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Malaysia's development must consider ordinary citizens' needs, says PM Anwar
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Culture & Society

Malaysia's development must consider ordinary citizens' needs, says PM Anwar

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stressed that national development must consider the daily lives of ordinary citizens, not just prestigious landmarks.
  • He highlighted that the majority of people, especially in cities like Kuala Lumpur, eat at small businesses, stalls, and small restaurants.
  • Anwar urged for a balance in development, ensuring that the needs of the majority are met alongside economic and tourism goals, particularly in historical areas like Melaka.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim asserted that national development must prioritize the needs and daily lives of the majority of citizens, rather than focusing solely on prestigious landmarks and high-profile areas. He emphasized that a significant portion of the population, particularly in urban centers, relies on small businesses, food stalls, and modest eateries for their daily sustenance.

"The majority of people do not eat in five-star restaurants. The majority of people, 80 percent in Kuala Lumpur, eat at stalls, at small restaurants," Anwar stated during the National Landscape Day 2026 celebration in Melaka. He pointed out that development planning often overlooks these areas, focusing instead on locations frequented by those with higher incomes, creating an imbalance in urban development.

The majority of people do not eat in five-star restaurants. The majority of people, 80 percent in Kuala Lumpur, eat at stalls, at small restaurants.

— Datuk Seri Anwar IbrahimPrime Minister Anwar Ibrahim highlighting the daily realities of most citizens during a speech on national development.

Anwar called for a broader perspective on landscape development, viewing it not just as beautification but as integral to the quality of life. He stressed the need for balanced development that considers economic, tourism, environmental, cleanliness, cultural aspects, and the needs of all societal strata. While acknowledging the importance of attracting investment for economic growth and job creation, he insisted that economic development should not be divorced from environmental concerns and public well-being.

Addressing Melaka specifically, Anwar noted the state's rich history and heritage, which offer unique advantages for tourism. He urged that landscape planning in historical and tourist areas should incorporate these values. However, he reiterated that the needs of ordinary citizens, such as those who operate or frequent stalls and warungs, must not be sidelined. "But let us not sideline the importance of stalls and warungs that involve the majority of our country's people," he concluded.

But let us not sideline the importance of stalls and warungs that involve the majority of our country's people.

— Datuk Seri Anwar IbrahimPrime Minister Anwar Ibrahim emphasizing the need to consider the economic and social importance of small local businesses in development plans.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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