Past lopsided developments led to urban poverty: Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR – The issue of urban poverty and massive congestion in major cities are a result of lopsided development by past administrators prioritising businesses over common citizens, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.   

Speaking at the KL Park Festival 2023, the prime minister noted how developments in years past only appeared to care about businesses and driving profit up, at the expense of the rakyat and environment.  

He said this is despite the religion demanding for equilibrium between men and nature.  

“If we only focus on developments, then we will see an uncontrollable situation and disparity because there will be congestion, urban poverty and slumps. 

“This means our planning has weaknesses,” he said during his officiating speech.  

“We build skyscrapers and mega projects, but we forget that housing is also needed. In the end, when we want to develop housing projects later, the costs have increased.

“This is why planning in big cities is essential.  

“Yes, it’s never too late, but we are at a critical stage. In the past, we didn’t allocate certain land specifically for early housing.  

“We only cared about complexes, because they give good returns. But we forget that not all citizens are business owners.”

In this regard, Anwar urged all local councils to scrutinise this issue and look for solutions.  

Among others present today are Anwar’s wife and Bandar Tun Razak MP Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Seri Johari Abdul, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali and Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah.  

Commenting further, Anwar said he constantly reminds government officials on the need to ensure a good balance between development and caring for the rakyat and the environment.  

He said it is with this in mind that he had chosen to allocate huge funds in the Budget 2023 to address the issue of hardcore poverty, housing, small traders and farmers, and rubber tappers.  

“I’m not saying that in our over 60 years of independence, there have not been such efforts.  

“There are, I won’t deny the good done previously. But never has there been as much attention as there is today.”  

The event was also recognised by the Malaysia Book of Record for the most house plant species in an exhibition (50,000 plants from 5,120 species) and most ribbon art knots in an installation (17,150 knots). – The Vibes, March 9, 2023