The Bukit Antarabangsa Residents Task Force (BA-RTF) for the East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE) was provided with a copy of the Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) by the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) on July 8, 2015 following a meeting chaired by the deputy director-general of the Malaysian Highway Board (LLM) on July 1, 2015.

The TIA was prepared by consultant appointed by EKVE Sdn Bhd as part of requirements to build the EKVE highway. In the same meeting it was agreed that no decision shall be made until the Residents Task Force reviews the documents and provided our feedback within 60 days.

Despite the agreement at the LLM meeting on July 27, 2015 MPAJ had approved EKVE’s application at the one-stop centre meeting and it was fully endorsed by the MPAJ full board members of 24 local council members appointed by the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat government. Both meetings were chaired by the council president.

The TIA was reviewed with the cooperation of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros), an agency under the Transport Ministry. The findings of the Miros review were shared with MPAJ and LLM on July 18, 2015. The review highlighted many shortcomings that has significant impact on the local road users of Jalan Ukay Perdana and MRR2. Among others:

a. The TIA dated March 2014 (Job No J1310/Rev.01) was submitted to MPAJ on Feb 2, 2015. The TIA submitted was under the heading of ‘Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) Report For Proposed East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE)’.

However, we note that the content was based on a traffic study done on Jan 31, 2012 and Feb 1, 2012. On this date the traffic volume is the lowest in view of the long Chinese New Year holidays and Hari Wilayah where most surrounding residents ‘balik kampung’. Based on the dates of the study, it is quite clear that the study was done for the Kuala Lumpur Outer Ring Road (KLORR) and not for the EKVE.

b. The study was conducted for two days between 7.00am and 10.00am, and 4.30pm and 7.30pm. Quite clearly the study has been done to exclude peak hours in the morning and to discount the peak hours in the afternoon.

c. The traffic generators was not covered in the TIA. The report failed to cover impact of development of schools, mosque and several approved projects but yet to be constructed as well as the land zoning and plot ratio that will inevitably increase the traffic flow. It also failed to use the latest and up to date traffic growth projection. (EKVE uses 1 percent and whereas the Works Ministry’s traffic growth projection for Selangor is 2.89 percent.)

As a result, the TIA used a lower base figure, extrapolated it using minimal growth assumption and did not include many traffic generators and this led to the erroneous conclusion.

Miros has also indicated the high risk of crashes in view of the road gradient in Jalan Ukay Perdana and the anticipative high speed driver driving attitude upon exiting the Toll Plaza at the northern area of Jalan Uay Perdana. Miros recommended a very detailed Road Safety Audit to be conducted.

Acted unfairly

MPAJ and the Selangor state government has acted unfairly to the local residents. They did not make their decision based on facts. They failed to study the report. MPAJ’s own officers allegedly admitted to us that they had never read the report and claimed that others outside MPAJ had done so. They could not specifically mention who.

It is noted that despite the agreement at the meeting chaired by LLM on July 1, 2015, MPAJ went ahead with the approval of the highway development. It reflects poorly on the council president and secretary’s professionalism, integrity and transparency. It also reflects poorly on the Selangor MB himself who has been failed to spare his time for his own constituency to meet the people over this painful issue.

Pakatan Rakyat’s election manifesto that is documented in its Orange Book clearly states that they will not support new highways. In this case, the MB, being the main head honcho, is not being transparent with the people who elected him on the construction of the highway.

Despite Pakatan Rakyat’s Orange Book promises, we maintained the policy that we do not reject the highway but rather sought for an optimum solution that takes into account local residents’ well-being. In this aspect, we sought the authorities to look at the issues of safety, traffic volume impact and the planned LRT.

Under the present circumstances, it is best that the highway from Bandar Sg Long terminates at Ampang interchange and has direct connectivity with the Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) highway, and the SUKE highway will continue to traverse on the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) to link up with the KL-Kuala Selangor Expressway (Latar) as an elevated highway.

MPAJ, which is the custodian of Jalan Ukay Perdana, must maintain the road. They have enough allocation via the federal government to do so.

The Bukit Antarabangsa Residents Task Force (EKVE) takes this matter seriously and will use this as an election campaign fodder against Pakatan Rakyat if the Selangor government continues with the construction of the highway.

DR MOHAMED RAFICK KHAN ABDUL RAHMAN is the facilitator of the Bukit Antarabangsa Residents Task Force (EKVE).