9-8-2023

The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) welcomes Selangor state government’s decision on the cancellation of the proposed Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) elevated highway project as announced on 31 July 2023.

It is recognised that the construction of public infrastructure projects and facilities (such as roads, highways and mass public transport) are necessary for spatial economic development as well as to accommodate the growing population needs and people mobility.

Nevertheless, these potential future public infrastructure development projects must pass all requirements from a large variety of stakeholders, which can profoundly impact project success. The requirements, firstly begins with establishing the need, followed by Social Impact Assessment (SIA), Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA), and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

There is no doubt that the impact assessment could have passed all the requirements, all infrastructure developments would still have impact on some property values negatively. Ultimately, the undertaking of public infrastructure projects must firstly on balance, have a positive impact on the society, for it to be implemented.

While the land acquisition and infrastructure development for the provision of public goods is difficult to protect the interest of all parties involved, the authorities must commit to have a fair and reasonable mechanism to work out for the property acquisition and relocation, valuation and compensation that is fair and equitable for all directly or indirectly affected property owners.

The current Land Acquisition Act only compensates those whose land and property are totally or even partially acquired. Those whose properties adjacent to the proposed infrastructure and are obviously affected but not subject to any acquisitions do suffer losses. To be fair and equitable all property owners whose properties suffered any losses, whether subject to acquisition or not should be adequately compensated “for the wider good”. The full compensation for any loss of value will allow the affected owners to relocate if so desired. This will result in “nobody loses for the benefit of the wider good”.

We therefore advocate that the Land Acquisition Act be widen to include awarding compensation to all properties whose value are debased and are negatively affected, irrespective of any acquisitions or not. This will be a fair and equitable solution where nobody is personally made to unfairly sacrifice for the wider good. This will be a win-win, just and equitable approach for the implementation of public infrastructure projects for socio-economic development.

We call for expeditious review of the existing laws to enable such compensation to be given to all parties negatively impacted by any justifiable and beneficial public infrastructure projects to support economic growth and prosperity.