THE Selangor government’s decision to approve the PJD Link in principle will backfire on it in the coming state elections.

This proposed highway, previously known as Kinrara-Damansara expressway (Kidex) was firstly approved by the Najib Razak administration in 2011.

In 2014, after an independent study was carried out, the Selangor government rejected the Kidex.

Ironically, it was announced a day after Anwar Ibrahim was sent to jail the second time.

Rejection of BN

Prior to that, in the 2013 general election, voters’ rejection of Barisan Nasional (BN) was amplified by the loss of eight state seats.

Umno lost six seats and MCA lost two.

Among notable reasons expressed by the voters were corruption, greed among incumbents, and rampant money politics in BN.

Other major issues include the degazettement of several “green lungs”, unresolved housing problems, and unnecessary large-scale projects such as the East Coast Railway Link (ECRL) and Kidex.

The opposition alliance then, Pakatan Rakyat (PKR, DAP, PAS, and the now-defunct Sarawak National Party), played up those issues well and retained Selangor for its second consecutive term, winning 44 seats (PKR won 14, PAS won 15 and DAP won 15) against BN’s 12.

In 2008, BN had 20 seats (Umno with 18, MCA with two) out of 56 state seats. Pakatan Rakyat had 36 seats, which means it gained eight more seats in 2013.

Umno’s drubbing worsened in 2018 with the 1Malaysia Development Bhd fiasco. Pakatan Harapan (PH) won 51 out of 56 state seats.

Umno won only four seats while PAS was left with one.

There were two new parties in PH, though – Bersatu, which snatched six seats from Umno, and Amanah, which took eight seats from PAS.

This time around, Bersatu is no longer in PH. Instead, Umno is now in the unity government with PH, while Bersatu has teamed up with PAS and a few PKR turncoats.

Kidex to PJD Link

For those who were campaigning against Kidex some 10 years ago, they know full well that Kidex was repackaged as PJD Link.

But as a new partner with Umno at the federal level, Selangor PH seems very confused.

It is torn between following the footsteps of Umno’s politicians by making deals with corporate players and remaining neutral.

The choice of accepting bribes and getting involved in corrupt practices are indeed tempting when you are in power.

Recent events and decisions of the state government provide indications that all is not well with the state administration, especially in the menteri besar’s office and a few of his excos.

Poor governance

Apart from the Selangor government’s poor decisions on PJD Link, there are at least three other large-scale projects that have gone against the principles of good governance, trumpeted by PH parties during the last three general elections.

These are:

1. The redevelopment of the Shah Alam Stadium.

2. A project called Selangor Maritime Gateway to deepen and widen the Klang River.

3. A blatantly indiscriminate clearance of the Cherakah Forest Reserve by ECRL contractors.

After three terms of PH rule, Selangor’s administration and local authorities found themselves under major political threat.

Indecisiveness in not rejecting this highway outright and allowing it to be squeezed into their overdeveloped urban territories was a poor political decision.

State seats located along the PJD Link or are in its vicinity that are at risk include Kinrara (N30), Seri Setia (N32), Taman Medan (N33), Bukit Gasing (N34), Kampung Tunku (N35), Bandar Utama (N36), Bukit Lanjan (N37) and Kota Damansara (N39).

It is foolhardy on part of PH’s state representatives to stay silent and allow BN to dictate the implementation of these unnecessary projects.

It is about time it speaks up for its voters. – April 9, 2023.

* Rosli Khan reads The Malaysian Insight.

* 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.