Develop according to need, not politics, says analyst

An analyst has cautioned against development according to political lines, saying initiatives and plans should be made according to need, amid questions on a number of mega projects in the country including the high-speed line from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore and the LRT in Penang.  

"There should be no dichotomy of regional development based on political parties," Asyraf Farique of think tank Iris Institute told MalaysiaNow. 

"The focus should be the development of Malaysia as a whole." 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently announced an allocation of RM10 billion for Penang to boost its public transportation system. 

Transport Minister Anthony Loke meanwhile said that the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) project had attracted the interest of several local private companies. 

In Kedah, however, the Kulim airport (KXP) project which menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said had caught the eye of 18 firms is still awaiting approval at the central level. 

Asyraf said development funds are oriented towards profit for the government as opposed to progress for the people. 

He also noted the economic disparity in Malay-majority states which he said should be taken into account. 

"In Penang, development is concentrated on the island," he said. 

"The government should focus on developing areas in Seberang Perai and Batu Kawan before supporting the reclamation efforts at the island which could bring about a lot of harm." 

Asyraf, who has studied the geopolitics of the HSR and East Coast Rail Link projects, also said that the intervention of private tycoons in public projects had resulted in an insufficient protection of public interests in the case of the former. 

"The plan will benefit the private tycoons," he said.

The HSR project was cancelled during the administration of Muhyiddin Yassin, with Malaysia compensating Singapore to the tune of RM320 million. 

On the viability of the KXP project, Asyraf said it was a legitimate initiative as it was part of the development plan for the northern corridor. 

"But it's still nowhere to be seen although it could remove Malaysia from the low supply chain, especially in the manufacturing sector," he said. 

"Most of the companies that have shown interest are foreign companies. 

"The model is not very different from those seen in Penang and so forth."