Selangor MB Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has been slammed for placing the interests of a corporation over that of the people in the case of the controversial Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex).

"We are troubled by the position taken by Khalid Ibrahim as all decisions taken by the state must be in the best interest of the rakyat of Selangor.

"And in doing that, there will be occasions where corporate profit-driven interests are sacrificed," said Selangor assemblypersons Rajiv Rishyakaran (Bukit Gasing), Yeo Bee Yin (Damansara) Utama and Ng Sze Han (Kinrara) in a joint statement yesterday.

They were responding to Khalid' reportedly telling an online news site yesterday that calling off the RM2.42 billion project due to public objections "would not be fair to the company".

The trio said the statement was all the more perplexing as the concessions agreement was not signed between the state government and the concessionaire.

"It is also important to note that the Selangor government was not party to the highway concession agreement.

"Thus the question of Selangor's obligation to Kidex does not arise at all. Instead, its obligation is first to its people, especially in the areas affected by the highway construction," said the reps.

Despite resistance from both the public and from Selangor Pakatan assemblypersons as well as MPs such as Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, Khalid has in public indicated his approval for the project.

The 14.9km elevated highway is to link the NKVE in the north near Damansara toll plaza to the Bukit Jalil Highway in the south near Kinrara, and cuts right through the heart of Petaling Jaya.

It is said to be the most expensive highway on a cost per kilometre to date.

Where are the studies?

The trio said considerations for the tolled highway should be based on whether "credible studies have demonstrated that this highway is beneficial to the residents", studies which they say they have not been shown.

"We are not against the construction of a highway per se, but such decisions cannot be because it’s fair or unfair to the developer," said the reps.

Rajiv ( left ), Yeo and Ng said till now, information and the traffic study on Kidex has allegedly not yet been released and made available for public scrutiny.

"We are not privy to the consession agreement Kidex has signed with the federal government last year.

"We are also not privy to all the impact studies, especially the traffic impact study.

"The state government must demand for the disclosure of these items in the interest of transparency and good governance," they said.

Petaling Jaya residents have started the Say No to Kidex committee to challenge the state's decision to allow the project to proceed, reminding Pakatan of its manifesto promise to end highway tolls.

Kidex Sdn Bhd comprises two shareholders: Emrail (70%) and Zabima Engineering Construction Sdn Bhd (30%).

Emrail has been linked to a former chief justice through his wife’s directorship while an Umno legal advisor is a director in both Emrail and Zabima Engineering.

When Kidex was awarded the contract in early-2012 by the federal government, Pakatan Rakyat leaders claimed the concession agreement was a ‘reward’ to the two individuals for their work during the Perak constitutional crisis of 2009.

Both have vehemently denied such allegations .