THE Selangor government still has to approve the controversial Petaling Jaya Dispersal (PJD) Link despite its developers announcing they raised RM922 million, Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran told The Malaysian Insight.

Rajiv said the developers did not say anything about the state’s approval.

“It doesn’t matter if they got the money (financing) or that they have a contractor. Our approval is still our prerogative.

“It does not mean we (state government) are obliged to approve (the project),” Rajiv told The Malaysian Insight.

On Tuesday, PJD Link (M) Sdn Bhd said it had secured RM922 million for the expressway.

Company chief executive officer Amrish Hari Narayanan said it can begin the remaining phases of financing for the PJD Link, including by raising the remaining portion of the project cost via sukuk bonds. 

“The capacity to finance the project is one of the conditions stipulated under the concession agreement, in addition to obtaining approvals for the social (SIA), environmental (EIA) and traffic impact assessment (TIA) reports,” Amrish said. 

The proposed PJD Link is a 25.4km two-lane dual carriageway (four lanes) expressway that begins after the North Klang Valley Expressway toll plaza on the Sprint Expressway. It ends at the Bukit Jalil interchange. 

Rajiv said the SIA, EIA and TIA are still with agencies in charge. 

“I believe these reports had yet to be presented to the state government when I last checked, which was a few days ago.”

The reports were submitted to the Department of Environment and PLANMalaysia Selangor at its headquarters in Putrajaya. 

Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung said there has been no approval for the PJD Link.

“We believe they (the developer) could have used the concessionaire agreement (CA) (to get funding).

“Without the CA, I don’t think they could have raised the funds,” he said.

Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi earlier said the concessionaire had yet to fulfil the conditions of the agreement.

He said the project was approved in principle by the federal government and gained policy approval from the Selangor government on September 30, 2020, before the concession agreement was signed on April 5 last year.

The concessionaire said it had signed a heads of agreement with MCC Overseas (M) Sdn Bhd to appoint MCC Malaysia as PJD Link’s engineering, procurement and construction contractor.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by MCC International Incorporation Ltd president Yang Roubing, the Macau government, China International Contractors Association members, and Scomi Energy Services Bhd chief executive officer Amirul Baharom at the International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum in Macau on June 1. 

MCC Malaysia is a subsidiary of China Metallurgical Group Corporation, a construction engineering conglomerate listed on the Shanghai and Hong Kong Stock exchanges.

Residents continue to protest

Coalition Against PJD Link Highway leader Sheikh Moqhtar Kadir said they want Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari to meet them and voice his stand before the state elections.

“There must be an end to the people’s anxiety and uncertainty surrounding this mega highway.

“The state has not taken a clear position on the PJD Link, and that only serves to (further) the interests of the concessionaire.”

He said the federal government claimed the state had given the PJD Link a policy approval on September 20, 2020.

“Until now, (Amirudin) keeps saying there has been no approval or green light given to the concessionaire.

“So what was the strength of the policy approval that Alexander claimed in his recent answer in parliament?”

Sheikh Moqhtar said the issue of sustainable development comes up at the prospect of any elevated highway cutting through the area.

“It’s going to disrupt and impact the environment, social and traffic situations here.

“We are also informed that the (Petaling Jaya City Council) has not received any application regarding PJD Link from the developer, and there has been no town hall meeting held.” – June 8, 2023.