MCA has been told to direct their opposition to the controversial Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) to their BN coalition instead of pressuring Petaling Jaya (PJ) councillors.

Bukit Gasing assemblyperson Rajiv Rishyakaran in a statement today said MCA was "barking up the wrong tree".

On Tuesday, The Star reported Petaling Jaya Utara MCA division chairperson Tan Gim Tuan calling for the Pakatan councillors to "object outright" to the project and "(defend) Petaling Jaya’s blueprint for a liveable environment".

"After nearly a year of silence of the matter of the Kidex highway, MCA has finally awaken from its slumber, but unfortunately they are barking up the wrong tree.

"Instead of going after the MBPJ councillors, which for the record has so far refused to allow the highway to be incorporated into the PJ local plan, MCA needs to realise that this highway is a Barisan National government project," said Rajiv (above).

He said MCA should question their BN counterparts why the concessions deal, signed last Nov 15 by Putrajaya, has been pushed through.

Ravjiv noted that the agreement "remains a well guarded secret until today" and that MBPJ is lacking information on the project from the relevant parties.

"MCA Petaling Jaya leaders need to question why their BN counterparts are proposing and pushing through with this highway despite the lack of information available to MBPJ councillors, Selangor elected reps, and, most importantly, the affected public," said Rajiv.

Yesterday PJ councillor Lee Suet Sen announced that MBPJ has not amended the city plans to include Kidex.

Stressing that the councillors are against the project, Lee said until the concessionaire submits all the necessary documents and the city council does an independent study on the submitted materials, the amendment will not happen.

MCA sqaurely blames councillors

Meanwhile Tan, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday was reported putting the entire blame on the PJ councillors for "milking this issue for political interest".

He said they should instead "object outright" and not even consider the project.

“Enough is enough, just say no to Kidex and not spin the issue further,” he was reported saying, without mentioning the BN federal government's involvement in signing the concessions agreement with a company that is linked to Umno.

Rajiv in response said even before the public outcry over the project began, the local council had already refused to add Kidex into the local plans.

He said the concessionaire has not yet justified how the highway would benefit Petaling Jaya.

"Detailed impact reports were and are still not made available to MBPJ and the public at large, citing the Official Secrets Act (OSA)," he added.

On June 11 to Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo's parliamentary question on the projected Kidex toll rates, Works Minister Fadhillah Yusof refused to confirm the toll rate, claiming it has “yet to be determined”.

Rajiv challenged MCA to get its coalition partner Umno to reveal the concessions agreement and other information, such as the projected toll rate, to the public.

"Will the MCA dare to speak up to Umno ministers, both in the Prime Minister’s department and the Ministry of Works, to bring transparency into this deal, calling for the disclosure of all related documents, such as the traffic impact assessment report (TIA), environemental impact assessment report (EIA), concession agreement, and so on?

"Will they speak up on the long concession periods with undisclosed toll rates not only on Kidex, but all highways?" he asked.