KUALA LUMPUR (Mar 23): A PAS lawmaker has asked why foreign experts have been appointed to construct the RM8 billion mixed property development within the proposed Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) in Kuala Lumpur, saying that the country has enough experts to undertake such a project.

Datuk Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena) said he was surprised that Putrajaya has allowed a subsidiary of debt-laden 1Malaysian Development Berhad (1MDB) to work with an Australian-based real estate group, Lend Lease, on the project.

This is since mega-projects like the federal administrative centre Putrajaya, KL and transport hub KL Sentral were built by local companies.

Putrajaya was developed and built by Putrajaya Holdings Berhad while KL Sentral was constructed by public-listed MRCB.

"This is clear proof that Malaysia has the capability to develop its own projects. Why do we need to depend on foreign expertise to build our real estate when the government has always claimed that we are on the right track towards achieving Vision 2020.

"It is time we stand on our own two feet," he said at a press conference at the Parliament lobby today.

The Edge Markets reported on March 19 that 1MDB Real Estate had signed a joint venture agreement and a sale and purchase deal with Lend Lease for the RM8 billion mixed-property portion.

1MDB is the master developer of the US$8 billion (RM29.43 billion) TRX on 28ha near Jalan Bukit Bintang and the iconic Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur.

TRX will be positioned as an international financial district in Malaysia.

The project includes a retail mall, several residential towers and a hotel.