PETALING JAYA: A group fighting against the revival of a highway project, Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link), gatecrashed an environmental forum attended by Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari yesterday night, causing a slight chaos.
The group, Stakeholders and Residents Against PJD Link (ScRAP) allegedly snuck into the event, quietly, before making a surprise appearance with banners in hand that read "PJD Link will destroy the environment" and "Construction of PJD Link increases heat' when Amirudin was almost ending his speech.
This incident caused tension and prompted the organiser to calm the protesters down but when they refused, it led to an argument between ScRAP chairman David Yoong and the event organiser, who also ended up confiscating the banners from them.
Yoong when contacted about the incident today said they had no choice as all their letters and correspondence to him about the matter were not replied.
He said he also apologised to the forum organiser for the intrusion at the Global Warming and Environmental Forum, where he was sure to be present, later in the end.
"But I also said we were forced by circumstances to choose such an option to draw the attention of the MB, after our numerous letters and four memos have gone unanswered.
Yoong said the first memorandum was sent in March 2022, while the latest one was submitted on Dec 18.
"My last message to the reporters was a call to the MB to maintain his cancellation of the PJD Link project as announced last July, 12 days before the State Election," he said.
Yoong also stressed that the group was silent when we stood up (with the banners) as it planned for a silent protest just to get the message across to the MB.
"Any disruption to proceedings is regretted, and I (have) repeatedly apologised to the NGO members there," he said referring to the incident that took place at the PJ Live Arts Centre.
In July last year, just before the state elections, Amirudin had decided to scrap the project after the impact assessment reports submitted by the developer failed to meet certain conditions and were deemed unsatisfactory.
The group wants Amirudin to stick with the decision to call off the construction of the PJD Link highway, which would not benefit both the residents or the environment as it would contribute to global warming. The lack of exits on the proposed highway also would not provide convenience to commuters from the area.
The proposal for the highway's construction was approved in principle by the cabinet in November 2017. Then in September 2020, the state government approved the project pending the impact assessment reports.