SHAH ALAM – The Pakatan Rakyat Selangor government is extremely committed in ensuring every development project does not ignore the interests of the rakyat. Therefore, the State Government feels obliged to explain the situation behind the building of a hypermarket in Section 11, Kota Damansara, which had received some opposition from a group of residents in nearby areas.

Before approving the continuation of the development project recently, the State Government had taken into consideration views from all parties. There is no other option for the State Government besides allowing the project to go ahead.

It must be explained that the project had already received approval from the previous State Government and local authority (PBT) before the Pakatan Rakyat took over in March last year. However, the State Government did not ‘wash its hands clean’ of this issue when informed of the opposing residents as it instructed all construction to be put on hold until a solution could be made. The Dato’ Menteri Besar then ordered discussions to be held, involving all parties to find the best solution and he even spent some time being directly involved in some of the discussions relating to the project.

The final meeting resulted in another agreement to do a survey relating to the response of the residents within one kilometer radius from the project towards it. After the residents rejected the initial proposals for Petaling Jaya City Council to conduct the study, the government then appointed an independent research company, Merdeka Centre, to conduct the survey. The requests by residents to change some of the questions included in the survey were also fulfilled.

The State Government only allowed construction to be continued after its studies showed that more than half of the residents in surrounding areas did not oppose it. However, there are still those who are unhappy with this decision and are now questioning the methodology of the survey conducted.

Clearly, the Coalition Government has no reason to stop the project from continuing as it has met with all the terms necessary for building a hypermarket and studies show that the majority of its residents do not oppose it. If the State Government accedes to those who oppose this project, the state government itself could be sued by the project owner and, even worse, such a decision could adversely affect future investors’ confidence in the state.

The State Government is extremely concerned with the fate of the residents and hopes all parties understand the actual issues and work together for the sake of all rakyat, not just in Kota Damansara but also in Selangor generally. Any decisions made were not intended to forego the interests of any parties.

PRESS SECRETARIAT
OFFICE OF THE DATO’ MENTERI BESAR SELANGOR