Wednesday, 13 May 2009

All Rumours, says Minister of Transport

Talks of LRT project starting not true

DON'T believe all the rumours you have been hearing about the impending commencement of the LRT construction in Subang Jaya.

The past month, residents from Subang Jaya, USJ and even Putra Heights have been receiving "information" from contractors conducting soil tests on the proposed route that work to build the LRT line would be starting in August.

The information which has been taken seriously because it appears to come from the "horse's mouth" has caused numerous scenarios and speculation.

Transport Minister Dato Seri Ong Tee Keat who was asked last week during the launch of the Wesak day celebrations at The Summit USJ on this told SJ Echo that what has been "flying" around are all rumours.

"Work on the LRT is not starting without satisfying all the necessary requirements stated by law."

"This includes getting public opinion on the route and other matters," he said.

Ong said he was agitated with attempts by certain parties to rile up support to build the LRT in a rush without having first run the proposed project by the community living around the route of the proposed project.

"We need to accomodate more views before the project can proceed."

"Some decisions will be made but not until I meet the community for their feedback," he assured.

In September last year, SJ Echo published excerpts of

RAILWAY ACT 1991 SAFEGUARDS RIGHTS OF PUBLIC TO VOICE THEIR OBJECTIONS

by SJECHO

THE rights and interest of Subang Jaya residents who may have objections to any proposed route for the LRT is assured under a provision of the Railways Act 1991.

Under Act 463 of the Railways Act 1991, Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad, the LRT concessionaire, will be required to give notice of the deposit of its plans in at least three successive issues of at least two national newspapers, one of which shall be in the national language.

The provision requires SPNB to call on all persons having any objections to the plans to send in a statement of their objections in writing to the Director General of the Railway Department within three months from the last date of the last notice in the newspapers.

An official from SPNB who met Subang Jaya State Assemblyman Hannah Yeoh said the company was required by law to hold a public hearing and provide the public an avenue to raise their views.

“At this point, we do not wish to reveal too much information as we want to avoid speculation.”

“Detailed engineering designs have to be looked at and the route we have presently is preliminary,” the official said.

He said the plan was to align the LRT to integrate with the KTM station in Subang Jaya.

“We have to work within the constraints of space as Subang Jaya is a developed neighbourhood. We are looking at connecting and integrating stations.”

“A detailed engineering design will be submitted to the Railway Scheme which will then be open for public views. Once this is completed it will be submitted to the Railway Department for endorsement,” he said.

The official declined to give a speficic time frame for the completion of the engineering designs although he hinted it could take almost nine months before it could be completed.

New trains are expected to run along the LRT lines in Subang Jaya.

“Thirty five new trains with four car cabins are being acquired to maintain the frequency of the trains when it becomes operational,” the official said.