KUALA LUMPUR – A residents’ association cried foul over the construction of an elevated U-turn near Beverly Heights in Ampang, along the East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE) project, due to safety concerns regarding its design.
The Taman Sering Ukay residents’ association in Ukay Perdana recently filed protest letters to the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) and the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ), calling for the authorities to evaluate the construction and provide reassurance that it has followed safety standards.
In the letters sent to LLM and MPAJ in late January, the association’s chairman Mohd Arshad Raji said the current design of the elevated road appeared to be too sharp and narrow for vehicles.
The letters sighted by The Vibes said the design could be prone to accidents for thousands of highway users, especially those residing in Ukay Perdana, Bukit Antarabangsa.
“We are unsure whether LLM has studied the new design and declared it safe in accordance with road safety audits while making the matter public,” he said.
Arshad said the overpass’ construction had begun several months ago and that the original plan involved the acquisition of 7,500sq ft of private land.
Arshad, who is also president of the army and police veterans’ National Patriots Association, said the transfer of land by the Selangor Land and Mines Department had also been enforced after a Form H was awarded to the landowner in November 2018.
“The construction (of the overpass) was paused at a bend because it encroached on private land. EKVE had to cease the construction as it did not pay the compensation to the landowner, even though the Form H was awarded in 2018.
“We assume that EKVE has changed the design of the overpass because it wants to avoid paying compensation to the owner of the land as awarded in Form H.”
Stretching 39.5 kilometers, the RM1.55 billion EKVE highway connects Ukay Perdana in Ampang, Selangor to Bandar Sg Long in Kajang.
The developer of the expressway is EKVE Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Ahmad Zaki Resources Bhd.
The Vibes is reaching out to the company for comment on the issue.
Since the approval of its construction in 2015, the highway has courted a series of controversies.
In late December, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the construction of the EKVE is believed to be one of the causes of the mud floods around Taman Sri Nanding in Hulu Langat due to clogged drains.
In June 2015, Arshad, who was then the facilitator of the Bukit Antarabangsa resident task force with the EKVE, said 200,000 residents in Ukay Ampang were shocked by the Selangor government’s decision to approve serious changes to the alignment of the expressway as it allegedly did not improve congestion.
However, despite being panned over the approval, the then Selangor menteri besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali in November 2015 insisted that he was not the one who approved the construction of any highways in the state, including the Damansara-Shah Alam Highway and the Sg Besi-Ulu Klang Expressway.
Azmin, who is also the Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman, also said the approvals were made before he assumed the menteri besar post.
Arshad confirmed when contacted that he had sent the letters to LLM and MPAJ.
“I’ve written to MPAJ and LLM to relook at the design of the elevated highway,” he said.
“I don’t think they will ever call (back). The important thing is that the residents and potential users of the highway have registered our safety concerns. Should any untoward accidents happen, then we will know what to do.”
Despite the need to evaluate the safety concerns and provide appropriate compensation to private landowners, Arshad said the overpass was still necessary as it would reduce traffic congestion for those wanting to enter the EKVE highway.
He also said the association will consider bringing the matter to court if all affected residents support the move.
However, he said he was currently unsure that the majority of residents wanted to proceed with taking legal action. – The Vibes, February 7, 2022
