Belt and Road Initiative Projects and Information Asymmetry: Engagements with Local Communities in Malaysia
Over the last few years, BRI-related investment projects have received significant media attention within Malaysia. This was particularly the case in the lead-up to the historic 2018 general elections, where these projects featured prominently in Malaysia’s political discourse and were tied in heavily with issues of corruption and sovereignty.
Given the importance of China’s relationship with Malaysia, IDEAS initiated a project that seeks to look into the public narratives surrounding the BRI in Malaysia and the asymmetry of information in connection to these projects. Our study specifically focuses on the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and the Trans-Sabah Gas Pipeline (TSGP), their respective environmental and sociological impacts, how local communities have sought to respond to these challenges, the narratives and information asymmetries surrounding these projects at both the national and local levels, and ultimately what these projects say about the larger system of project governance in Malaysia.
Our research identified major asymmetries in the information available at both the national and local levels. Indeed, in our discussions with local communities found near the project sites of both the ECRL and the TSGP, a major contention raised would be the lack of engagement from the project developers and local authorities concerning the projects and their local impact. This ultimately raises important questions about the lack of transparency found in Malaysia’s system of project procurement and governance. Our findings also raise important questions about the asymmetry between national and local discourses surrounding the BRI in Malaysia, in particular, the acute lack of engagement taking place at the local level and how it hinders the promotion of more sustainable and accountable project governance in Malaysia. Along with other experts, we also intend to propose policy solutions to strengthen project governance and local community engagements in Malaysia.
