Urban Poverty Alleviation Strategies from Multidimensional and Multi-Ethnic Perspectives: Evidences from Malaysia

Abstract

Lately, poverty has been a highly contested concept. Traditionally, poverty was a phenomenon associated to those entrapped in the lower rungs of society. This perception is attributable to the quantitative measurement of poverty determined by a controversial indicator-the "poverty line". Historically, majority of the poor are rural folks with income levels below the poverty line. Massive ruralurban migration necessitated by industrialisation and rapid urbanisation caused the emergence of a new social class-the "new poor" or "urban poor". Though scholars argued that industrialisation and urbanisation do create opportunities for wealth accumulation, but at the opposite end of the continuum we now face the "urban poor" issue inflicting our urban citizenry. The dire situation demands that the poverty concept should go beyond income levels and be more all-encompassing and multi-dimensional. In Malaysia, the situation becomes more pressing because the Malaysian population comprises people from diverse ethnicities like Malays, Chinese and Indians as the three most dominant ethnic groups. Such ethnic diversity in Malaysia's social structure will reflect the way diverse socio-cultural and economic conditions shape and define poverty. Thus, due considerations should also be given to "ethnicity" when deliberating the strategies that can enable a person to escape the poverty cycle. This qualitative study attempts to fill a pertinent research gap by examining poverty alleviation strategies not only from a multi-dimensional approach, but also from Malaysia's multi-ethnic viewpoint.

Unravelling the Interplay of Public Debt, Inflation and Unemployment on Poverty in Malaysia: A Comprehensive Examination

“…However, this research also unveiled additional contributors to poverty, including age, gender, and ethnic group. These findings align with the broader understanding, exemplified by Leng et al (2018), that ethnic background is a noteworthy determinant of poverty within Malaysia. In summary, past research into poverty in Malaysia has employed field surveys to explore an array of factors contributing to this complex issue.…”

The contributions of grandparents to preadolescent grandchildren's social skills in rural Malaysia

“…Since Malaysia's independence from its British colonizers in 1957, Malaysian families have developed a unified Malaysian identity (Andaya & Andaya, 1982), reflecting some commonalities in culture and values across the multicultural groups. However, specificities in socialization goals and practices across the groups persist (Masiran, 2022) due to religious values, traditions, and social structure (Khoo et al., 2018). For example, Malay families emphasize religiosity, guided by Islamic values such as politeness to elders, patience, and modesty that inform their behavior (Moten & Wok, 2019).…”

Unfolding emotions for creating happiness and quality of life in Malaysia's low‐income community using text mining

“…Malaysia, for instance, has long grappled with poverty, with a considerable portion of its population living below the poverty line. Insecurity issues such as crime have also been a major concern, while income inequality has continued to widen, creating a significant wealth gap between the rich and poor (Leng, Samsurijan, Gopal, Malek, & Hamat, 2018). These challenges can have a detrimental effect on people's well-being and may limit their opportunities to lead fulfilling lives.…”