We are vehemently opposing the construction of PJD Link just as PJ residents previously have rejected the Kidex highway project.
“We have made it clear that we oppose any highway in the heart of PJ and mature residential areas, and we are making a stand in front of the Secretariat Building today because our online protest has been ignored,” she said to the reporters present.
She also said that it is not their responsibility to fight the developer on the construction, but it is the role of the government to hear the voices of residents, business owners and stakeholders.
She further said only Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin had come forward to raise the matter to the Parliament. “Some elected representatives are refusing even to take a stand on the PJD Link issue," she said, adding that the residents are disappointed with the other elected representatives.
“This is why we as residents are seeking answers to understand the basis upon which the state government has approved PJD Link,” she said.
Meanwhile, Damansara MCA chairman Tan Gim Tuan who was also present during the protest, said the government should introduce the local structured plan, which requires a public consultation process.
“The public consultation process is very crucial, but in PJ, they are focusing on sustainable development, and they completely abandoned the consultation process with the public," he added.
