THIS is a report quoting MCA’s deputy treasurer-general Lawrence Low Ah Keong. It would seem the party has also jumped in on the controversy surrounding the Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link).

MCA salvo at the Selangor government

The PJD Link fiasco has already seen two rounds of peaceful assembly or protest by residents across Petaling Jaya. The irony in the report was, why did MCA’s Low attack the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government? 

He was not even questioning why the federal government initially approved PJD Link, which was between the Works Ministry, headed by Fadillah Yusof and PJD Link chief executive officer Amrish Narayanan. 

Now, for the record, Amrish is the son of Hari Narayanan, who is director of the Malaysian Highway Authority, and Emrail, PJD Link Sdn Bhd. How did the approval process come about? Do we not see a serious conflict of interest here? Why did Low not point this out, as he is in the same coalition with the works minister? 

Focus on facts, not party

Aside from Low not pointing out the hypocrisy of the federal government on signing the concessionaire agreement, he was strongly rebutting the PH side for having issued in-principle approval. 

Low was right in criticising PH, but he shouldn’t “put the cart before the horse”.  Dato, shouldn’t you have pointed out the inferiority of the governing process instead of pointing fingers at PH alone? 

We normally have a governance and approval process BEFORE we approve something, which is the referred Town and Country Planning Act 1976 and the Local Agenda 21 document. However it was perceived not complied with.  Shouldn’t there also be a public consultation, before any “in-principle approval” is given? 

These are all part of legal requirements.

Common faults

We the rakyat observed – in both the federal and state governments – that they have not done the necessary due diligence in complying with the governance and approval process. 

1. Putrajaya should have shown a more transparent process. Was this project awarded through open tender? 

2. The Selangor government, which practises the principles of competency, accountability and transparency, must do better than the federal government.

The Selangor Economic Action Council, by meeting with the highway developer and giving approval, when documentation in the form of environmental, social and traffic impact assessments have not even been presented, does it not show naivety in governance?

Without these necessary prerequisite impact assessments, no form of approval should have been given. Doesn’t it open the door to possible corruption?

Reminder to MCA

We, the people, remind you that there is no need to politicise the issue. Please use your strong political position, to seek and provide some answers as to why the federal government (of which you are part of) gave approvals without due process of obtaining, evaluating studies and public consultation, by asking Fadillah upfront? 

Now, the rakyat want due responsibility from both sides of the political divide.

Both governments have their roles to play, and to listen more to the people’s voices. In fact, just act firmly to shut down on PJD Link and bury it from both federal plans and the State Structural Plan 2035. – July 27, 2022.

* Michael Kum is a representative for the SCRAP Highway Team.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.