KUALA LUMPUR – Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli said the construction of the Mass Rapid Transit 3 (MRT3) project will involve the views of the public in hopes that it will have minimal impact on two neighbourhoods under his constituency.
Rafizi, who is also economy minister, said he will do his part to listen to the recommendations of residents of Taman Kencana and Taman Bakti, and continue to convey their concerns to Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
“Even before the election, I have met with residents in both areas and there have been recommendations pertaining to several proposed alignments (for the project).
“I am well aware of these recommendations and at the government level. Unofficially, I have discussed the matter with Transport Minister Anthony Loke and any decisions made by the government should take into account the concerns of the residents.
“We would like to see the alignments (of the project) have a minimal impact on the residents. This is still under discussion and God willing, I will continue to cooperate with the residents on the matter,” he told reporters after attending an event in Pandan Indah earlier today.
The MRT 3 is a proposed 51-km transit line circling Kuala Lumpur with 31 stations planned.
However, since its inception, there have been several protests against the original alignment of the project from affected neighbourhoods, including residents from Taman Kencana and Taman Bakti.
Last August, the Finance Ministry revealed through a written reply that the MRT3 project would cost RM50.2 billion, nearly RM20 billion more than originally reported.
In March, the project’s cost was reported to be around RM31 billion, according to then transport minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong and MRT Corp Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim.
Meanwhile, Rafizi, who is also PKR deputy president, said the party has yet to receive any invitation from Umno to attend its annual general meeting (AGM) next month.
Umno is scheduled to hold its AGM from January 11 to January 14, 2023.
Rafizi said any official communication on the matter falls under the purview of PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail but stressed he was unaware if any official invitation was sent to the party.
However, Rafizi explained that the party will make a collective decision on the matter. – The Vibes, December 31, 2022
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