By Norrasyidah Arshad
SHAH ALAM, Sept 2 — Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj has decreed the state government must ensure that development projects in Selangor would bring prosperity to the people.
His Royal Highness raised the matter when he granted an audience to Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari on the briefing of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project’s realignment.
“The Sultan of Selangor has decreed that the project should not incur any social impacts on traditional villages, Orang Asli settlements, forest reserves, water catchment areas, freshwater sources or dams and high-risks areas at the Gombak Selangor Quartz Ridge.
“His Royal Highness has decreed all development projects must always take into account the issues mentioned to safeguard the future wellbeing of the people,” read a statement on the Selangor Royal Office’s Facebook page, yesterday.
Earlier, Amirudin had been granted an audience with the Selangor Ruler at Istana Bukit Kayangan here.
Also present to meet with the Selangor Ruler were Selangor state secretary Dato’ Mohd Amin Ahmad Ahya and Selangor deputy state secretary (Development) Dr Nor Fuad Abdul Hamid, who is also the Selangor Economic Planning Unit (UPEN) director.
In July, the Selangor administration had disagreed with the proposal for the ECRL project to be developed according to the original alignment plan, which cuts through Gombak and Serendah, as it passes through a water catchment area.
The state government had instead proposed for the alignment to be developed at several other strategic locations, namely in Jenjarom (Kuala Langat) near Rimbayu or Kampung Cheeding, as well as in Pelabuhan Barat (West Port).
