Anwar: Don't sideline food stalls and warungs in national development
The Prime Minister says most Malaysians eat at stalls and small eateries, not five-star restaurants, and urged planners to focus on the cleanliness of such premises.
MELAKA – National development should not focus solely on landmarks and prestigious areas but must take into account the places most Malaysians frequent, including the cleanliness and appearance of food stalls and warungs.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the emphasis on physical development must be balanced against the needs of ordinary people, as a large share of the population goes about daily life at small business premises, stalls and warungs.
He said development planning that attends only to elite or high-profile areas, without regard for the needs of the majority, could create imbalance in a city's growth.
"The majority of the people do not eat at five-star restaurants. The majority — 80 per cent in Kuala Lumpur — eat at stalls, at warungs, at small restaurants.
"But our focus in this planning is on beautifying areas favoured or frequented by those of high standing and high spending.
"How much of our development attention goes to beautifying stalls, to cleaning them? The number of people working there and using them is far higher," he said in his speech officiating the National Landscape Day 2026 (HLN 2026) celebration at Stadium Hang Jebat, Krubong, here, tonight. (Quotes translated from Malay.)
Also present were Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming and Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab. Rauf Yusoh.
Anwar said landscape development should be viewed within a broader framework and not merely as an effort to beautify an area, but must be closely linked to the people's quality of life.
Balanced development, he said, must take into account economic, tourism, environmental, cleanliness and cultural aspects as well as the needs of communities from all walks of life.
He said efforts to attract investment are indeed important to ensure a state can grow, provide job opportunities, strengthen infrastructure and open up more opportunities for the younger generation. However, economic development cannot be viewed separately from environmental concerns and public well-being.
Anwar added that Melaka has its own advantage as a state rich in history and heritage, and its landscape planning should therefore take into account historical, cultural and tourism value.
"Melaka city has historical aspects that many other cities do not have. There are heritage aspects that deserve attention, there are tourism aspects.
"But let us not sideline the importance of the stalls and warungs that involve the majority of our country's people," he said.
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