Socio-Economic Profile of the Low Income and Poor Communities in Kuala Lumpur City, Malaysia.

Abstract

It seems to have been apparent in developing nations that economic growth and urbanization are always interrelated. Malaysia's rapid economic growth has also resulted in a considerable growth of urbanization. As gleaned from the other side of the coin, the process of such urbanization had twisted numerous negative impacts on the socioeconomic aspects of the urban low income and poor communities living in the low-cost flats and squatters. One of the major impacts of Malaysia's rapid urbanization is the transformation in the socio-economic profile of the urban low income and poor communities. This paper aims to determine and analyze the socio-economic indicators affecting the profile of the urban low income and poor communities residing in the squatters and low-cost flats of Kuala Lumpur city, Malaysia. To pursue the objective, the study has conducted a field survey, collected primary data from the level of living conditions of the urban low income and poor households and has employed some statistical techniques such as descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the chi-square test. The empirical findings of this study appeared to have important policy implications and are expected to enable the respective policy and decision makers in their effort to alleviate urban poverty