SABAK BERNAM, 18 Feb: The refusal by the concessionaire of the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) project to reveal the toll rate, including its increases and revenue, to the Selangor government and the people has raised questions.
The Exco for Infrastructure, Public Amenities and Agro-based Industries, Zaidy Abdul Talib, said that the state government and the people have an interest to know the full details of the concession agreement for the highway, which has been cancelled.
“It is clear that every project must have the concept of quality development, people are cared for. We do not want to see projects like the Highland Towers that looked strong but eventually collapsed and highways that are not very safe when seeing many accidents like fly-overs collapsing.
“The construction of a highway should not only be beneficial to road users, but it must also provide benefits to the residents in the surrounding areas, as well as toll rates. The total increase and profit targets should be disclosed.
“Whatever is contained in the pre-conditions of the agreement must be disclosed because it does not involve national security secrets. There is nothing wrong with sharing with the people who will be paying the toll and the taxes,” he said.
Zaidy said that Kidex failed to meet the condition to reveal this prior to February 14, as required by the state government.
He said that Kidex also failed to provide an independent review of the social impact to the people in surrounding areas, while failing to take into account the views of the people.
NS
