FOREIGNERS can buy land in Forest City but the government will stop short of giving them permanent resident status in Malaysia, says Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

This followed Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali’s recent remarks that the government would relook the Forest City development project in Johor as it did not benefit Malaysians.

“They can buy the property but we won’t give them a visa to come and live here,” Dr Mahathir told reporters on the sidelines of the the National Arts Gallery’s 60th anniversary celebration in Kuala Lumpur today.

At the Bumiputera Future and National Future Congress 2018 three days ago, Azmin had said the government was committed to ensuring that all Chinese investments were of value to the people and country.

At the same congress, Dr Mahathir had said the government would not allow acquisition of Malaysian land and luxury urban developments by foreigners. – September 4, 2018.