ENVIRONMENTAL DECAY AND THE URBAN POOR IN SOUTHEAST ASIA: A STUDY OF THE KLANG RIVER

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Khairulmaini Osman Salleh
Fauza AB Ghaffar

Abstract

Urbanization and urban growth have contributed significantly to the rapid transformation of the Malaysian economy.  The rate and manner by which growth is taking place have caused tremendous stress on the environment thus affecting the well-being of the urban dweller. These stresses affect the living comforts and health profiles of the urban dweller and are most severely felt by the urban poor communities. The urban poor, normally found in marginal areas are generally squatter settlements within the urban areas. They are usually located on unoccupied government lands such as along river and railway corridors, which apart from their overcrowded nature are in general, hazard-prone areas. The paper examines the impacts of urban growth and the emerging problems of environmental deterioration within the Klang River Basin. It specifically attempts to examine the relationships between environmental decay and the urban poor.  The discussion was based on an extensive social impact study carried out at various squatter settlements located in the Klang River Basin.   

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