Kidex cancellation: 'The most bizarre decision ever made by Azmin' - Johan

The cancellation of the much-hyped Kinrara Damansara Expressway (Kidex) project viewed as inconvenient by many quarters is said to be 'the most bizarre decision' ever made by the Selangor Menteri Besar, Mohamed Azmin Ali.

UMNO Selangor secretary, Datuk Johan Abdul Aziz said the decision to cancel the project can only be announced after considering the wish of the rakyat in Selangor.

"On what basis did he (Mohamed Azmin) decide to cancel the project (KIDEX)? Does he think by cancelling the project deemed convenient to the people in Selangor can resolve all issues in the state?

"Kidex will possibly solve the traffic congestion in this state so where is proof that the rakyat has rejected the idea to have it and why all of sudden the project, which reflects the progress of Selangor, is abruptly cancelled?," he said when contacted by Astro AWANI, here today.

Johan was commenting on the cancellation of the Kidex project by Azmin as the project concessionaire had failed to meet the conditions set by the state government.

Mohamed Azmin said the state had informed Kidex to adhere to the conditions before Feb 14, 2015.

The Selangor government had earlier asked the company to provide an independent assessment of the impact (of the project) on the traffic, social and environment to prove its benefits for nearby residents, added Azmin.

However, the Chief Executive Officer of Kidex Sdn Bhd (KSB), Datuk Mohd Nor Idrus said the company was waiting for a response from the Federal government regarding the cancellation of the project by the state government.

Mohd Nor explained that concession agreement signed on November 2013 involved KSB and the Federal government.

Selangor UMNO liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Noh Omar described Azmin 'a hypocrite if he continues with the Kidex project.'

Noh said Azmin is starting to show his' true colours' and he appears to forget in becoming a people-oriented leader.

Meanwhile, Johan also that said Azmin should call off the Datum Jelatek project which could marginalise the Malays in Keramat.

“Azmin should consider the views of the rakyat who protested against the Datum Jelatek project after ignoring the plights of the people who wanted the Kidex project to proceed for the commuting convenience in the future.

“We challenge Azmin to cancel the Datum Jelatek project in order to prove his ambition to listen to the plights of the people when he first became the Menteri Besar and not for it to be just empty talk,” he said.

The Datum Jelatek project began in 2008 on a site with an area of 2.4 hectares next to the Jelatek LRT station, involving four blocks of luxurious condominium buildings, a hotel, offices and shopping mall.

The project received objections from local residents claiming it is solely aimed at changing the Malay-majority area into a “Chinese district” as only ethnic Chinese and foreigners (from China) could afford to own the condominium.

It is understood that the cost for a unit at Datum Jelatek starts at RM700,000.