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. (BM and Chinese translation as below)
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
