Residents against DASH highway near their homes

Resident from Damansara Perdana, Perkampungan Orang Asli Desa Temuan and Mutiara Damansara Damansara gathered this morning to object the proposed construction of the Damansara Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (DASH) merely 13 meters from their homes and offices.

DASH is a project by Prolintas (Projek Lintasan Kota Holdings Sdn Bh which is wholly owned by Permodalan Nasiional Berhad (PNB).

The proposed six-lane elevated highway is to be built across PJU8/1 and PJU8/2, a narrow path between homes and offices, directly affecting the lives of more than 10,000 residents.

This newly proposed route was never in the master plan when residents bought and decided to settle in the area.

Chairperson of the Residents Association Damansara Phase 10, David Chai said, “We are deeply saddened by the proposal to build a six-lane dual carriage highway in our backyard as a substitute to an initial alignment due to to protest.”

“This route which squeezes the highway in between homes and shoplots is detrimental in terms of health hazard and safety of residents and our homes”.

Mutiara Damansara and Damansara Perdana have enjoyed booming development in the past 10 years. These area have both residential and commercial properties that has become home to thousands in the high, middle and low income families and businesses. Most of the residences consists of Malaysians and businesses are Malaysian owned.

More than 3,000 people and counting have signed the petition form to seek realignment of DASH away from Mutiara Damansara and Damansara Perdana. The letter and petition has been sent to the Prime Minister, Menteri Besar of Selangor, Majlis Perbandaran Petaling Jaya, Lembaga Lebuhraya MAlaysia and Prolintas.

After months of meeting with authorities, residents of Mutiara Damansara and Damansara Perdana are still waiting for a positive reply to their pleas.

Also present to lend support were Subang MP, R Sivarasa  and Bukit Lanjan state assemblyperson Elizabeth Wong.