Urban speculation for survival: Adaptations and negotiations in Forest City, Malaysia

Abstract

Malaysia is estimated to be one of the four largest recipients of Chinese Belt and Road Initiative investment worldwide, with China surpassing Singapore to become the largest foreign investor in Malaysia in 2016. Chinese investment in Malaysia consists largely of top-down urban mega-developments, many of which are built on reclaimed land and have faced significant criticism from locals, media, environmentalists, and politicians for their audacious plans, exclusive nature, and disregard for local people and ecosystems. Using Forest City as a case study, this paper introduces the concept of urban speculation for survival to elaborate on how – beyond their initial planning and financing – foreign-owned, master-planned megaprojects involve continual speculation as they navigate shifting political contexts and economic challenges. Specifically, we outline three main phases to the new city’s development and investigate how its marketing and identity have evolved over time in response to mounting criticism and shortfalls in sales. Situating Forest City within the trend of speculative urbanism, we demonstrate how – rather than being monolithic – the outcomes of top-down Chinese investment and mega-development in a much smaller Southeast Asian country simultaneously shape and are shaped by local and transnational economic, political, and social dynamics, as corporate Chinese actors are forced to negotiate and compromise on their ambitious overseas ventures.