Housing for Poor People: A Review on Low Cost Housing Process in Malaysia
Introduction:
Malaysia as a developing country and one of Asia’s tigers is growing rapidly and is aiming to become a developed nation by 2020. Malaysia is a nation of two distinct geographical regions. Peninsular Malaysia includes large cities, and has active agricultural, industrial and service economy. Across the South China Sea lies East Malaysia. East Malaysia, spreading along much of the northern coast of the island of Borneo, is a land of forests and plantations. The federal government and state governments support public low cost housing schemes in urban areas yet many families are not reachable through these programs. Affordability is an issue. Land and housing costs are often too high for the 4% of the population who live below the poverty level. Families find themselves living in squatter communities in larger cities. In the countryside, housing needs are more acute and there is less formal help.
Background of Housing Policies in the World:
All housing policy documents in the world in recent years confirm that governors and planners have to promote full housing accessibility for high risk people including the disabled and women as heads of families, which can be reflected in gender equality in policies, programs and LIH projects as sustainable human settlements development. On December 1948, the general assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article number 22 mention.
“Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each state, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality. “
Low Cost Housing in Malaysia:
Malaysia had been faced with increased population from 21.3 million in 2000 to 25 million people in 2008. Yet, this is when the population growth rate decreased from 2% in 2000 to 1.75% in 2008. During this period, the birth rate and death rate have both decreased. Life expectancy has increased from less than 71 years to more than 73 years. Gross Domestic Production increased from 207 in 2004 to 358 in 2008 which decreased the number of poor people significantly. It means that GDP has increased from $9000 in 2004 to $14,400 in 2008 per capita. Statistics show that the population under poverty line has decreased from 8% in 2002 to 5.1% in 2008 and %4 in 2009. On the other hand, the labor force has increased from 9,300,000 in 2000 to 10,910,000 in 2008.
Malaysia’s Low-Cost Housing Needs:
The programs to eradicate poverty led to a reduced rate of poverty among Malaysians by 6.8% by the year 2000. Poverty was practically eliminated in 2008 with an even lower rate of 5%. Anti-poverty program was directed towards the poorest states and districts as well as the Orang Asli (aboriginal people of Peninsular Malaysia) community and the urban poor.
While attention is given to direct welfare assistance, attitudinal change and the provision of basic amenities, poverty elimination programs placed primary emphasis on income-generating projects. Among others, the income-generating projects include cash crop cultivation, livestock rearing, aquaculture, petty trading and cottage industries.
Conclusions:
The Malaysia plans is expected to see the government’s continuous effort to ensure that Malaysians of all income levels will have access to adequate, quality and affordable homes, particularly for those under the low-income group. In this regard, the private sector is expected to support the government’s initiative to build more low- and low-medium-cost houses in their mixed-development projects while the public sector will concentrate on building low cost housing as well as houses for government employees, the disadvantaged and the poor in urban and rural areas.