She said the 41ha project in Precinct 19 is being developed under a public-private partnership with Putrajaya Holdings, using the build-lease-maintain-transfer model.

“The RM4 billion development cost is fully borne by the developer, who will also handle maintenance.

“After 25 years, the entire project will be handed over to the government,” she said in a Facebook post ahead of tomorrow’s groundbreaking ceremony to be officiated by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Announced earlier this month, Madani City will boast a secondary school, a technical and vocational education and training institution, banks, a government clinic and a mosque, among others.

Its first phase, involving about 3,000 residential units and a vertical school, is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

The project, however, has drawn criticism from the opposition over its branding, with some calling it a self-promotional exercise tied to Anwar’s “Madani” slogan.

Zaliha defended the name, saying it reflects values such as humanity, balance, justice and sustainability.

She said the development is aligned with the city’s CHASE vision – clean, healthy, advanced, safe and eco-friendly – and will feature smart mobility, low-carbon systems and green networks.

Zaliha said the development was necessary to provide 10,000 new housing units for civil servants, noting the current backlog of more than 17,000 applications for government quarters.

“I believe civil servants deserve good housing, and Putrajaya must continue to be strengthened as an inclusive and visionary administrative capital.

“Let’s not confuse the public with false narratives,” she said.