I’m writing this letter in support of the movement to stop Dash cutting into Damansara Perdana and affecting the lives of over 20,000 residents here when the highway is not accessible to the residents here. It will bring them no benefits but will harm them immensely.

Damansara Perdana is a residential enclave that consist of mainly high- density high-rises like commercial office blocks, four-storey shophouses, service apartments and condominiums.

The whole area which is home to over 20,000 homes is serviced by only one main road which is Jalan PJU8/1, the road through which Dash has proposed to link up to the Penchala Highway. This is not the favoured road to link Dash to the Penchala Highway as it will pass very close to the residential buildings here and make a 90-degrees turn to link-up with the Penchala Highway.

Dash is also not accessible to the residents here so there is no reason to run it through Damansara Perdana. It is only considered because of objections by the influential home-owners of Mutiara Damansara.  

As such no traffic impact study was ever done in terms of how it will affect the residents in the Damansara Perdana area. If the highway is allowed to cut through this area, it will severely impact negatively the lives of the more than 20,000 residents here during and after the completion of the highway.

Jalan PJU8/1, besides serving as the only access road to Damansara Perdana residents and the workers and staff in the shops and offices here, also serve as another access road to Mutiara Damansara, Kota Damansara and beyond for those coming from the LDP.

The traffic situation on this road can be very congested at peak periods and will only worsen when Empire City is completed, with three hotels, a new shopping mall and numerous office towers right at the junction of this main access road. In addition many more high-rises are being proposed to be built here.

Any blockage of this main access road for the construction of the Dash highway will cause a nightmare traffic jam for the residents here. Even the closure of certain roads in Mutiara Damansara during year-end celebrations at The Curve shopping mall can cause a gridlock for residents here.

Mr Menteri Besar, I’m just a retiree who shifted into Damansara Perdana three years ago from another part of Petaling Jaya not affected by the many proposed highways, as I liked the peaceful and green hills here. Well, the green hills are disappearing but do I also have to give up the peace and face traffic jams every day right at my doorstep, too?

Petaling Jaya is a residential suburb to most of us who work in Kuala Lumpur and it’s here where we want to raise our families and enjoy harmonious living conditions. Don’t the people in Damansara Perdana (and other parts of PJ) who sacrificed a lot to live here deserve what they paid for and expected to receive.

It’s not right to ask us to make the sacrifice of our tree-lined streets, greeneries, peace and clean air without just returns in way of another access road. Please heed our cries and request the highway authorities to find another route. Otherwise when the construction and destruction begin and the residents in Damansara Perdana have no escape, there will be a huge outcry and demonstrations from the people here who are mostly your supporters.