The rakyat have expressed its opposition to Kidex last night. Are you listening, Pakatan?

Previously expressed concerns about the status of last night’s meeting came to a head shortly after it commenced. These concerns were realised when a Kidex Sdn Bhd representative, acting as MC, and subsequently its CEO, Mohd Nor Idrus, claimed that the meeting was a formal ‘town hall’ meeting and would satisfy its requirements of public consultation.

The people quickly realised that, their fears that Kidex Sdn Bhd would try to ambush the rakyat and ram the project through by disingenuously claiming that a public consultation had taken place, were being borne out.

When Say No To Kidex committee member Mak Khuin Weng tried to raise a point of order on this issue at the start of the meeting, the microphone was denied to him. Denial of due process raised the people’s ire, with many asking that he be given a chance to speak.

Kidex incited public outcry when its representative told the audience that if they don’t want the meeting they could leave. Pandemonium broke loose as ordinary folk of PJ shouted “Apologise!” from the floor.

Concerns were further raised when the Kidex CEO took the microphone to say he didn’t care whether the public supported or opposed the project, he was merely fulfilling his requirement of undertaking a public consultation so the project could proceed.

The CEO’s contempt for public consultation was confirmed when he said, “I don’t even want to have a town hall meeting,” raising an outcry from the public.

Participants pointed out that:

  • The two-day notice given to most residents falls woefully short of the required seven days;
  • The agenda and items for discussion should be publicly notified;
  • Only a very limited section of the public were invited;
  • Notification was not provided even to those who had signed up on the Kidex website to receive notice of town hall meetings; and
  • The Kidex website itself stated - immediately before the meeting - that a town hall meeting was indefinitely postponed.
At the time of writing, the Kidex website still says the meeting is postponed.

Mishandling of the meeting

Ultimately, the Kidex CEO was forced to ‘abort’ the meeting due to the overwhelming public outcry at the company’s mishandling of the meeting, as well as to the Kidex expressway more generally.

“Kidex’s attempts to hoodwink the rakyat tonight (last night) backfired; they can’t force this through over the people’s opposition. The people know better and momentum against Kidex is growing,” said Hilary Chiew of Section 19.

“The meeting was a major setback to the mis-conceived Kidex expressway. We want a different and better future for PJ,” said Jane Tan, a resident of Section 14.

“The Kidex handling of the meeting last night demonstrated arrogance and incompetence. Heaven forbid the state government lets them take our homes and drive a massive concrete highway through the heart of PJ,” said Chia Gek Suan, a long-time resident of SS2.

“Tonight’s meeting on Kidex should be a wake-up call for the state government. The rakyat have spoken on Kidex; are you listening, Pakatan?” said Lim Li Lin of Section 11.

Residents are opposed to Kidex because of serious objections about dust, noise and air pollution, adverse environmental impacts, proximity to sensitive sites such as schools, homes and places of worship, exacerbated traffic congestion, displacement of residents, impacts on property values, and other adverse effects on one of Malaysia’s oldest and most established residential areas.

Pandemonium erupts at Kidex meeting

 

CONCERNED RESIDENTS OF SECTION 11 is a group of residents who believe that Kidex is ill-conceived and unnecessary, and who share a vision of PJ that is livable and sustainable for future generations. www.nokidex.com @Stopkidex