This press statement is released in relation to the statement made by the Selangor Menteri Besar on March 23, 2015 and the concluding speech of the Works Minister in Parliament on March 24, 2015 respectively, in relation to the Damansara-Shah Alam Highway (Dash).

Firstly, the Say No to Dash (SNTD) Group would like to express our gratitude to the Selangor Menteri Besar YAB Azmin Ali for acknowledging the concerns and objections of the Damansara residents over the Damansara-Shah Alam Highway (Dash) by confirming that the Works Ministry and the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) must have engagement with and obtain approval of the residents of Damansara Perdana, who are residents directly and adversely impacted by the last segment of the highway, prior to the state providing any endorsement.

We noted from his statement that the Works Ministry is currently working with the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) and the concessionaire on the final segment of the highway in terms of redesigning and realignment.

We have also noted the works minister’s Parliamentary concluding speech on March 24, 2015 in reply to MP Subang Sivarasa Rasiah’s question concerning the status of the proposed Dash highway - specifically the alignment through Damansara Perdana. In his reply, Fadhillah Yusof states that Dash has in fact obtained approval in the development plan by the local council.

Whilst no further details were provided, should this development plan refer to the inclusion of the highway in the Local City Plan 2 (Rancangan Tempatan Petaling Jaya 2 - RTPJ 2), we would like to point out that this contradicts earlier statements by the Selangor exco and assemblyperson for Bukit Lanjan that there has been no approvals to amend the RTPJ 2 to include Dash in Damansara Perdana - following the repeal of the exercise last August 2014, and to which has now been put on hold.

We would also like to emphasise once again that the concessionaire did not fulfill all conditions precedent despite the works minister stating otherwise to justify Putrajaya’s approval for this project.

As currently, all statements from all approving parties are merely verbal, SNTD would like to announce that an application under the Freedom of Information Enactment (FOIE) has been submitted to the MBPJ on March 25, 2015, to release all relevant documents pertaining to the Dash, including meeting minutes where Dash was discussed or approved and an inquiry into the status of SNTD’s request to the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) (submitted on Feb 4, 2015) for an independent review of Dash to be conducted.

Under the FOIE, MBPJ has until April 24, 2015 (30 days) from the date of the application, March 25, 2015 to respond.

Third FOI application made to date

This application also marks the third application made by Damansara Perdana residents to obtain information relating to Dash, which has regrettably to date, seem to be shrouded by apparent secrecy even though Damansara Perdana residents are direct stakeholders of this highway. This is evident by the absence of response to the earlier two applications.

As a government advocating transparency and accountability, SNTD urges the relevant state and local authorities to adhere to their own enactment.

Many promises and stands were made in these three years to the thousands of residents of Damansara Perdana in response to their objections running through their township but to date, have yielded nothing concrete in allaying the worries and fears of the residents.

Hence, in reaffirming the stand of the affected residents of Damansara Perdana and the surrounding neighbourhoods, SNTD will only accept the final design only if the Dash highway is realigned out of the Damansara Perdana township and away from any other residential homes, condominiums and places of worship.

The Say No to Dash (SNTD) Damansara Group represents the voice of residents opposing the Dash Highway in the Damansara Segment of the proposed highway alignment.