Opponents of the Damansara-Shah Alam Highway (Dash) have urged the Selangor government to come clean on the latest developments surrounding the proposed project.

Their message was sent during a peaceful protest attended by some 150 Damansara Perdana residents this morning.

Spokesperson of the “Say No to Dash” movement Mak Khuin Weng told Malaysiakini the residents have found it difficult to believe the state government’s insistence that no approval had been granted for the RM11.5 billion highway project.

“We just want a straight answer from the Selangor government.

“You always say that the project has not been approved but your actions shows otherwise,” claimed Mak when contacted after the protest held in Damansara Perdana.

Mak cited two separate notices issued by the Selangor Forestry Department as published in a local newspaper on March 16, on a proposal to de-gazette forest reserve land for purposes of constructing Dash and the Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (Suke).

He also said a private company had through a filing to Bursa Malaysia on March 3 announced that the Selangor state government had acquired parts of its land for RM79.5 million, for the same purpose.

“So who do you (the state government) want the people to believe?,” said Mak who had previously lobbied against construction of the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex).

Mak said the protesters who gathered today had simultaneously sent a text message to their state assemblyperson Elizabeth Wong, who is also state exco in charge of environment.

Malaysiakini has contacted Wong for comment.

Also present during the protest was anti-Suke movement member Muhammad Agos Abul Hasan Ashar.

News portal The Malay Mail Online quoted Agos as accusing the Pakatan Harapan state government of failing to practise its own pledge on good governance.

“Pakatan teaches good governance but do they model good governance? Do they practise what they preach?

“BN has a RM2.6 billion debt issue and Pakatan has a RM11.5 billion highway issue,” he reportedly said.

Dash will reportedly be a 20.1km, three-lane, dual carriageway expressway starting from Puncak Perdana in Shah Alam to the Penchala interchange.

With 12 interchanges, the expressway is proposed to link drivers to the Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong and Sprint highways.