By Phillip Das
Malaysia is now attracting mega investments. We hear announcements about new industries, technology parks, data centres and billions of ringgit in investments. These developments are often presented as signs of economic progress and confidence in our country.
There is no reason why Malaysia should turn away investment. We need economic growth, new industries, employment opportunities and a stronger position in the global economy.
But as we welcome these investments, there is a question we should not overlook.
Are we developing our country according to the needs of the people, or are we allowing investment opportunities to determine how our communities will develop?
Recent figures indicate that 27 data centre projects have been approved under the Data Centre Task Force across Johor, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. Johor accounts for 16 projects, Selangor 10 and Negeri Sembilan one. The estimated investment is RM225.97 billion, with the potential to create 4,053 jobs.
These are impressive figures. But behind every development project there is a community, an environment and existing infrastructure that must support it.
Have we considered the needs of the people? Before approving major developments, have the authorities properly considered the needs of the surrounding communities?
Have they examined whether the existing water supply is sufficient? Will electricity demand place additional pressure on the national grid? Are the roads able to accommodate increased traffic? Will existing residential areas experience noise, congestion and other disturbances?
These are not minor considerations
Water is a basic necessity. Electricity is essential for homes, schools, hospitals and businesses. Roads are built to serve communities, not simply to provide access to new commercial developments.
If large developments place additional demands on these resources, who will bear the consequences? Will the people eventually find themselves competing with major industries for the very resources they depend on every day?
Even the government has raised concerns
There is an important development that deserves our attention. The Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Johari Abdul Ghani, has cautioned state governments against committing water resources to data centre projects without first establishing whether sufficient supplies are available. This is a significant warning.
If the government itself is concerned about water availability, should this not have been one of the main considerations before projects were approved?
We cannot encourage major investments without first understanding whether our resources and infrastructure can support them.
The question is not whether we want these investments. The question is whether we have planned properly for them.
What about the environment?
This is a concern which deserves serious attention. Data centres require substantial electricity to operate. They may also require considerable amounts of water for cooling, depending on the technology used. Their construction involves land clearing, infrastructure development and, in some cases, changes to the surrounding landscape.
Have proper environmental assessments been undertaken? What happens to natural drainage systems? Are nearby rivers and water catchment areas protected? Will development affect forests, wildlife habitats and green spaces?
We should not wait until flooding becomes worse, water resources become strained or natural habitats disappear before asking these questions.
An environmental assessment should not become a formality that is completed simply to satisfy an approval requirement.
We must also look at the combined impact of these developments. Examining one project at a time may not give us the full picture of what happens when several large projects operate within the same area.
Where are the voices of the people?
People living near proposed developments should have an opportunity to understand what is being planned and how it will affect their lives.
Have they been informed early enough? Have public consultations been meaningful? Have their objections and concerns been properly considered before decisions are made?
A public consultation should not be treated as a box to be ticked after important decisions have already been made.
People should not have to wait until construction begins before discovering that a major development is taking place near their homes.
Our local authorities and state governments have a responsibility to look beyond the immediate economic benefits. Their responsibility is also to protect the interests of the people they serve.
What kind of development do we want?
Malaysia has introduced national policies on physical planning and urban development which recognise the importance of sustainable development, liveable communities and environmental protection.
These are encouraging objectives. But the real test is how these policies are translated into decisions at state and local authority levels.
We cannot talk about sustainable development on one hand and allow decisions to be driven mainly by the size of an investment on the other.
Development must be properly planned. Infrastructure must be ready. Water and electricity requirements must be assessed. The environment must be protected. And the people must have a voice.
There must also be proper monitoring after approval. What was promised by the developer must be delivered, and conditions imposed by the authorities must be enforced.
All these are reasonable questions. They are not questions against investment. They are questions about responsible government.
Development must serve the people
Malaysia should welcome investment, but we must also remember that the purpose of development is to improve the lives of the people. A country cannot measure its progress simply by the number of projects approved or the billions of ringgit announced in investment.
We must also measure progress by the quality of life of our people, the availability of clean water, reliable electricity, good roads, healthy surroundings and the protection of our natural environment.
Our children and grandchildren will inherit the consequences of the decisions we make today.
We should therefore ask ourselves whether we are building a country that is economically successful but places an increasing burden on its people and environment.
Investment may bring us economic growth, but good planning must bring us a better quality of life.
The responsibility of our authorities is not simply to approve development. It is to ensure that development serves the people, protects the environment and safeguards the future of the nation.
The views expressed here are entirely those of the writer
WE