HITTING PEOPLE HARD: Threatening to stop projects like the LRT extension work and highways in Selangor is hardly justified
EVERY month, sometimes even less often, Imran would make a dash from his home in Kuala Lumpur to his hometown in Terengganu.
Last month, the father of two made three short trips to his kampung on urgent family matters.
In two of the three trips, he went back to attend two funerals of his relative and a neighbour.
He drove at night, using the Karak highway, crossing into the Jerangau Jabor estate or secondary road and then joining the Bukit Besi-Kuala Terengganu new highway.
By driving non-stop, Imran gets to Kuala Terengganu in less than four hours, with one or two summonses, sometimes. I have tried the same route and found the journey quick and efficient.
One must congratulate the Terengganu government for facilitating the construction of the new highway. It has not been commissioned for use yet but motorists have found a new sense of freedom on the newly tarred road.
Let's hope the new highway is commissioned soon. The toll booths have been erected but for long-distance travellers like Imran and many others, this would be a small price to pay.
With such a good track record between the state and Federal Government, it would be quite safe to assume that more federal-funded projects would come to Terengganu.
The Bukit Besi-Kuala Terengganu highway is a private sector project but it wouldn't have happened without the support and endorsement from the state and federal authorities.
Which leads me to the subject that many people in the state of Selangor are discussing over coffee, dinner and along the corridors -- the statement by Parti Keadilan Rakyat-led Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim on Federal Government projects.
It has been reported that Khalid may stop the Federal Government's billion-ringgit Light Rail Transit extension project and six proposed highways in the state.
The report said: "This follows the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision to quash the notices issued by the Sepang Municipal Council directing a company to dismantle two Automated Enforcement System cameras in Selangor on Thursday."
Selangor State Secretary Datuk Mohammed Khusrin Munawi was also reported to have said that under the Local Government Act 1976, any party had to seek the approval of the local council even to erect a billboard on highway reserve land.
While this may be so, there are countless reasons Khalid and the Selangor government should not be making hasty decisions in this matter.
AES aside, there are many other projects that may come to Selangor using federal funds in the months and years to come. Surely, these are projects that benefit the people, investors and whoever else who make a living in the state.
In other words, there would be projects that can help raise the standard of living of the population in the state.
It makes one wonder why Khalid would choose to deprive the population of such projects.
Could the decision be politically-motivated? If so, how much political gain would Khalid get from such a move? Or is this just another political gimmick in the light of the general election around the corner?
Selangor is a state right in the centre of the thriving Klang Valley. There is still much development that needs to be done in the state.
The menteri besar may have his own reasons and justifications for making such a decision, but it seems rather odd to deprive the people of benefits from projects funded by the Federal Government.
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