Introducción al proceso de análisis DWT-MRA

The Malaysian housing policy has developed since its independence from the British in 1957, with some colonial influence such as providing public housing for the poor and quarters for the civil servants (Salfarina et al., 2011; Shuid, 2010). The need for formal housing programmes in Malaysia

was, however, recognised as early as 1946 during the colonial British administration (Thiah, 2003). In an effort to reduce slum and squatter settlements, and meet the basic housing need of all Malaysians, particularly for the low-income groups, the government introduced housing policies and programmes to ensure that all had access to adequate housing. Housing policies and programmes in Malaysia henceforth evolved over the years to accommodate dynamic housing issues at a particular period.

Even in the absence of a housing policy, Malaysia‘s national development plans provided an explicit sense of direction for development in the country, including housing programmes. According to Hussain (2007), national development in Malaysia has its origins in the first Five-Year Development Plan which was introduced in 1955. Since then, nine development plans have been implemented, each with objectives consistent with the changing requirements of the Malaysian socio-political-economic situation. The plan (Malaysia Plan) is a deliberate, comprehensive and time-specific effort, initiated and sustained by the central government for the purpose of creating and maintaining conditions that will accelerate economic growth and social development in the country. In the first two decades since independence social services and infrastructural network development were the main thrusts of the socio-economic development programme.

In each of these National Development plans, starting in 1955, the Government of Malaysia outlined the housing policies and programmes in each plan; for example, the goal to eradicate poverty as outlined in the second Malaysia Plan was to be achieved through a number of measures that included providing a wide range of free or subsidised social services such as public housing projects, amongst other services (Hussain (2007). In the country‘s first five-year National Development Plan, namely the First Malaysian Plan of 1966 to 1970, the government committed itself to providing low-cost housing. The emphasis was on increasing housing ownership, especially affordable housing as a basic social need. It was only during the Second Malaysian Plan of 1971 to 1975 where the government invited the private sector to be involved after realising the need and importance of the role of the private sector in ensuring an adequate supply of low-cost housing. Even during the involvement of the private sector, government provided most affordable houses through its public housing programmes (Tan, 2011; Idrus & Chin Siong, 2008; Salfarina et al., 2011).

Malaysia‘s housing goal changed in the Third Malaysian Plan (1976–1980) to focus on the eradication of poverty and the restructuring of the society. In the Fourth Malaysian Plan (1981–1985) the goal became the continuation of the goals of the previous five-year plans. Housing programmes started being implemented in the context of the human settlement concept during the Fifth Malaysian Plan (1986–1990), which emphasises the provision of social facilities, such as schools, clinics, and community halls, rather than the provision of basic infrastructural facilities only. In the Sixth Malaysian Plan (1991–1995), home ownership within various income groups was emphasised (Tan

Tech-Hong, 2011). As indicated above, during the past six Malaysian Plans, housing policies and programmes focused mainly on the provision of low-cost houses and, consequently a shortage of medium-cost houses in the housing markets existed. This prompted the government to add to its programmes the provision of low- to medium-cost housing during the Seventh Malaysian Plan (1996–

2000), in its endeavour to ensure the provision of adequate, affordable and quality housing for all.

This approach continued during the Eighth Malaysian Plan (2001–2005) and the Ninth Malaysian Plan (2006–2010).

In this approach both the public and the private sector were encouraged to co-operate with each other in order to meet the increasing demand for housing, where the private sector would provide more low- and medium-cost housing in mixed-development projects, while the public sector concentrated on providing low-cost housing and houses for public sector employees, the disadvantaged and the poor in both the urban and rural areas (Tan, 2011; Idrus & Chin Siong, 2008; Salfarina et al., 2011). Table 5.3 depicts the Malaysia Plans and the housing focus in each plan as described above.

Table 5.3: Government policies and approaches from Colonial era to the Tenth Malaysian Plan

Year Policy Emphasis on housing policy

1948–1960 Colonial period  Need for formal housing programmes recognised for the first time

1961–1965 Second Malaysian Plan  Housing Trust established in 1950 to carry out the construction of low-cost housing in the country and operational in 1962 marking the beginning of government direct intervention in the construction of low-cost housing

 Focus on quarters for government officials.

1966–1970 First Malaysian Plan  Commitment towards low-cost housing

 Provision of public housing.

1976–1980 Third Malaysian Plan  National Housing Council established in 1980

 Low-cost housing, Felda, quarters human settlement concept with relevant infrastructure and public amenities for public unity.

Year Policy Emphasis on housing policy

1991–1995 Sixth Malaysia Plan  Home ownership within various income groups is emphasised

 Provision of adequate, affordable and quality housing for all

 Low- and low- medium cost housing continues to be a priority.

 Public and private sectors urged to co-operate with each to meet increasing demand for housing as follows:

 Government to focus on Low-cost housing, and

 Private sector to focus on low-to medium-, medium- and high-cost housing. sector employees, the disadvantaged and the poor in urban and rural areas.

2011–2015 Tenth Malaysian Plan  Provision of adequate housing, and ensuring a safe, healthy and harmonious living environment equipped with complete public amenities and quality recreational facilities.

 Provision of houses for sale or rent

 Suitability of locations for housing emphasised

 38,950 housing units under the People‘s Housing Programme (PHP) and 39,050 rural housing units

 Use of environmental friendly development and housing concepts, as well as the use of new technology and new innovations in the housing sector.

Source: Researcher‘s own literature review