Ukay Perdana residents irked by EKVE changes

PETALING JAYA: Some 200,000 residents in Ukay Perdana, Ampang, were shocked to learn that the Selangor state government has approved serious changes to the alignment of the East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE).
Bukit Antarabangsa resident task force-EKVE facilitator Datuk Mohd Arshad Raji said the 32 Residents' Associations within the enclave of Bukit Antarabangsa, Ukay Perdana, and Ukay Bistari are against the sudden approval of the design of the EKVE.
He claimed that the EKVE alignment did not address the issue of how it will improve the currently congested Jalan Ukay Perdana (Jalan UKP) and the MRR2 that has now been identified as Class F Level of Service which is the lowest class of service.
“We object to the fact that the authorities appear to bulldoze this project through without considering all our input and concerns that adversely affect our livelihood and commuting problems,” he said in a statement.
Mohd Arshad added that the decision by the authorities opens the door for Ahmad Zaki Resources Bhd (AZRB) to build the highway according to their original plan, something which the residents have objected to all this while.
AZRB’s proposal is to acquire Jalan UKP to turn it into a highway with sectional widening in certain areas and turning it to be part of EKVE.
“This is very critical as it now increases the risk of accidents on the road. The lack of land further cannot support public routes much needed for the residents,” he said.
On June 2, the Selangor State Planning Committee (SPC) at a meeting chaired by Mentri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali had approved the amendment to MPAJ Local Plan (Amendment 2015), which includes changes related to the development of EKVE.