KUALA LUMPUR: PJD Link (M) Sdn Bhd, the concessionaire for the Petaling Jaya Traffic Dispersal Link (PJD Link) highway construction project, has defended the project citing significant and socio-economic advantages.
In a statement today, the company said the PJD Link was a RM4.4 billion project with "vast economic spillovers", and would provide an estimated 12,000 jobs and generate RM31 billion in total economic output.
"We believe that this remains a viable project that brings about benefits to the people.
"PJD Link is also intended to be fully privately funded, with no expenditure from the state or federal government," it said, adding that it had yet to be officially informed on the discontinuation of the project.
It described the project as a "crucial infrastructure" that coincided with the rapid development in Selangor, which needed a congestion-free connection between Kinrara and Damansara.
"The highway is designed as a traffic dispersal system, to connect with seven major highways and 11 interchanges to boost connectivity among townships and reduce congestion."
The project, owned by the federal government through the works ministry, it added, had already gone through detailed scrutiny by all relevant ministries and regulatory agencies.
These include the approvals of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA); Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA); and Social Impact Assessment (SIA).
"The unfulfilled conditions as mentioned by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, were in fact due to the conditions precedent which had taken longer than expected due to the complexities of this project.
"While we acknowledge there are concerns from the public, the project also garnered widespread support from stakeholders along the alignment.
"Its holistic economic and social benefits promise to significantly enhance sustainability and well-being across Selangor and the broader Klang Valley region," it said, adding that they were in the midst of studying requests to review the alignment of the highway.
The company assured that it would continue to work together with relevant government agencies to see how the project could be viable for the people of Selangor and the greater Klang Valley area.
Fahmi, who is also the unity government spokesman, yesterday said the cabinet had decided not to proceed with PJD Link, after the concessionaire failed to meet six of the 11 conditions.
"However, it is important to note that the cabinet agreed that there would be no extension of time to meet the remaining requirement precedents.
"Previously, the company applied twice for an extension to meet the set conditions. As a result of that failure, the project was not continued," he said in a press conference yesterday.
