THE RESIDENTIAL MOBILITY OF THE MALAY MIDDLE CLASS IN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA by RAZALI BIN IBRABIM B.A. (USM); MA. (Planning) (Guelph); Cert. of Regional Development Planning ( Nagoya) A Thesis Submitted to The University of Sheffield for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Town and Regional Planning June 1991 11. ABSTRACT This study seeks to provide an overview of the intra-urban population movement of the Malay ethnic group. It deals specifically with the housing decisions of the Malay middle-class in the context of the rapidly expanding conventional housing market. The study deals with family life-cycle, housing search, housing and locational choice, homeownership, and the spatial outcome of residential mobility. The study examines the factors leading to housing relocation amongst the Malay middle-class households. The aim of the study is to assess the relative importance of household characteristics and socio-cultural factors in determining the residential mobility of the Malay middle-class in Kuala Lumpur. The analysis of the study is based on a survey undertaken by the author in 1989 which examines the factors leading to the households' housing relocation decisions and subsequent adjustments to the new neighbourhood environment. The findings of the study indicate that the desire for homeownership is the paramount reason while the need for more space plays an important supporting role. A large majority of the moving households preferred a mixed-community neighbourhoods, perhaps reflecting the multi-ethnic character of Kuala Lumpur. In addition, many of these households placed a high value on residential areas with positive environmental and neighbourhood attributes. The study concludes that the established residential areas in the Western sector of the city, notably residential areas in Damansara, Bangsar and Taman Tun Dr. Ismail are the most sought-after neighbourhoods. Such neighbourhoods confer not only high socio-economic status, but also high environmental quality attributes. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am deeply indebted to my supervisor, Professor Charles L. Choguill for his suggestions, guidance and comments during the course of my study. I would also like to thank other staff members for their constructive comments, particularly during the research proposal stage and in the preparation of the survey questionnaire. While the entire study is primarily and solely my responsibility, I am indebted to the City Hall of Kuala Lumpur for its assistance. I wish to thank particularly the Lord Mayor of the City Hall of Kuala Luxnpur, Tan Sen Dato' Elyas Haji Omar for allowing me to have access to all departments within the City Hall. I also wish to thank all staff members of the Department of Planning and Building Control for assisting me in obtaining background information and cartographic materials pertaining to the study during my stay in the department. I am also indebted to the Universiti Sains Malaysia for granting me financial assistance and study leave which enable me to undertake the study at the University of Sheffield. I am grateful too, for the services of my wife, Hatipah in typing the manuscript with skill and patience, iv and Haji Ghani Salleh and Ramli Jamaluddin for their assistance in the preparation of graphic materials. Finally, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to all the respondents who gave their generous cooperation in the research efforts during the fieldwork, without which the Btudy would not be possible. I honestly hope that this study will justify the support given. Bin Ibrahim Razali Department of Town and Regional Planning The University of Sheffield Sheffield England June 1991. V CONTENTS Abstract ii Acknowledgements iii-iv Tabl• of Contents v-viii List of Tables ix-x List of Figures xi List of Maps xi List of Appendices xi CHAPTER 1 1-34 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Introduction 1 1.1.1 The Statement of The Problem. 1 1.2 Housing and Residential Mobility 2 1.3 The Empirical Study 3 1.3.1 General Background to The Study Area (Kuala Lumpur City) 3 1.4 Ethnic Composition Changes in Kuala Lumpur 6 1.5 Residential Segregation in Kuala Lumpur 9 1.6 Land Use of Kuala Lumpur 11 1.7 Kuala Lumpur Housing Stock 18 1.8 Conventional Housing Market of Kuala Lumpur - an overview 24 1.9 Organisation of Chapters 32 CHAPTER 2 35-66 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Introduction 35 2.2 Major theories of migration 36 2.3 Intra-urban migration 38 vi 2.4 Factors in residential mobility 41 2.4.1 Life-cycle changes 41 2.4.2 Tenurial change 44 2.4.3 Social and economic bonds 45 2.4.4 Space considerations 46 2.4.5 Increasing income and social status 46 2.5 The "stress-strain" model of residential mobility 49 2.6 Residential satisfaction and the desire for social distancing 53 2.7 Socio-economic differentiation in residential patterning and neighbourhood change 57 2.8 Residential mobility and the process of suburb anisation of the city fringe areas. 60 2.9 Summary and conclusion 65 CHAPTER 3 67-90 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1 Introduction 67 3.2 The research process 67 3.3 A conceptual framework 69 3.3.1 The search for a new residence 72 3.4 The aim and objectives of the study 74 3.4.1 The aim of the study 75 3.4.2 The study objectives 76 3.5 Method of research 78 3.6 Why this study? 81 3.7 Data collection 82 3.7.1 The questionnaire design 82 3.7.2 The sampling design 84 3.8 Method of Analysis 89 3.9 The limitations of the study 89 CHAPTER 4 9 1-112 HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION, FAMILY LIFE—CYCLE AND HOUSING SEARCH 4.1 Introduction 91 4.2 Household Composition. 91 4.3 The Setting Up of A Separate Housing Unit 95 4.4 The Family Life-cycle 96 4.5 The Search for New Housing 98 4.5.1 The Length of Thought Process 98 4.5.2 Number of Dwelling Units Considered or Inspected 101 4.6 The Housing Search in the Spatial Context 106 4.7 Sources of Information Regarding Housing Vacancy and Availability 107 4.8 Summary and Conclusion 110 vii CHAPTER 5 113-132 FACTORS IN MOVING 5.1 Introduction 113 5.2 Reasons for Moving 113 5.2.1 Push Factors 115 5.22 Pull factors 118 5.3 Specific Mobility Factors. 121 5.3.1 Financial Consideration and the Desire for Homeownership 122 5.3.2 Stage in the Family Life-cycle 125 5.4 The Emerging Picture Regarding Moving 130 5.5 Sununaxy and Conclusion 131 CHAPTER 6 133-166 HOUSING AND LOCATIONAL CHOICE 6.1 Introduction 133 6.2 The Length of Stay in Kuala Lumpur City 133 6.3 The Length of Stay in the Present Place of Residence 135 6.4 The Number of Moves and the Distance from Previous Place of Residence, and the Distance to Place of Work 136 6.5 The Dwelling Type 139 6.6 The New Neighbourhood 143 6.7 The Ethnic Mix of the Neighbourhood 149 6.8 Intra-area Sociability 155 6.8.1 Relatives 155 6.8.2 Ciose friends 157 6.9 Home Purchasing and Source of Finance 158 6.9.1 Year of Purchase and the Purchase Price 158 6.9.2 Source of Finance 163 6.10 Summary and Conclusion 164 CHAPTER 7 167-200 WHAT RESPONDENTS THINK AND WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO 7.1 Introduction 167 7.2 Considerations in the Choice of Present Place of Residence 167 7.3 Comparison Between the Present and Previous Place of Residence 169 7.4 The Respondents' General Remarks Regarding Their New Homes and Neighbourhoods 172 7.5 Feelings About the New Housing Environment: Expectations and Reality 176 7.5.1 Feelings About the New Home 176 7.5.2 Feelings About the New Neighbourhood 182 7.6 Preferred Dwelling Type and Residential Location 189 7.6.1 Preferred Dwelling Type 190 7.6.2 Preferred Neighbourhood - Community Composition 191 7.6.3 Preferred Neighbourhood - Socio-economic Status 192 7.6.4 Most Preferred Residential Location 193 7.7 Future Mobility Intentions 196 7.8 Summary and Conclusion 200 viii CHAPTER 8 HOMEOWNERSHIP 20 1-236 8.1 Introduction 201 8.2 Rental Housing 203 8.3 The Move From Rental to Owner-occupied Housing 208 8.3.1 Desire for Homeownership Among the Renters 209 8.3.2 Willingness to Attain Homeownership 211 8.4 Factors Contributing to the Popularity of Owner-occupation as the Preferred Tenure 216 8.4.1 Cultural Factors and Homeownership 217 8.4.2 Economic Rationality - Home Purchasing as an Investment 219 8.4.3 Factors Contributing to the Popularity of Owner-occupation as the Desired Tenure 226 8.4.4 Desire for Social Distancing 228 8.5 Homeownership and Accumulation of Capital 229 8.6 Conclusion 234 CHAPTER 9 237-260 9.1 Introduction 237 9.2 Stayers and Movers 238 9.3 Malay Suburbanisation and Social Integration 241 9.4 A Tendency Towards Segregation and An Attempt Towards Social Integration 245 9.5 Spatial Outcome of Residential Mobility of the Malay Middle Class 249 9.6 Residential Mobility and Kuala Lumpur Urban Structure 255 9.7 Summary and Conclusion 259 CHAPTER 10 261-290 SU)*(ARY AND CONCLUSION 10.1 Introduction 261 10.2 A Summary of the Discussion 261 10.3 The Summary of the Findings. 265 10.4 Metropolitan Change and Aggregate Residential Mobility Patterns 284 10.5 Suggestions for Further Research on Residential Mobility in ICuala Lumpur city 287 10.6 A Summing up 288 BIBLIOGRAPHY 291-303 APPENDIX A 304-315 APPENDIX B 316-322 ix List of Tables 1.1 Population growth of Kuala Lumpur, 1857-2000.