KUALA LUMPUR: The concession agreement for the Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) could not be declassified by the government due to certain obligations stipulated in the agreement, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the highway is also classified under the Official Secrets Act 1972.
"It is recognised that the concession agreement needs to be reclassified before its contents can be openly disclosed," he said during the tabling ofHighway Authority Malaysia (Incorporation) (Amendment) Bill 2023.
He also suggested that a discussion over the matter should be discussed with Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) chairman Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad.
"I think you can meet Simpang Renggam (Hasni) and discuss with the LLM chairman on the matter."
He said this in response to Lee Chean Chung (PH-Petaling Jaya) who asked the minister to state the government's position on the PJD Link project.
He also urged the ministry to clarify to the public on the routes that will be affected, as it is considered unfair for people not to know the routes that will impact them.
Last year, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari announced the cancellation of the PJD Link elevated highway project after the impact assessment reports submitted by the developer failed to meet certain conditions and were deemed unsatisfactory. (https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/07/936954/selangor-govt-cancels-...)
The project, which was estimated to cost more than RM2 billion, was approved in April 2022 by the previous federal government helmed by former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He then said the project could be revived if the developer meets the requirements. (https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/08/937354/amirudin-revival-petal...)
The 14.9-kilometre expressway was supposed to connect the Damansara–NKVE interchange of the New Klang Valley Expressway to Bandar Kinrara and aimed to reduce the travelling time between Damansara and Kinrara by some 25 per cent.