PerpustalcaRa Tun Abdul RassaSt Institiut Teknologi M A R A
Shah Alam
T H E S I S
j BA.-^^wA.:..-< ? K K . . . "• .'• N i ' E M B A C A
LIVABILITY IJI KALAYSIAN URBAN SSOTUa.SOT j a f 3^
1412
%
Hd. J o n i d Md, Noor
A OThesis Submitted P e r The P a r t i a l P u l f i l l m e n t Of The
AWAI«;E DIPLOMA IN TOMN AND REGIONAL PLANNING
Department Of Toim And R e g i o n a l P l a n n i n g School Of A r c h i t e c t u r e , P l a n n i n g And, Sturvey
I.Iara I n s t i t u t e Of Tecdinology Shah Alam
JTily, 1981
[^THESIS li i-w
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The writer wishes to thank the many people Who have in one %«ay or another helped him in the writing of this
dissertation* In this respect, special acknowledgemartts go in particular to E>i* Wan Walleh bin HJ* Wan Ibrahim who could spare his precious mcmients in critisizing and constant advice to the writer's work*
Also not forgetting gratitude to Cik/Puan Patimah Mohd Nor for her help not withstanding the short notice and little time given for her to type the manuscript*
Special thanks should also be given to the writer's friends and family for their assistance and encouragement and residents of the surveyed areas for their cooperation during the field survey*
Last but not least, special mention to Yas»
Chapter:
TABLE OP CONTENTS
PAGE
ACKNOWLDBGEMEWTS
Iv
LIST OF TABLES vili
LIST OF FIGURES
Ix
LIST OP PLATES
Xii
1. INTRODUCTION
The problem and reascsns for Concern
1 1
2, THE ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION The Methodology
4 10
INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE J Q i i e s t i w m a i r e l i i t e r v i e w J Observation Procedure : L i t e r a t u r e Review SELECTION OF SITE
12 12 14 15
v i
3. THE HOUSING SCENARIO 52
Housing Programmes 52 Housing Performance 53 Crisis in Housing 54 Problens in Carrying Out Housing Development 57
Low-cost Hajsing 61 Price Control 62 Conclusicai 63
4. CULTURE
VJhat is Culture? 65 Built Forro and Settlement Patterns 68
: The Malay 68 J The Chinese 74 : The Indians 81
Conclusion 88
5 . THE TE3>IANT AND Dl'JELLlNG SUB-SYSTEM 90
I n t r o d u c t i c a i 90 The Tenant Sub-System 90
: L i f e - c y c l e 9 1 : I n c o n e Level 99 : L i f e - s t y l e 103
!nn;;:sis]]
""^"^"^"^^^^ vii
The Dwelling Sub-SystCTi
J Low Daisity 108 Residents• Characteristics 108
Spatial Distribution of Canponents 109
Provision of Services 112
: Medium Density 114 Residents' Characteristics 114
Spatial Distribution of Components 115
Provision of Services 117
! High Density 122 Residents» Characteristics 122
Spatial Distribition of Components 123
Provision of Services 124
Non Low-Cost Housing 132 Residents» Characteristics 132
Spatial Distribution of Ccxnponents 133
Provision of Services 138
6. THE BWIRONMENTAL AND MANAGEMENT SUB-SYSTEF5 142
The Environmsital Sub-system 142 Physical Qualities 142 Socio-psychological Quality 144
C«nmmity Facilities 154
viii
The Management Sub-system 163 Low-cost Housing 164 Nan Low-cost Housing 166
7. OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT AND SUGGESTIONS OP THE 168 MALAYSIAN HOUSING SCENE
LimitatiOTis 168 Contribution Towards Housing Policy and 169
Housing Unproveraent
The Dwelling Sub-system 177 The Elivir<aiment Sub-system 179 The Management Sub-system 181
CONCLUSION 183
BIBLIOGRAPHY 186
APPENDICES 196 The Questionnaire 196
The Survey Findings 202
LJ-CJT CF TABLIS
\2l
l o
3o 4c
O p i e i o B on Garlsags C o l l o e t i o B i
•^•istaae© t o Plf^se o f 'foipk H e l a t i o a s l i i p i^itli IJeijI-ifeours
Pre@©aov9 o f R e l a t i v e s i n P r e s e a t Sel'^ape Hot-i t o "©t t o EBOU Eeighlaotirs
Mu-iilaei'' o f Iloiisslioldi m t l i GIiilor©n i a
^©'••eest 3 e l i 0 o l
Fp0PueFA0,v o f SlioT^iiiii'? a t L o c a l Gliot?
139 144 146 147 152
155 157
1 cM.
9o P l a o e s IJIier-e O M l d r s a P l ^ j
10o l e c © s s i t ; f f o r P a r - s n t s t o AcGOs^ipssij : i i l d j e e n
;o Plr«j;jromid 1 6 1
3r
hlBT 0 ? FIX^R'113 FAi
leOcO G o a e e p t o f L i v p M l i t j 1 1 2o0oO P e a i a s i i l a r J l a l K j s i s - S u ' r v e j r e d Toi-sas 17
3oOoO Loos'^tioa P l a a o f A l o r Otas» 19 3oloO L a y o u t P l a t i of ffiiaan IJdaj Alo'x- S t a r 20
3o?.oO Ls-yo'dt P l a n o f Ta'aaa liiiMToloirlisAloE' S t a r o 21
^o-OoO . 'LootJtlon""?!'-.'.:. o f P s a a - g I s l ^ a d o 2 4 4 c , l » l L a y o u t P l a a o f ICjo r . e l a s m F l a t s y P e a a s ^ ^ o 25
4 Q 1 O 2 F l o o r La3?o-at P l a n s o f ICSo M©layi5, F l a t B , . 26 4 o 2 o l Leyomt P l a a o f S i f l e B.m.;^e F l s t S y Peiaan^o 26
4 o 3 o l Ls.yo-at P l a a o f l&yaii 3ar-m, Pes^aiia'o 29 5oOoO 'Loe;^tio:;a PlsT». of ICIIPIP. LmaptWo 33 5eloO Layo-at P l a a o f T E S P J I "l'?5t-iJ.fe Earmnj
F a t a l i a s Jf^y?,» 36 5 . 2 o 0 Laimmt Pl.-^Ji o f IC30 F . e r i a e ' i i Pla;t;s9
& i a l a Lumpuro 37 5«3oO Lff^mut Pl©a o f yiJic .P©Is©IiliH{i F l a t s »
5o4.^
6o0e
Layout Plj^n o f Twaaa Ihia ^ r » l e ^ a i l c
L o e a t i o a P l a a o f J o h o a e Bhamio 42 CelcO L a y o u t P l n a o f J a l a a LuE'bn K u d a ,
JolioF© Bhnry,» 43 6„2«C . Lsg-o-at Flss^'jsf Tsmm. e e a t o s s p j o l i o r e B^^araV 45
TeOoO L o e a t i o a Flf^n o f Kota. Bharuo 48 ToloO L a y o u t P l p a o f J a i l ' s BayK^a F l a t s »
S o t s BIii?,?Uo 49
L I 3 f CP PLA^"53
X i i
lo Ti^Mrm. U d a , A l o r S'«;ai=o
3» Iv3» I-Islajm ]?lf?,-fes, PeB.;m3'o 4« S i f l e Siln;^e F 1 P H ; S J PeEisn^o
ieyaj^ B-r.rtt5 PeHn:n£jc
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J a l a n P®!r,eliliB;7 F l a t s j I f u a l a LBiapurc
i «
IC B-H5;5!P3' Pftyky ITucilr, LisrapuPe
l i e 3a\»T. Liialj- IC-(,T>.P:, F l p . t s j Johos^o BI'\f'riie 12„ Tpsfiiu Seato^Bs, Jo'io^pe ;'lhf^ii^e
13e Jal.T'i^ Ssjnrs Fl?;t,Ssi ITotti Bhsrtio 14» T s a s a U'5.£":'T.ur-aiJ ICota BJnaru®
15© TmiBS!. lIde:r.mrHiJ K o t p Bbaini»
17o 1 QM.nB^& horns© i s P o t a L i a g J a j a o 1 8 , A h©UB© i n R p l c ^ a t s t i o j a i a ICsil-'-sfjo
2 1 , Eoi-ifses a§ «©ai^oB
S2» S s r t e a s i o a a t t h e "baok i a TaiiH'-n Battf;?, JleiraHg
?3ie !jir-t,iB©ss ©f Us» l l o l e j m F l a t s j PeaasiSs 2 4 , ' " i r t i s e s g of Ego Hslqyis S ' l a t s y F © a e s / | . 55» :"~^©re S l s Q Gaa " e Plej?!
2?
30
35
J /1
A6
33
lOS ICS
l i e 121
1 5"^
LIST OF Wl^JWtS TKGE
SoOoC L a j o u t F l a n of s Kaiser Eoiise»
99O0O L a y o u t P l a a o f a OMxiege Eomne lOeOeO P a l Ktslnjna LaTbomr a e s t ^ e o
lloOoO a) f j ^ p i c a l l-loedroora P l a a o f J a l a a 3n.jim F l a t s » K o t a Bhaanio
To) F i r s t s a f f e o t c S "by t h e a f t e r a o o n
s i x a l i / ^ t ^ 116 12o060 Iatr-iisio?'i of P r i v a e j o
a) Tjfp.ieal Play.! o f a T e r r a c e Foms© 135 13) P l a n o f a T^omesti© K a l ^ y Hornse^
Johore-o 135
GE&FTER OHB
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
The Problan and Reasons For Concern
The jtrcvlsicHi of housing is a major issue In the country*
With the high rate of urbanisation, urban areas are facing the luroblem of providing enough housing for the public* Those concerned in the housing industry are facing the problens to meet the d«nands* The various levels of problens are seal by the government as a serious factor and steps are being taken to remedy it*
The failure In the provision of enough houses resulted in the mushrooming of squatter areas* Such an existence indicates two things:
1. not «lough houses
2* the available units are beyond the reach of the public
In Malaysia, housing problems ccHistltute of both
factors* Measures are being taken by the government in solving the problens* For the Third Malaysia Plan, a sum of $2,467*6 M has been allocated for housing, an increase of $2,295*7 M from the previous pl€in shows the seriousness of the government^*
Besides that, incentives and cooperation from the private sectors are also being sought.
All alon^ the quantitative housing has been discussed*
One should not get carried away with the objective of providing enough housing vAiile neglecting the qualitative aspects of it.
The western concept of housing has been practised in this country, neglecting the social background of the populatii».
The plural society in Malaysia are rich in culture.
Cultural plays a dominant role in the organisaticxi of the environraait; besides physical, a climatic and so forth^» A glance of it vd.ll clearly indicate that the residents are made to stay in an alien environment. They are made to stay in a place where modification and alteration in the living environment is not possible. Residents are not allowed to personalised or to have own identities.
Thus, the statenoit of the problem is that "presoit trend in housing developmoit does not able to satisfy the needs of the residents. Thus, it is my intention to look into the elements of dissatisfaction of the residents."
This brings us to the concept of livability. It measures the satisfaction/dissatisfaction of residents with the «nvircnmentl For the purpose of this study, environmait refers to the living environment, which consists of a hierarchy of social and physical units.
3
Designers see planning as the creation of better environ- moit» based on undeirstanding of landuse requir«n«nt and certain ways of improved environmoital quality but they give this concept a different image.
The quality of an area is also judge by the absence of industry, office and planning is seen as an attonpt to keep out undesirable eloBoits.
R8PERENCES:
!• Government Printers. Third Malaysia Plan (1976-1980). p. 46-58
2. Rapoport, Amos: House Form and Culture.
Prentice-Hall, IJic. Ehglewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
1969. p. 46-58.
3. Onibokum, Adepoju, G: A system for evaluating the relative habitability of housing. Ekistics 215, November 1973. p. 313.
CHAPTER TVJO
CHAPTER II
THE ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION
The environm«ital evaluation is influ«iced by expecta- tions, values and cultural norms and previous experiences Which influence the standard for matching or the ccmparison through adapt ion'l»
The psychological literature on adaptation and on the social effects on how things are seen and evaluated %«ould lead us to expect a result* This will be a major factor in accounting for enviroamaital preference may be the environmental background of the people concerned*
The residents assessment of a particular attribute of environment is ccansidered dependent up<m two things:
1* his perception of it,
2* the standards against which he judges it*
The concept of standard of comparison is a complex one*
Basically, the conponents of the concept described by Marans2 is as follows:
1 - a pers(»i expects from his residential area prior to his moving in*
2 - aspiration level that Is t^at a perse» thinks could be true of the residential area In vAilch he now lives or the environment In vrtilch he hopes to live.
3 - Ekjulty level, that Is what a person thinks should be true of his residential areas, given the amcxint he has Invested In his monthly payments.
4 - reference group level, that is what a person believes be true of the places where others live-others with whcxn he identifies - families, friends and those with similar occupations. Income, etc.
It is Important that the above factors are to be taken into consideration in the process of the study.
The above discussion concerns the individual residents, the biasness likely to occur in giving their perception of the quality of oivironment. It is also worthwhile to look into the ccmtponents of the environmental quality.
Basically, there are two obvious interpretations of the 3
environmental quality:
1 •> The simpler <8ie is related to aspects such as air and water pollution and so forth. These could be called the material and bloch«nical aspects of physical environment.
11 - the more conplex interpretation is related to the less easily definable and more cariable, qualities
of the natural and man-made environment v^ich give satisfaction to people, its sensory quality in all modalities, the positive and negative effects on human feelings, behaviour or performance and its meaning.
They could be called the psychological and socio-cultural aspect of the environment.
The socio-cultural factors are important in the house-form.
This is s e m in the vernacular houses in the country. But today, with the modem technology and architecture, houseform is no more having the socio-cultural features. The aesthetic, layout and form are created with the objective of queintitative. The concept of residential setting are "imported", neglecting the local values.
As a result of the modern housing developnent, it creates the dissatisfaction of the residents. Thus, the hypothesis of this study is:
"The presmt housing development has neglected hximan norms and values resulting in the dissatisfaction of the residents".
The satisfaction of the residents can only be achieved if human norms and values are carefully considered. Satisfaction of residents in the environment created, should be looked into with a wider perspective» An average man should not be the yardstick for the designing of an environment. Neither the design should be left 4 to be too opai-«ided resulting in the chaos tic of the environmsmt.
The point of canprcanise should be reached betweei human norms and
values, and the socio-political, economic and technological factors*
Th«i only residents would accept the living environnait designed for them ma livable.
For the purpose of this study, the following are the working hypotheses:-
1 - Designers have neglected socio-cultural factors in the modem provision of housing.
Culture is one of the major factor in house-form. Residents shaped the tradititmal house-form based an the needs and the relation- ship with the environment. Such a long process has at last come to a stage where it is being considered as ideal. By introducing a totally different type of house-form, it will affect the residents because an aliai culture has been Introduced without their consult.
The Introduction of alien culture would mean that residents would have to adjust thenselves to suit both their own and alien cultures, hence creating a state of confusion.
2 - The lack of understanding soclo-psychologlcal values of resldaits would result in dissatisfaction of residents with their dwellings and built environment.
Political forces acted on designers to prepare hc^ises for the people. Urg«itly needed houses gave too little time for then to study the local condition. Without understanding local values,
designers vho are trained in the west, have adopted the western concept.
As a result, the built anvir(»imait was usable to satisfy the socio-psychological needs of residents.
3 - Modem housing developmoit has failed to create social interaction among residents.
Modem housing schemes ar« known as areas where social interaction amcmg residents are not intimate as those in the traditional* The dwellings are designed in such a way, that informal visits are impossible. Heterogenity could also be the reason. Besides, the schemes are not made for people to stay there throughcut their life and mobility does not allow than to settle down long enough to really get to know neighbours*
4 - Basic seirvices and amenities are not up to the level of satisfaction.
Expectation an moving into housing schemes is high in all aspects* Besides improving the dwelling tinit, resident also hope to have an improvement in other services and this is not so*
Evtfithough services are available, yet they are unreliable* The reason being lack of co-ordination among agencies responsible, while the need for forward planning has been overlooked* As a result, housing schones are constructed, while basic facilities are still beyong capacity to serve the new areas.
9
5 - Housing choice is limited due to the spiralling of prices.
The increase in the price of houses is tremoidously high.
Such an increase is not mainly due to economic reasons, but also
speculation. The increase would not have been that high, if authority had imposed control. With this high increase, those affected are the consumers. Choice is limited to those within their reach. The situa- tion worst, taAien supply could not meet demand.
Institiut "reknologi M A 8 A Shah Alam
THE METHODOLOGY
For the purpose of the study, a conceptual model of a livability (Cnlbolcun, 1973) is being adopted. This ccoicept refers to the tenant-dwelling-environmentHnanagement interaction system*
It is defined as the sum total of the level of satisfaction vAiich the tenant derives fr<xn the interaction of the components of the tenant-dwelling-environmait-<nanagement system. In other v4ord, it evaluated the level of satisfaction of a tenant, living in a particular housing unit located within a particular community and managed under a type of institutional management.
The Components of the Concept
The linkages of the components of the model are shown in figure 1« Satisfaction with any components as expzressed by a resident is dependent upon the evaluation on assessments to several attributes of that aivironment.
A person *s assessment of a particular attribute of his
«ivironmait is considered dependent upon two things:- 1) his perception,
2) the standard against which he judges it.
These assessment are based upon several factors %«hich may give the kind of environm«it that one prefers. The concept of a standard of comparison is a complex <me. Thus, the respond from residents will be based en his experi«ices and his past living environment, whether planned or unplanned settleneit. To a certain extent, his assessment has been influenced by his level of •
11
F i g 1 T h e C o n c e p t : O f L i v a b i l i ^ y
Source Ekistics Nov. 1973
LIVABILITY
12,
education.
INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE
Research into the quality of the residential environment has tak«i many forms (Sanoff - 1970, Shelly - 1969, Cantril -
g
1969) • For the purpose of this study, the approach used werej- 1 -'QLiesticnnaire interview,
2 - (3>servation,
3 - Literature review»
Questionnaire interview
Questionnaire interview was carried out on resid«its at the selected schemes. It was felt that through direct interviews, the questims could be better communicated and residents would be able to express themselves through conversation sought* In fact the conversation led to a very interesting dlscussicxi regarding their satisfactions or dissatisfacticais.
Due to the constrains of man-power and time, quota samp- ling of residsits %«as carried out* It is regarded as an adequate cross<-5ection of population sampled* Eventhough it has its
advantages in term of convoilence and less cost, it still has its disadvantages:
1) unless the interviewers are well trained and reliable, their personal bias in selecting people for an
Interview may affect the sample adversely*
