Melaka, known for its historic charm, also holds a dubious title: the white elephant capital of Malaysia. Historian Serge Jardin has catalogued 38 abandoned or failed infrastructure projects across the state, from a monorail that stranded passengers on its launch day to artificial islands that remain empty. The Melaka Monorail, launched in 2010 at RM17 million, came to a halt within five hours, trapping 20 riders mid-air. After a brief revival in 2017, it now serves as pigeon housing. Coastal reclamation projects, touted with tens of billions in GDV, have become stranded assets. Then there’s the Eye on Malaysia, a RM30 million ferris wheel relocated from KL, dismantled after operational disputes. Jardin’s list includes over 30 other failures, raising questions about planning and accountability in the state.
Article and image source: therakyatpost.com
