PETALING JAYA: PKR Strategy Director Rafizi Ramli has urged the Pakatan Rakyat leadership to take a stand on proposed toll highways in Selangor.
Commenting on the controversy surrounding the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) and the Damansara-Shah Alam Expressway (Dash), he said he was concerned that the Selangor administration’s support of the projects would give the impression that Pakatan was no different from Barisan Nasional in its disregard of public opinion.
Rafizi said Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim should be aware that his decisions and actions would bear on Pakatan’s public image, not just the Selangor government’s.
He referred to news reports quoting Khalid as saying that Pakatan’s promise to phase out road tolls was part of its federal, not state, manifesto.
“But his actions reflect upon Pakatan’s image,” Rafizi said. “Therefore, the leaders have to make their stand at the next Pakatan meeting.”
News reports have indicated that six new toll highways are being planned in Selangor, with Kidex and Dash being the most controversial.
Rafizi said he was against Kidex because the concession was awarded without an open tender process, making it look as if Pakatan was being hypocritical in its opposition to crony capitalism.
“I also reject Kidex because it makes Pakatan appear neither capable to produce creative ideas nor able to improve or promote public transportation.”
