Housing crisis in peninsular Malaysia : public policy and housing needs, 1946-1990
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Date
1978-03
Authors
Mat, Rabieyah
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
The magnitude and charncter of housing problems in parts of Peninsular Malaysia are fast gaining attention of the Government. Housing needs of the country have been identified but have not been translated into policy initiatives. The failure to link needs and policy plus ineffective implementation are im1ications that the Government should intensify its effort in solvinq the housinq problems. The main purpose of this study is to provide a review and evaluntion of the housing policies and their implementation in Peninsular Malaysia for the 1946-1970 period. It is also the purpose to
project future housing needs for the period 1971-1990 and to suggest suitable policy changes. This study is based mainly on date. obtained from the 1970 Housing Census, ad hoc housing surveys in major towns, documents from the Ministry of Housing and Village Development and interviews with officers directly concerned with housing issues. This study is divided into five periods. Durinq the first period
(1946~1965) the Government was in the 'Initial Intervention' Stage, where effort in providing housing was done on an ad hoc basis. The second period (1956~1965) saw the transitional stage in which the
Government made an effort to provide housing but performed dismally. The third period (1966-1970) saw the adoption of the 'Social Housing Policy'. Despite this policy, the housing problem remained as what evident from the findings of the 1970 Housing Census. This situation came about because of ineffective and weak implementation capacity of the Government. Moreover, both policy and the target set were narrow. The fund available was also inadequate. This has resulted in an accumulated housing needs ranqing from 235,000 to 353,000 units as at 1970. In addition, rural-urban disparities were dramatized by the existing situation. Rural areas fared poorly in the provision of basic amenities and facilities.
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Keywords
Housing problems