http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1052451

SHAH ALAM: The controversial Kinrara Damansara Expressway (Kidex) can be called off if the federal government no longer thinks it is feasible to build after realignment.

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the state government agreed to Kidex in principle, but it can push for realignment according to public demand.

“Let’s say we adjust the alignment, and then the federal government or the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) says it is not feasible; then the state may say ‘you don’t need to build it’; if they think it is feasible then they can build it.

“So the state government has the right to issue a planning approval,” he told reporters after chairing the state executive council meeting today.

Kidex is facing stiff opposition from the residents of Petaling Jaya who contend that noise and environmental pollution, and devaluation of private property are issues that will arise.

Khalid said the state government has to be professional about the matter as well and not reject Kidex merely because it is a project by the federal government.

He said the federal government would have already considered the impact of the highway on people in Selangor before proposing it.

“It would be unprofessional to say ‘no’ just because it is a federal project; if we reject all federal proposals then it would be unfair to the people of Selangor as well,” Khalid said.

He said traffic congestion is a major issue in the Klang Valley and any federal proposition that could alleviate the problem would be welcomed.

Khalid said that even though the state government can push for realignment, it would not be able to please everyone although it will benefit the majority.

“People are generally happy when there are developments that could help in transportation such as building roads of the MRT, as long as it is not in front of their house,” he said.

He added that Kidex also extends into Subang Jaya and Puchong, where the Subang Jaya Municipal Council has been organising town hall meetings for the people regarding the highway.

theSun today reported that Khalid had said it would be impossible to cancel Kidex as it was a federal project; the Mentri Besar never said the words quoted and theSun regrets the mistake.

This post has been edited by sonotme: May 21 2014, 09:53 PM