The Bandar Utama Residents Association (Bura) wishes to clarify several points in the article “Reopen Jalan Tanjung, affected residents urge S’gor govt” on Aug 7.

Only the temporary access road connecting into Jalan Tanjung has been closed following a court order, not the entire road.

This was carried out by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) in compliance with the Court of Appeal’s ruling on May 28.

This road lies entirely within LLM’s reserve on the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE).

The planned permanent road already exists.

The temporary access was initially imposed by LLM on the developer of Bandar Utama, with the condition that it would be closed once the planned permanent road, Jalan Hilir Bandar Utama, was completed.

This road has been open for over 15 years. As such, claims that “the alternative road was never built” are factually incorrect.

The continued use of Jalan Tanjung as a short-cut by Tropicana residents caused severe congestion at the Jalan Tanjung–Lebuh Bandar Utama junction.

It also resulted in a traffic buildup for residents from Bandar Utama 1 to 10 as well as those from Bandar Utama 11, 12 and Persiaran Tropicana to head towards Sprint Highway.

Since the July 24 closure, traffic flow has normalised despite rerouting.

In 2009, it was proposed that the temporary access be redirected straight onto the NKVE via a bypass road, avoiding the need to cross Lebuh Bandar Utama.

The then Selangor mentri besar even approved a RM1mil grant for this, but the project was never implemented.

The bypass would have been a win-win solution.

It would have offered users direct, uninterrupted access to NKVE.

For Bandar Utama residents, it would have elimated congestion and improved traffic flow.

And for Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), it would have offered a fair, community-wide solution that benefits all.

Bura believes that if LLM permits the temporary access to remain within the NKVE reserve, there should be no obstacle to implementing this long-overdue bypass.

This is a practical, fair, and win-win solution that will serve everyone — Bandar Utama, Tropicana and the community as a whole.

MOHD TAUFIK ABU BAKAR

Bandar Utama Residents Association (BURA) chairman