Mahathir defends govt's mega projects

Mahathir defends govt's mega projects

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Monday defended his government's strategy of building so-called mega projects, saying they had benefitted Malaysia's people and were not extravagant.

"We do not indulge in mega projects just to pound our chest and show off," Mahathir was quoted as saying by the national news agency Bernama. "They are important to national development." Mahathir made the comments at the launch of a new township in his home state of Kedah in northern Malaysia.

In Kuala Lumpur, the four party opposition coalition condemned the government's decision last week to revive a multibillion dollar dam project on Borneo island, saying it would have a disastrous impact on the region's ecology and indigenous people.

"The physical habitat and cultural lifestyles of the indigenous communities in the area, the size of neighboring Singapore would be altered dramatically," opposition leader said in a joint statement.

Since coming into power in 1981, Mahathir has ordered the building of mammoth projects including the Petronas Towers -- the world's tallest buildings -- a sprawling new airport and Putrajaya, Malaysia's new administrative center which includes a majestic residence for himself.

The 1997-98 Asian economic crisis which engulfed Malaysia and the rest of the region slowed but did not scuttle work on more big projects, which are often derided by the opposition as unnecessary and waste of public funds.