The Selangor government yesterday cancelled the RM2.2 billion Kinrara Damasara Expressway. Former Umno minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim says the move is legal despite Faekah Hussin, the aide of former Selangor menteri besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, saying otherwise. – The Malaysian Insider pic, February 17, 2015.Selangor's decision to cancel the multi-billion ringgit highway Kinrara-Damasara Expressway (Kidex) is legal, said former Umno minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, dismissing claims that the state government had no right to do so and could be sued.The former de facto law minister, who at one time served the ruling Barisan Nasional administration, said land matters clearly fell under state jurisdiction as states had the power to determine use of land."You cannot build houses without land, likewise for highways. The federal government can say what they want but it is states that decide on land issues."Selangor's decision to cancel the project is legal. It is within their power," he told The Malaysian Insider from Sydney, Australia, today.Zaid previously offered legal counsel to protest group Say No to Kidex.Faekah Husin, the aide of former Selangor menteri besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, said the state government may be sued for cancelling the RM2.42 billion highway, adding that the agreement was inked between Putrajaya and the concessionaire.English-language daily The Star reported her as saying the PKR-led state government had no right to cancel the project as it was only tasked with providing land for the project.
“Azmin Ali might have used the wrong term when he said the project was cancelled. It was not him who signed the deal," Faekah (pic, left) said in reference to Khalid's successor, Mohamed Azmin Ali."The state government only has the authority to give development approval for land which is in the state’s jurisdiction.“The state government is only authorised to give a go-ahead on the use of the land. That is all," she added.Azmin yesterday said concessionaire Kidex Sdn Bhd failed to fulfil the conditions by February 14, the deadline set by the state government.Among the conditions set by Selangor were for independent traffic and social impact assessments to prove that the project would benefit not only road users, but also those living along the alignment, as well as the negatives of the project.The state also wanted the concessionaire to reveal the toll rates throughout the concession period, including any hikes in between.It also wanted to know the approximate amount the concessionaire would collect during the concession period and the rate of return on investment.The fourth condition was for the full concession agreement to be disclosed in line with Pakatan Rakyat government's thrust on transparency and accountability.Kidex Sdn Bhd chief operating officer Datuk Mohd Nor Idrus said they would issue an official statement after receiving from Putrajaya.“We will have to consult the federal government first about this," Nor said in a brief response to The Malaysian Insider after being told of Selangor’s announcement.Kidex signed a concession agreement (CA) with Putrajaya in November 2013 and it got a third extension to its CA until November this year.It was eported that approvals for highway projects must come from both the federal and state governments.The entire 26.1km highway was to start from the New Klang Valley Expressway toll above the SPRINT Highway at the Damansara interchange and end at the Damansara-Puchong Highway at Bandar Kinrara Section 2.Among the areas that could be affected by the project are Tropicana Mall, SS2 Mall, the Rothmans cross-junction, Section 14, Amcorp Mall, Hilton Petaling Jaya, Tun Hussein Onn Eye Hospital, Jalan Templer roundabout, Taman Datuk Harun, Taman Medan Baru and Bandar Kinrara.The project's supporters said it would cut down travel time between those areas by 25%. But it faced resistance from residents who said it would worsen congestion and pollute their neighbourhoods. – February 17, 2015.
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