I refer to the newly-launched KL Traffic Dispersal “Master”plan which has nothing “masterly” about it.

The key features of the plan include ramps, underpasses, elevated interchanges, and one-way streets.* This* is going to help us turn KL into a livable city?

FT Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said the two projects were being carried out in accordance with the Prime Minister’s wish to provide a better living for KL citizens and in line with his concept that the *“people come first.”*

People come first in this plan? Not in KL, that’s for sure. It is clear that this plan is putting the car first, people last.

Instead of building up the quality of life in the city, it seems that the government is focused on tearing down the quality of life – with more construction, more traffic, more noise and more hassles.

Why is any of this necessary? Because of traffic congestion in KL? Because of bad public transport? Or because of this unrealistic idea that everyone from the suburban areas can and should be able to drive into the centre of KL – all at the same time – and not face any congestion.

These plans are simply unbelievable – not to mention unrealistic in the long term. The action of the government in designing these plans and launching them without real, effective public consultation is total shame. Contacting a few area Residents Associations and telling them what you plan to do is
not public consultation - and for a plan this big in scale, the whole city should be involved.

I do note that they have made a tiny concession to public transit though – they will have 1 lane of Jalan Tun Sambanthan as a bus lane. Of course, anyone who spends time on Jalan Tun Sambanthan will quickly realize that this bus lane will be as ineffective as all of the others in KL.

KL will not be an enjoyable, comfortable or livable city if these developments go through. It will not be a place where people come first.

But then, maybe it never was.

Sadly

Moaz Yusuf Ahmad
Subang Jaya, Selangor