PUTRAJAYA – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will not be developing any landmarks or towering skyscrapers to mark his administration, unlike a few of his predecessors such as Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Speaking during the pre-budget 2023 dialogue today, the prime minister said he will not be competing to create vast edifices such as Menara TRX, the KLCC Twin Towers or the KL Tower during his time in office.
“I want to take care of Kuala Lumpur. We already have enough landmarks such as the Tun Razak Exchange, KL Tower and the KLCC Twin Towers. Under my administration, there is no intention of building a new landmark.
“What I think we need is to boost the city’s potential, its cleanliness, its beauty and the space for SMEs to thrive.
“I want to focus on the stall owners, the small-time traders that number in the hundreds of thousands but have not been given any attention due to the less than pleasant premises,” he said.
The Tambun MP added that this is the main reason why he visits and has lunches at stalls every Friday – which is to change the orientation of government officers so that they can ensure that the vast majority of Malaysians will benefit from economic initiatives and reforms.
He plans on improving and beautifying around 30 to 40 small-time trader premises throughout the nation’s capital to benefit tens of thousands of the poor.
Anwar’s administration has scrapped the previous Federal Territories Ministry and parked the portfolio under the Prime Minister’s Department. – The Vibes, January 17, 2023
Additional reporting by Fitri Nizam
