With the recent withdrawal of Dubai-based Bin Zayed International LLC from the RM40 billion 99-island Langkasuka project, Pakatan Harapan leaders in the state are urging for it to be revived but cast doubt on Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s ability to do so. – Scoop pic, December 1, 2024
Kedah should save Langkasuka project, but doubt lingers on Sanusi’s ability: PH
Kedah Pakatan Harapan chief Datuk Mahfuz Omar questions MB’s ability given his current handling of Dubai firm’s withdrawal from the 99-island project
R. Dineskumar
1 December, 2024
9:00 PM MYT
ALOR SETAR – Is the Langkasuka project really dead in the water?
This is the question posed by those who are now paying attention to the proposed but stalled development of an RM40 billion 99-island Langkasuka reclamation project off the coast of Langkawi island after Dubai-based Bin Zayed International LLC withdrew from the project.
The firm officially confirmed its withdrawal from the project on November 22, explaining that the decision was made in 2022 to focus on more realistic and high-potential opportunities.
BZI Group’s Managing Director Datuk Seri Shamir Kumar Nandy said the group opted out of the strategic collaboration with Widad Business Group, which was initially formed in 2021 to develop the mixed-development project Widad@Langkasuka.
Leaders from Kedah’s Pakatan Harapan (PH), which is the opposition in the state, want the Kedah government to save the project, but it seems like doubt lingers on the ability of its Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor to do so.
Kedah should save Langkasuka project, but doubt lingers on Sanusi’s ability: PH
Kedah Pakatan Harapan chief Datuk Mahfuz Omar questions MB’s ability given his current handling of Dubai firm’s withdrawal from the 99-island project
R. Dineskumar
1 December, 2024
9:00 PM MYT
ALOR SETAR – Is the Langkasuka project really dead in the water?
This is the question posed by those who are now paying attention to the proposed but stalled development of an RM40 billion 99-island Langkasuka reclamation project off the coast of Langkawi island after Dubai-based Bin Zayed International LLC withdrew from the project.
The firm officially confirmed its withdrawal from the project on November 22, explaining that the decision was made in 2022 to focus on more realistic and high-potential opportunities.
BZI Group’s Managing Director Datuk Seri Shamir Kumar Nandy said the group opted out of the strategic collaboration with Widad Business Group, which was initially formed in 2021 to develop the mixed-development project Widad@Langkasuka.
Leaders from Kedah’s Pakatan Harapan (PH), which is the opposition in the state, want the Kedah government to save the project, but it seems like doubt lingers on the ability of its Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor to do so.
Kedah opposition leader Bau Wong Bau Ek. – Facebook pic, December 1, 2024
Kedah opposition leader Bau Wong Bau Ek and Kedah PH chief Datuk Mahfuz Omar said that the state government needs to save the project by trying to bring in other firms to invest in the project.
Speaking to Scoop, Bau Wong said the island project has the potential to be a catalyst for more developments for Langkawi in the near future.
“This (Langkasuka) project could become the “beacon” that could (further) develop Langkawi. If this project does not materialise, then (the development agenda for the island) would fail,” the Sidam assemblyman told Scoop when contacted.
However, Mahfuz sowed doubt on the Sanusi-led state government, which he said “no longer has the capability” to undertake the job, citing the menteri besar’s handling of the issue.
Need for accountability from Sanusi
On November 25, Sanusi reportedly dismissed calls from various parties for an explanation on BZI Group’s withdrawal from the project, as he said that Langkasuka is a private venture.
However, he went on to raise eyebrows the following day by claiming during a state legislative assembly session that there was a “grand design” to foil private investment in the state under his administration, as he reportedly alleged that companies investing in Kedah were being pressured to pull out from the announced projects.
The Jeneri assemblyman cited BZI Group’s withdrawal as an example but did not divulge details, according to News Straits Times.
Commenting on the sabotage claim, Mahfuz said Sanusi’s government is trying to cover up its shortcomings by resorting to a blame game.
The Amanah vice-president ticked off Sanusi for making the sabotage claims even though the federal government had brought in a lot of investments to the northern state, citing the example of the RM2.16 billion investment plan in Kulim Hi-Tech Industrial Park by Hyundai Motor following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent visit to South Korea.
Additionally, Mahfuz also pointed out that the Langkasuka project was announced in 2021 by former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is the chairman of the Perikatan Nasional coalition that Sanusi is part of.
“On one hand, he (Sanusi) is saying that this is a private project and he should not be blamed. But on the other hand, he is claiming sabotage attempts from outsiders. He is being contradictory here.
“He needs to properly explain what went wrong with the project (behind the scenes) such as any (possible) demands by the state in terms of utilities and other things that the state government could not fulfil,” he added.
Kedah opposition leader Bau Wong Bau Ek and Kedah PH chief Datuk Mahfuz Omar said that the state government needs to save the project by trying to bring in other firms to invest in the project.
Speaking to Scoop, Bau Wong said the island project has the potential to be a catalyst for more developments for Langkawi in the near future.
“This (Langkasuka) project could become the “beacon” that could (further) develop Langkawi. If this project does not materialise, then (the development agenda for the island) would fail,” the Sidam assemblyman told Scoop when contacted.
However, Mahfuz sowed doubt on the Sanusi-led state government, which he said “no longer has the capability” to undertake the job, citing the menteri besar’s handling of the issue.
Need for accountability from Sanusi
On November 25, Sanusi reportedly dismissed calls from various parties for an explanation on BZI Group’s withdrawal from the project, as he said that Langkasuka is a private venture.
However, he went on to raise eyebrows the following day by claiming during a state legislative assembly session that there was a “grand design” to foil private investment in the state under his administration, as he reportedly alleged that companies investing in Kedah were being pressured to pull out from the announced projects.
The Jeneri assemblyman cited BZI Group’s withdrawal as an example but did not divulge details, according to News Straits Times.
Commenting on the sabotage claim, Mahfuz said Sanusi’s government is trying to cover up its shortcomings by resorting to a blame game.
The Amanah vice-president ticked off Sanusi for making the sabotage claims even though the federal government had brought in a lot of investments to the northern state, citing the example of the RM2.16 billion investment plan in Kulim Hi-Tech Industrial Park by Hyundai Motor following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent visit to South Korea.
Additionally, Mahfuz also pointed out that the Langkasuka project was announced in 2021 by former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is the chairman of the Perikatan Nasional coalition that Sanusi is part of.
“On one hand, he (Sanusi) is saying that this is a private project and he should not be blamed. But on the other hand, he is claiming sabotage attempts from outsiders. He is being contradictory here.
“He needs to properly explain what went wrong with the project (behind the scenes) such as any (possible) demands by the state in terms of utilities and other things that the state government could not fulfil,” he added.
Kedah PH chief Datuk Mahfuz Omar. – Facebook pic, December 1, 2024
Echoing Mahfuz, Bau Wong said that the Sanusi still needs to explain to the public given the fact that the latter has heaped praise on the project benefits to Kedah in the past “as if the project is a joint venture with the state”.
“But when the project failed, he said that it was a private (project) and he was not part of it. He is evading (from the issue),” he added.
The PKR assemblyman did not dismiss the possibility that the state government’s inability to address the water woes in Langkawi and the losing allure of the tourist island could have led to the Dubai firm’s withdrawal from the project.
He said that inadequacy of infrastructure and utilities in a location would deter investors from setting up shops there as these deficiencies deprive them of the ease of doing business.
“We have also seen that Langkawi, which used to be a top tourist attraction, seems to be looking “gloomy” nowadays with prices of goods getting expensive and restrictions on businesses in certain areas, which is deterring tourists from coming.
“These conditions would leave investors questioning whether they want to invest in places with gloomy prospects,” he added.
Conversely, Mahfuz said that the recent developments on the Langkasuka project could create a perception that Kedah is losing its appeal among investors, which requires urgent actions by the state government to fix its image.
“Right now we can only rely on the federal government which can create confidence among investors to set up projects in the country, including Kedah.
“If we count on the Kedah government, we would (be expecting) failure,” he added.
A state investment evaluation team
Meanwhile, Bau Wong called upon the state government to establish an investment evaluation team that would scrutinise any investments that would screen any investors that are keen to set up shops in Penang, in a bid to guarantee investments materialise in the state, during the state assembly sitting.
The Sidam assemblyman said that the proposal was made to the state government while debating the state’s 2025 supply bill at the state legislative assembly on Monday.
“This team needs to be efficient in evaluating whether these companies can be trusted or they are being disingenuous (on investing in Kedah).” – December 1, 2024
Echoing Mahfuz, Bau Wong said that the Sanusi still needs to explain to the public given the fact that the latter has heaped praise on the project benefits to Kedah in the past “as if the project is a joint venture with the state”.
“But when the project failed, he said that it was a private (project) and he was not part of it. He is evading (from the issue),” he added.
The PKR assemblyman did not dismiss the possibility that the state government’s inability to address the water woes in Langkawi and the losing allure of the tourist island could have led to the Dubai firm’s withdrawal from the project.
He said that inadequacy of infrastructure and utilities in a location would deter investors from setting up shops there as these deficiencies deprive them of the ease of doing business.
“We have also seen that Langkawi, which used to be a top tourist attraction, seems to be looking “gloomy” nowadays with prices of goods getting expensive and restrictions on businesses in certain areas, which is deterring tourists from coming.
“These conditions would leave investors questioning whether they want to invest in places with gloomy prospects,” he added.
Conversely, Mahfuz said that the recent developments on the Langkasuka project could create a perception that Kedah is losing its appeal among investors, which requires urgent actions by the state government to fix its image.
“Right now we can only rely on the federal government which can create confidence among investors to set up projects in the country, including Kedah.
“If we count on the Kedah government, we would (be expecting) failure,” he added.
A state investment evaluation team
Meanwhile, Bau Wong called upon the state government to establish an investment evaluation team that would scrutinise any investments that would screen any investors that are keen to set up shops in Penang, in a bid to guarantee investments materialise in the state, during the state assembly sitting.
The Sidam assemblyman said that the proposal was made to the state government while debating the state’s 2025 supply bill at the state legislative assembly on Monday.
“This team needs to be efficient in evaluating whether these companies can be trusted or they are being disingenuous (on investing in Kedah).” – December 1, 2024
The Dubai investor withdrawal statement "to focus on more realistic and high-potential opportunities." says it all.
ReplyDeleteThe project is unrealistic and lacks potential.