Flow of Sand

The film is set against the backdrop of Chinese investment in real estate in Malaysia and the political transition following the May 2018 legislative elections. Futuristic, large-scale land reclamation projects are visible expressions of these investments. Two case studies are explored, ‘Forest City’ in Johor and ‘Melaka Gateway’ in Malacca, both launched in attractive places by the sea. Both are part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Initially hailed for boosting the economy and creating jobs, the projects subsequently attracted criticism for exacerbating social injustices and for impacting on the environment.