As assistant chairperson of the Seksyen 14/1 to 14/15 Petaling Jaya residents association, my fellow residents and I were extremely upset by the speech that Selangor MB Abdul Khalid Ibrahim gave in announcing the 2035 Selangor structural plan recently.

As residents of Seksyen 14, one of the oldest and central districts where the Kinrara-Damansara Skyway (Kidex) will encroach, we will be directly affected by the planned Kidex highway as it passes just metres from many of our homes.

MB Khalid mentioned: "The state wants Kidex to take into account the views and objections of the residents towards the project."

If that is true Mr MB, please listen carefully to our plea. Petaling Jaya is a high density residential area, which many of us have lived in for more than fifty odd years. The Kidex highway threatens our community, our health and our property.  

Contrary to the unsubstantiated claims by Kidex Sdn Bhd, the addition of an elevated highway with a feed off ramp into Jalan Utara will undoubtedly increase congestion towards the Federal Highway.

Besides that, it will drive on top of Jalan Semangat, and will surely affect large office buildings such as Jaya Supermarket, Jaya 33, Tun Abdul Aziz mosque, Quill buildings, and many more surrounding this area.

Once an impact as large as this comes into Seksyen 14, this will create a transport catastrophe,  health hazard, and untold challenges as this highway links out to Jalan Universiti, another extremely overcrowded road.  

According to the preliminary environmental impact assessment (PEIA) many locations along the planned route already exceed recommended safe noise limits, but Kidex claims otherwise, without documents to substantiate it.

We urge Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, the state exco members, the mayor and councillors of MBPJ to reject the Kidex highway and give us real 21st century sustainable transport solutions.

MICHAEL KUM is assistant chairperson, Residents Association of Seksyen 14/1 -14/15, Petaling Jaya.