More than two years have passed since the announcement of the proposed Jalan Lagoon Selatan–Subang Kelana Link, also known as the Persiaran Kewajipan Elevated Road.
For the residents of SS14, it has been two years of uncertainty and frustration.
Despite repeated attempts by concerned residents to seek clarity, the authorities and project proponents have remained tight-lipped.
Woo Yuen Seng, lead coordinator of the SS14 Concerned and Affected Residents (CAREs) group, said he had faced significant challenges engaging with assemblyman Michelle Ng, Zone 1 councillor Balachandran Naicker, and the Subang Jaya City Council.
With no alternative, Woo and other CAREs members turned to Subang MP Wong Chen for assistance.
“We met Wong Chen at his office on June 3 to share our concerns about the conflicting statements from various parties. Until now, no concrete plans have been shared by the developer, despite multiple requests,” said Woo.
“On June 6, Wong Chen wrote to the Subang Jaya City Council mayor, Datuk Amirul Azizan Rahim, requesting the council to present the latest updates on the flyover, including the road alignment plan and related infrastructure details, if completed – especially from the perspective of the Traffic Impact Assessment, Social Impact Assessment, and Environmental Impact Assessment. If the plans are not yet ready, he asked for an estimated completion date.
“He also included our request for another town hall meeting to be held in SS14, so that residents can express their views and have their concerns properly considered.”
“If we host the town hall, it would allow residents to air their grievances,” Woo added.
“One of the project proponents claimed SS14 residents shouldn’t make noise as the flyover doesn’t ‘enter into the area’. But if that’s true, why did all parties involved initiate a meeting with us two years ago? Why was the Zone 1 councillor (Balachandran) on stage during the town hall meeting if it didn’t concern SS14?
“We may not be directly affected geographically, but traffic throughout SS14 will be disrupted. Persiaran Kewajipan, which runs parallel to Jalan SS14/2, has only two lanes. What will happen during two to three years of construction?”
Woo added that traffic would likely be diverted into SS14, endangering schoolchildren at the three schools in the area. Residents, too, would struggle to get in and out during peak school hours.
He also called for greater transparency. During the November town hall, he said the council’s deputy mayor Mohd Zulkurnain Che Ali and the head of engineering had requested alternative proposals from the residents to be reviewed by the developer.
“We duly submitted our proposals but have not heard back from them,” said Woo. “If they weren’t going to consider them, why ask in the first place?”
As the wait drags on, CAREs hopes Wong Chen’s intervention will prompt long-overdue transparency and accountability.
Twentytwo13 has reached out to the Subang Jaya City Council and Balachandran, and is awaiting their response.
Main image: Woo (second from left) and members of the SS14 Concerned and Affected Residents group met with Wong Chen (centre) at his office on June 3.
