Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s plan to build a new hi-tech city named after his “Madani” slogan has sparked fresh outrage, with Malaysians accusing the government of splurging on a vanity project while imposing spending cuts on the public.
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Anwar rose to power in 2022 on the promise that he would avoid the excesses of his predecessors. He vowed to stamp out corruption and cronyism after years of scandals that cost the country billions of dollars.
His credibility has taken several blows since then, however. The most recent came late last month with the resignation of two cabinet ministers over a nepotism row, which erupted after his daughter, Nurul Izzah, was elected deputy president of his ruling People’s Justice Party (PKR).
On Tuesday, the prime minister announced plans for a new “Madani City” within the administrative capital of Putrajaya, replete with schools, healthcare and public transport for more than 30,000 people.
Madani City “will focus on comprehensive and centralised facilities for the welfare of the people”, Anwar said in a statement.
The first phase of the city, named after his administration’s tagline – a Malay word that translates to “civilisation” – is set for completion by the end of 2027, featuring 3,000 homes and a secondary school. Anwar did not disclose the total cost of the project or its funding sources.