The Selangor government may have professed transparency after it declassified information about the controversial Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) but anti-Kidex activists are unconvinced.
 
In a statement today, resident group Say No To Kidex (SNTK) accused the state government of being selective in releasing information after an affected resident invoked the Freedom of Information (State of Selangor) Enactment 2011 (FOI).
 
"We are concerned that the narrow and selective release of information about Kidex seems designed more to advance Selangor Menteri Besar (Abdul Khalid Ibrahim's) agenda in promoting the Kidex project in the media than to provide genuine transparency necessary to achieve the legislations’ objective," said SNTK secretary David Yoong.
 
He claimed the state government only released part of one set of the minutes where the Kidex project was discussed without details of who were present at the meeting and their roles.
 
"Nor is there any information about the documentation on which the decision was based.
 
"We also understand that Kidex has been discussed at numerous Selangor Economic Council Meeting (Mtes) and the minutes of these must be disclosed to comply with the (FOI) request," he said.
 
Yoong added the state government also did not release a requested letter dated Feb 23 by Mtes agreeing to the proposed project and must do so by July 4 to comply with the FOI which requires the state government to respond within 30 days from the first request.
 
The Selangor Menteri Besar's office had on Wednesday announced that it had declassified several documents concerning following a resident's request for them under the FOI enactment.
 
'Approved without adequate info'
 
It said among the conditions set by the state government for the federal project is an early termination clause for the highway concessionaire if it achieves its project profit early than expected.
 
However, Yoong pointed out that Works Minister Fadillah Yusof (left) has confirmed the concession period for the RM2.4 billion highway (RM3.4 billion if land acquisition counted) will be for 48 years.
 
"The rakyat will have to pay an extortionate amount of money to the project developers to meet the cost of construction, plus their 'projected profits'," he said.
 
Based on documents that were declassified, Yoong said the state government had agreed in principle to Kidex as early as February 15, 2012 despite not having any detailed information. 
 
"Is it correct that the Mtes agreed in principle to a multi-billion ringgit toll highway cutting across Selangor’s established residential and urban areas based on a discussion and/or power point presentation? 
 
"Moreover was this the basis upon which the government gazetted the properties of over 3000 businesses and residents?" he said.
 
Yoong also rubbished Abdul Khalid claim that Kidex was part of six planned expressways that forms state's transportation network, pointing out its exits are mostly connected to residential roads rather than other highways.
 
He urged the state government to engage residents rather than only discussing the controversial project with public officials and elected representative.
 
Khalid earlier said that a special briefing will be conducted with councillors and elected representative, after the Malaysian Highway Authorities receive the traffic impact assessment (TIA) report in the next two weeks.

The TIA by concessionaire Kidex Sdn Bhd will also be displayed to the public.

Among others, the anti-Kidex residents argue that the highway will not ease traffic woes and goes against Pakatan's election manifesto of no more tolled highways.

The declassified documents can be viewed here.