Forest City, a $100 billion eco-friendly megacity envisioned in southern Malaysia, stands today as a stark contrast to its intended purpose.
Designed to house a million residents and boasting luxurious amenities like a golf course and water park, the city now sits eerily empty, earning the label of a "ghost town."
Construction began in 2016 by Country Garden, a Chinese property developer. However, only 15% of the project is complete, with a mere 1% occupancy rate.
Despite the developer's optimism about completion, the project faces immense financial strain with debts reaching nearly $200 billion.
Intended to attract wealthy Chinese buyers seeking second homes, Forest City's exorbitant pricing proved unviable for the local Malaysian population. The COVID-19 pandemic further hampered the project, leaving thousands of vacant apartments with no potential buyers.
Nazmi Hanafiah, a former resident, described in an interview with the BBC how he escaped from a lonely and uninviting environment after just six months.
The lack of amenities and isolation drove him away, highlighting the project's shortcomings in creating a vibrant community.
In an interview with the BBC, Nazmi Hanafian said: "To be honest, it's creepy. I had high expectations for this place, but it was such a bad experience. There is nothing to do here."
Forest City is actively trying to shed its ghost town image.
Press releases in March 2023 portrayed it as a "popular short-haul tourist destination" offering "coastal resort life." However, the success of such rebranding efforts remains uncertain.
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