The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) has announced that the Klang Valley MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line project has the approval of 90 percent of those members of the public that gave feedback over the project.

NONEClaiming this today, the commission said the feedback given to the project following the set up of public display booths in various locations throughout the country between Feb 14 and May 14 this year registered over 6,000 comments and suggestions in the form of feedback forms, logbooks, emails, helpline and letters.

The KVMRT public display, which ran for three months beginning 14 February 2011, registered over 6,000 comments and suggestions from various channels, including feedback forms, logbooks, emails, helpline and letters.

The public displays - held at the SPAD office in Kuala Lumpur, the Petaling Jaya City and Shah Alam city councils, the Selayang and Kajang municipal councils as well as at Bangsar LRT Station - saw strong attendance and show of support by members of the public who registered their opinion.

“We are very encouraged by the numbers obtained. Public participation and feedback is very important to us. Over the past three months, we have received over to 6,000 responses with an overall, 91% public support towards implementation of the KVMRT Sungai Buloh – Kajang line,” said SPAD chief executive officer Mohd Nur Ismail Kamal (above) in a statement.

The project, which has been estimated to cost at least RM50 billion by the time its five-year construction is completed in 2016, has been criticised over concerns of cost overruns, underuse and compensation.

Mohd Nur had earlier defended the project on grounds that it would be private player MMC-Gamuda JV Sdn Bhd that would bear the costs as its project delivery partner (PDP).

SPAD is the regulator of public transport and supervising authority for the KVMRT Sungai Buloh – Kajang project.

In his statement, Mohd Nur also said SPAD had organised more than 50 meetings since Feb 13 with those local councils, MPs and residents associations affected by the 51-km long project over issues of acquisition, environmental mitigation measures, project construction details and the features of its 35 stations.

“The next step, we will be presenting the findings to the government to ensure that the project owners deliver a MRT line that will meet the aspirations of a cost-efficient, convenient and socio-economically beneficial public transportation option.

“We are very pleased that the rakyat took this opportunity to provide constructive feedback for SPAD to evaluate and act accordingly. After all, let us not forget, it is our MRT. It is meant to serve everyone,” said Mohd Nur.

azlan