SNTS group advisor Mak Khuin Weng told FMT that any invitation to meet or discuss an issue should be done with the understanding that negotiations remained open among affected residents.
“Moreover, a discussion needs to have both parties agree upon certain commonalities.
“Here, Azmin has already reached a conclusion, which means any ‘discussion’ proposed is just for show.”
Mak pointed out that the residents had attempted to meet exco members Elizabeth Wong and Zaidy Abdul Talib in the past but to no avail.
Wong is in charge of the tourism, environment, green technology, and consumer affairs portfolio, while Zaidy handles the infrastructure, public amenities and agro-based industry portfolio.
Sadly the last time the duo made any contact, he claimed, was in January.
“Wong made the same pledge to meet residents in February this year. It’s already July and there has been no meeting.
“Zaidy also promised to provide minutes of the meeting with residents on January 19. It is now six months since that meeting and the minutes of the meeting have yet to be released,” he said, adding that requests for a follow-up meeting after Chinese New Year had also “fallen on deaf ears.”
Mak pointed out that when Azmin announced the cancellation of the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) earlier, it was stated that all highway projects required the concessionaire to reveal the concession agreement to the public.
“However SUKE, the East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE), and Damansara-Shah Alam Highway (DASH) are proceeding as planned without the concession agreements being made public,” he said.
In March, Mak alleged that Azmin had ignored the residents’ objection of the proposal to de-gazette several forest reserves to pave way for the construction of the controversial highway.
He added that residents only found out about the forest reserves being de-gazetted through advertisements in the newspapers.
“There were more than 10,000 objections submitted to this particular proposal and no public hearing on de-gazetting the forest was held, yet the projects are still going ahead, according to Azmin.
“So, how are residents supposed to respond to Azmin’s call to meet up when the (state) government is totally incapable of keeping their own promises and laws?”
Yesterday, Azmin said the state administration was open to meeting with representatives or affected residents over the project, which has drawn criticism and public protests.
Azmin also said that the state government would be transparent in providing information and explanations to any party.
SUKE is a 24.4km-long, elevated three-lane dual carriageway. It starts from Sri Petaling, and passes through Sungai Besi, Alam Damai, Cheras-Kajang, Taman Bukit Permai, Taman Putra, Taman Permai Jaya, Taman Dagang Permai, Taman Kosas, Ampang and Taman Hillview before exiting at Hulu Kelang.