Kedah govt did not consider project as no deposit paid

PETALING JAYA (June 1): Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will not be officiating the RM30 billion Langkawi New City project announced yesterday by Ting Pek Khiing, reported Malaysiakini.

Citing sources from the Prime Minister’s Office, the portal said that while the premier is in Langkawi today, he will not be officiating the project.

Kedah Chief Minister Mukhriz Mahathir said the state government has yet to receive any proposals for the project.

“The announcement is puzzling because there was no proposal, dialogue, consideration or even approval for the project by the state government led by me,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Damansara MP and Finance Ministry special officer Tony Pua said he “won’t comment on a fictitious project”.

Mukhriz said that while Ting had approached him about the project during his first term as Kedah Chief Minister under the Barisan Nasional administration, he did not make a deposit and thus the project was no longer under consideration.

Although the state government does not want to discourage investments, everything must follow proper guidelines, which include social, environmental and economic impact assessments.

“The state government is business and investment friendly, but there will be no compromise on these three aspects.”

Low-profile Sarawakian tycoon Ting had dropped a surprise announcement yesterday on the launch of the Langkawi New City mixed-use development.

To be developed on 81ha of reclaimed land off the west side of the island, it will feature 30,000 units of high-end condominiums, commercial centres, berthing facilities for ocean liners and yachts, among other facilities.