The Selangor State Government today announced the cancellation of the controversial Kinrara Damansara Expressway (Kidex) after the developers of the highway project failed to abide by certain conditions for approval that had been set by the state.

Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali said the developers had passed their deadline to fulfill three criteria for approval, namely the Traffic Impact Assessment Report, rate of return to investment of tolled roads, and to make public the full concession agreement.

The state government had taken into consideration public opinion before drafting these specific conditions that had to be fulfilled, Azmin said in a statement today.

“In view that not even a single condition was fulfilled by Kidex before the deadline (14 February 2014), the Selangor government hereby announces the cancellation of Kidex,” said Azmin, who is also State Assemblyman for Bukit Antarabangsa.

He said today that any highway in Selangor should not only benefit its users, but the homes around which the highway is to be built. Various resident groups in Petaling Jaya have objected to the building of Kidex, which they way will encroach on their neighbourhoods without bringing any benefit to ease traffic congestion.

The sprawling highway would have affected various landmarks in Petaling Jaya including Tropicana Mall, SS2 Mall, Rothman’s traffic lights, Section 14, Amcorp Mall, Hilton Petaling Jaya, Tun Hussein Onn Eye Hospital, Jalan Templer roundabout, Taman Datuk Harun, Taman Medan Baru and Bandar Kinrara.

Azmin added that the state would use the same approach when considering approval for future highways projects.

Following the announcement, Say No to Kidex (SNTK) group, who have been the most vocal about their objections to the highway expressed their appreciation to the State Government for its decision to cancel Kidex.

Pic of group Say No To Kidex (SNTK) – Malaysian Insider Pic

“The MB was in no way partisan or biased as he gave the concessionaire ample time to fulfil their requirements. As per his press statement, they did not fulfil even a single condition. He is thus fully justified in his decision today,” said Mak Khuin Weng, a representative from the group in its press statement today.

“The People of Petaling Jaya have spoken. The Representatives of Selangor have firmly proclaimed. No to Kidex,” read the statement.

SNTK also offered their sincere thanks to state leaders who expressed their objections to Kidex, including Rafizi Ramli, Rajiv Rishyakaran, Tony Pua, Gobind Singh Deo, Hee Loy Sian, Yeo Bee Yin, Lau Weng San, and Ng Sze Han.

The group also called on the MB to expunge all mention of the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) from the Selangor State Draft Plan Exploratory 2035 report (Laporan Tinjauan Perancangan Struktur Negeri Selangor 2035). -The Rocket