surprising discovery! Man explores £80 billion ‘ghost town’
When Malaysia’s £80 billion “Forest City” project was launched in 2016, it promised an eco-friendly luxury haven with modern living and plenty of green space. The development in Johor was designed to accommodate one million residents, but years later, it’s far from the bustling metropolis it was intended to be. In fact, it’s mostly empty, and a YouTuber’s recent visit to the megacity revealed some shocking insights into what went wrong.
A Bold Vision for Luxury Living
The Forest City development was ambitious, intended to be a model of sustainable, modern living. The idea was simple: luxury apartments surrounded by lush greenery, with a strong focus on eco-friendly design. The vision was for a fully functioning community, with top-notch amenities like swimming pools, gyms, and tennis courts. The aim was to create a vibrant city that could house one million people, catering to both local and international buyers.
The Reality: A Ghost Town
Fast forward to 2023, and the project has fallen far short of expectations. Only about 9,000 residents live in Forest City less than one percent of the planned population. Only 10 percent of the city has been completed, and large parts of the area are empty and eerily quiet. YouTuber Ben Morris, who visited the city last May, was surprised by how deserted it looked. He captured footage of the nearly finished apartments and empty streets, showing just how far the project has fallen behind.
What Went Wrong?
Several factors contributed to the failure of Forest City. One of the major issues was the property crisis in China, which impacted investments in both domestic and international developments. Many of the high-end properties were built with the expectation that wealthy Chinese buyers would invest, but new laws imposed in 2017 restricted Chinese investments. The government’s visa restrictions for foreign buyers, especially from China, further hurt the project’s potential.
In addition, the pandemic’s restrictions stalled construction, making it even more difficult to attract people to the area. These combined challenges resulted in a massive imbalance between supply and demand, leaving the city nearly empty and far from its intended purpose.
Impressive Apartments, But Not Enough Buyers
Despite the challenges, Ben Morris was surprised by how luxurious the apartments were. The private floors, stunning views of the nearby bridge, and high-end facilities like swimming pools and tennis courts made the city appear desirable. But, with so few residents and the area lacking basic amenities and businesses, these features are essentially wasted.
Forest City: Desolate, Yet Not Empty
While Forest City may have earned a reputation as a “ghost town,” it’s not entirely deserted. A small number of people, like Wafa Aina Wahid, still call it home, attracted by the affordable living and great facilities. However, others like IT engineer Nazmi Hanafiah were quick to leave. Describing the city as “creepy” and “lonely,” Nazmi expressed how the lack of community and activities led him to abandon the area after just six months.
A Dream Left Unfulfilled
The tale of Forest City is a cautionary one, showing how even the most ambitious projects can falter due to changing political and economic conditions. While the luxury apartments and green spaces still stand, they remain largely underutilized. For now, the development remains a shadow of the bustling metropolis it was meant to become. Whether it can ever reach its full potential remains to be seen, but for now, the “ghost town” label seems to fit.
