KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — The controversial 100-storey Warisan Merdeka skyscraper announced during the 2011 budget is fast becoming the latest battleground for voter support between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
The project, which promises to be a symbol of a modern and developed Malaysia, has been viciously attacked on all front by the opposition as well as ordinary Malaysians online since the proposal was mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak last Friday.
Backed into a corner, BN lawmakers have insisted that the project would help drive the nation’s economy forward, while PR representatives have flayed the government for introducing yet another “white elephant” and falling into the trap of previous government administrations of introducing grandiose but otherwise underutilised projects.
The Najib administration has yet to explain how the projects would help drive the economy forward despite the huge building costs.
DAP Socialist Youth Chief (DAPSY) Anthony Loke confirmed today that PR will be using this issue to rally more public support to pressure the government to abandon the plans of the construction of RM5 billion Warisan Merdeka.
He said as of right now, PR viewed the matter as a number one priority and will be bringing it up in Parliament whenever possible, as well as the Galas and Batu Sapi elections.
“All of the Pakatan component parties are united and have a common stand on this issue...we feel that it is a complete waste of funds and is completely unnecessary. Although we will focus on other issues, this will be the most attention-seeking issue to be raised in Parliament as it has generated a lot of public response.
“We are not using this to score political points. If the widespread opposition to this project is any indication, then Najib must back off from building this building,” Loke told The Malaysian Insider.
The Rasah MP said that PR would go on nationwide speeches to educate constituents on the issue at hand, in an effort to pressure the Najib administration to abandon the plans for Warisan Merdeka.
“This will be highlighted during campaign speeches, mainly on BN’s wasteful spending, but it won’t be the main issue in Galas or Batu Sapi.
“We believe that if enough people oppose this project, we can stop it from being approved. judging from our experience with the sports betting licence, where the government did a u-turn on it, we believe that the government will eventually back down. Najib has a tendency of u-turning at the most crucial times,” said Loke.
PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar echoed Loke’s remarks, stressing that PR would “milk” this issue for all it was worth.
“Of course we will be following PKR Youth on a nationwide campaign to educate people because this involves everyone’s interests. Every chance we get, at every campaign, every speech we will make sure that the need to oppose this project is highlighted. What’s more it’s already mentioned online that a lot of people are against the Warisan Merdeka,” said Mahfuz.
Mahfuz told The Malaysian Insider that he had already brought up in Parliament the need for a Parliamentary Select Committee to review the Warisan Merdeka proposal before going ahead with the construction.
“I have mentioned in the Dewan Rakyat the need for a Select Committee to review and discuss the proposal before going ahead with any rash decisions...this committee should be headed by both BN and PR MPs, and at the end of the day we want ti make sure that the project actually benefits Malaysians, not just the government,” added Mahfuz.
BN parties, namely Umno have rallied behind the push for mega projects at its annual assembly and accused PR of being against growth for opposing the government’s plan to spend itself out of a stagnating economy.
Malaysians, who were recently declared the world’s heaviest users of Facebook, have turned to the social networking site to express their dismay over the proposal.
An anti-Warisan Merdeka page on Facebook called “1M Malaysians Reject
100-storey Mega Tower” has been signing up fans at an astonishing rate of over 1,000 fans per hour on Wednesday. It had 60,408 fans at 11.50 am yesterday, and hit 83,002 fans as at 10.01am this morning.
In his Budget 2011 speech, Najib said the rationale for the Warisan Merdeka tower was similar to that of the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, in that it would serve as a symbol of a modern and developed Malaysia.
Najib stressed that the project would also have a “multiplier effect” on the economy and help drive it forward, in addition to providing an attractive commercial centre for Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera businesses alike.
The 19-acre development area of the mega project — which includes a condominium and a shopping mall — is sited on the car park and land adjacent to Stadium Negara and Stadium Merdeka.
BN representatives remain optimistic of the project’s prospects but have admitted that the government administration needed to be more transparent on the issue.
“I admit, we need to provide more details for the proposal to build this skyscraper. The Prime Minister must explain the total benefits of the project. And from what I’ve heard there are over 90,000 people who are against this..we need to explain to them the benefits of Warisan Merdeka,” said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s department Datuk S.K Devamany.
Devamany said that the government would not have introduced such a project without first going through its benefits or weaknesses.
“The project will boost the tourism industry as well as development. I believe that the Prime Minister would not have proposed the project without going through the pros and cons. PM would not allow one project to undermine his administration,” said Devamany.
The Najib administration has yet to explain how the projects such as the 100-storey Warisan Merdeka structure would help drive the economy forward despite the huge building costs - file pic
The MIC vice-president however was non-committal when asked whether the government would scrap the project if there was widespread opposition.
“That, I cannot say. Anything will be possible. If there is enough pressure, the government will review it,” said Devamany.
Umno MP Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed reiterated Najib’s views that the project would be as beneficial as past mega-projects like the KLCC and the Petronas twin towers.
“If you go back 12 years ago no one thought the Petronas towers would bring profits. But today its become a centre for Kuala Lumpur to attract foreigners. Foreigners are looking for an international office space, a venue and Warisan Merdeka can offer that. We need a building that meets international standards.
“I think its about timing, where we need to be concerned also about the future, not just today. I believe that once the project delivers results, the attacks against it will stop,” Nur Jazlan told The Malaysian Insider.
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