Modes of Housing Provision in Malaysia

Housing provision involves a physical process of creating and transferring a dwelling to its occupiers, its subsequent use and physical reproduction and, at the same time, a social process dominated by the economic interest involved. Since the colonial administration until the Eight Malaysia Plan 2001-2005 assorted modes of housing provision in Malaysia have emerged due to the changing of housing policies. However, comprehensive housing policies implemented by Malaysian government for over 50 years were focusing more on the formal or conventional housing provision. This paper will review the modes of housing provision in Malaysia since the colonial administration until the Eighth Malaysia Plan. It will emphasize the formal modes of housing provision in Malaysia provided by public and private sector developers. Roles and achievements of public and private sector developers during this period will also be described further. These housing policies have been reviewed to sketch out modes of housing provision in Malaysia during this particular period. Due to the compatibility of housing provision with various situations and wider societal processes, this paper proposes a strategy for the provision of formal modes of housing provision in Malaysia.