Work on Bangsar-Damansara highway project to continue, says FT minister

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 — Despite protests from Bukit Damansara residents and the MPs for Segambut and Lembah Pantai, construction work on the Bangsar-Damansara Elevated Highway will continue.

Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad said the agreement was signed in 2017 under the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration and there is nothing the present Pakatan Harapan (PH) government can do to stop it due to the possibility of legal implications.

“The reality is that the agreement was made before (PH took over the government). We have to accept this reality,” he told reporters during a press conference after officiating Federal Territories Day celebrations organised by PlanMalaysia.

Khalid added that the construction of the highway is based on necessity.

“The highway is being built also based on necessity in the area,” he said.

Protests against the elevated highway, which started over environmental concerns since last year May, have intensified following allegations of corruption involving DBKL and the developer.

Two PH MPs, Hannah Yeoh (Segambut) and Fahmi Fadzil (Lembah Pantai) have lent their support to residents opposing the project.

Both MPs have called for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to speed up its investigation into alleged malpractices in the highway project, valued at RM211.5 million.

Fahmi and Yeoh, who is also deputy women, family and community development minister, filed a complaint with MACC five months ago, but claim there has been little progress since.

Both MPs also claimed that the Kuala Lumpur City Hall will be partially funding the project by paying RM100 million while Impian Ekspresi Sdn Bhd pays RM115 million.

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