PUERTO GELANG, Malaysia — On the southern tip of Malaysia, towers of glass and steel rise from reclaimed land, their outlines shimmering against the tropical sky. Forest City was meant to be a utopia: a USD 80 billion mega-project designed by China’s Country Garden, promising eco-friendly living, waterparks, golf courses, and homes for 700,000 residents. Today, fewer than 10,000 people live here. Streets are quiet, shops shuttered, and the hum of traffic never arrived. “It feels like living in a movie set,” said one resident, gesturing toward empty boulevards lined with palm trees. “Everything is here — except the people.” … Continue reading Inside the Empty Cities Built for Millions but Home to Few