MPs slam Bangsar-Damansara highway works, repeat call for MACC probe

Hannah Yeoh and Fahmi Fadzil, the MPs for Segambut and Lembah Pantai respectively, have lambasted the alleged commencement of construction on the Bangsar-Damansara Elevated Highway.

"We have been informed that construction works have started at the site despite strong protests from the residents and both Members of Parliament.

"We have also been informed by DBKL (KL City Hall) that this RM211.5 million elevated road project is to be partially funded by DBKL (RM100 million) and Impian Ekspresi Sdn Bhd (RM111.5 million)," said the duo in a joint statement this morning.

"We are deeply concerned that such enormous spending of public funds by DBKL in such close proximity with a private development project has not been done via open tender," they added.

The proposed elevated highway was intended to stretch from Jalan Semantan to the junction of Sprint Highway with Jalan Maarof, shortening the journey from Bangsar to Pusat Bandar Damansara.

It was launched in March 2018 by then-federal territories minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor who said that the project would go a long way in easing traffic congestion in the area.

Five months ago on Sept 19, 2019, the Bukit Damansara House Owners’ Association, Medan Damansara Resident Association, Bukit Bandaraya Resident Association, Save KL Coalition and the two MPs lodged a report with the MACC over the project.

Given the latest developments, they are asking MACC to once again to look into the matter.

"We are repeating our call for MACC to urgently investigate and provide an update on their findings to the residents," said Yeoh and Fahmi.