Joint Media Statement by Yeo Bee Yin, Rajiv Rishyakaran, Ng Sze
Han and Lau Weng San, State Assemblypersons of Damansara Utama, Bukit Gasing,
Kinrara and Kampung Tunku on Sunday, 6 April 2014
We call upon the minister in the prime minister office, Datuk
Paul Low to walk the talk of transparency and push for the disclosure of
Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (KIDEX) concession agreement.
KIDEX is a 14.9km elevated highway project that is worth RM2.42
billion. The contract was awarded to Emrail Sdn Bhd and Zabima Engineering Sdn
Bhd, which are linked to UMNO lawyer Datuk Hafarizam Harun and the wife of
former Chief Justice Tun Zaki Azmi.
KIDEX Sdn Bhd, which was a company formed by Emrail Sdn Bhd and
Zabima Engineering Sdn Bhd[1], has announced that KIDEX highway construction is to begin as
early as beginning of next year. [2]
While it is debatable whether the contract is a ‘political
reward’, there’s one thing we know – we have yet to see the concession
agreement. How long will the concession be? How much is the toll rate? On what
basis will the toll rate is to be computed?
We do welcome more highways that connect north and south of
Klang Valley. Currently, there are 5 highways that serve the Klang Valley with
an east-west alignment, which are SPRINT, Federal Highway, NPE, KESAS and the
Bukit Jalil Highway; but only one highway with a north-south alignment, which
is Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong (LDP). The aim of KIDEX is to help to alleviate
traffic congestion on the LDP, which is good.
Nevertheless, will it become another LDP that rob people for
obscene profit for the concessionaire in the name of infrastructure? The
total capital cost of construction of the LDP highway is estimated at RM1.3
billion while the projected profit after tax over the 30-year concession period
will be RM18.9 billion, which is 14 times the capital investment. [3] Giving the Barisan Nasional government the benefits of
doubt, we do not know whether KIDEX is another highway robbery until we see the
concession agreement.
Since assuming his role as the ‘transparency minister’ in the
Prime Minister office, Datuk Paul Low has been singing the tune of transparency
and accountability. He stressed the necessity of access of information and
questioned the rationale of putting the highway concession under Official Secrets
Act (OSA).[4] He also denied the label as a lame duck ‘transparency
minister’.[5]
Therefore, we believe that Datuk Paul Low should push for
disclosure of concession agreements of all the highways to be built in his
tenure. And we suggest that he start with KIDEX concession agreement. This is
definitely a golden opportunity for him to prove that he is after all not a
lame duck ‘transparency minister’.
[1] http://www.kidexskyway.com/about/
[2] http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2014/03/14/Construction-of-Kidex-highway-to-begin-next-year/
[3] http://www.thesundaily.my/node/160006
[4] http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/paul-low-says-toughest-challenge-to-declassify-secret-documents
[5] http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/paul-low-says-is-powerless-will-bank-on-pms-stature-to-fight-graft
