Cancellation of Kidex creates dilemma for investors — Fadillah

THE cancellation of the KinraraDamansara ( Kidex) Highway project will create a dilemma for private companies to invest in the construction of highways in Selangor.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said it would also undermine efforts by the federal government to solve traffic congestion in the Klang Valley.

“We have to look at the implications of the cancellation because the process has been on, what happens to future investment, will the people be willing to invest in Selangor to make highways and make planning for public transport, it will be a dilemma for the private parties,” he said when winding up the debate on his ministry on the motion of thanks on the Royal Address by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the Dewan Rakyat here yesterday.

Fadillah said the federal government always endeavoured to resolve public complaints on traffic congestion problems in the Klang Valley including through the implementation of Kidex and MRT projects.

He said the implementation of the Kidex project should be viewed holistically as it was not only to reduce traffic congestion but the state government and Malaysia would also benefit immensely from the socio- economic spillover effects.

“We respect the decision to cancel ( Kidex) made by the state government because it is their right, we (the federal government) will implement any project that will benefit the people.

“We do get complaints from the people asking us to solve the congestion problems, therefore we consider this ( Kidex project) solution offered by private parties, which were presented to the Selangor Economic Action Council and received conditional approval on February 23, 2012,” he said.

He said the Selangor government must find ways to overcome the problem faced by the people when cancelling the project.

On the government’s stand on whether the project would be cancelled, Fadillah said it required in- depth study and the ministry needed to seek advice from the Attorney- General’s Chambers about the legal impact arising from its cancellation. — Bernama