Urbanization and Urban Migrants in Malaysia
24-10-2012 Urbanization and Urban Migrants in Malaysia : A Comparative Study between Chinese and Malays
Speaker
Professor Zhang Jijiao
Date Time
24 Oct 2012 14:00 PM - 24 Oct 2012 17:00 PM
Venue
Bilik Mesyuarat Dekan II, FSSS, University of Malaya
Language
English
Migration is now an essential component of economic and social life in Asia. Research shows that the number of Asian migrants has increased from 28.1 million in 1970 to 43.8 million in 2000 (IMO, 2004). Recently, a strong return movement has emerged, not only to Hong Kong, but also to mainland China, India and other Asian countries. Such trends are due to economic opportunities in the homeland, combined with increased dissatisfaction experienced in their adopted countries. The effect of movements of these skilled and unskilled migrants on the sending and receiving countries of Asia, as well as their personal sense identity, belonging and social cohesion, are pertinent issues which merit discussion.
Prof. Zhang’s work centres on two projects carried out by him, namely:
(1) A research project on Migrant Urban Adaptation in Malaysia -- A Comparative Study between Chinese and Malay in 2005, financially supported by the Asian Scholarship Foundation (ASF).
(2) A research project on Urban Migrants in Asia: A Comparative Study among China, Malaysia and South Korea in 2006, financially supported by the Center for Asia Research, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
His research, which employed both quantitative and qualitative methods, focused on the current status of urban Chinese occupations and business development. Analyzing the differences between Chinese urban migrants and Malay urban migrants, it was found that Malay urban migrants gained more development and policy support in terms of working opportunities compared to their Chinese counterparts due to the NEP and NDP in the past three decades by a differential of 19.14%. While they made up only 28% of the urban population in 1970, the total percentage of Malay migrant shares escalated to 50% by 2000. Meanwhile, Chinese migrant shares declined from about 59% of the overall urban population in 1970 to 34% in 2000 (DOS 2000). Meanwhile, the yields in qualitative data indicated that the percentage of Malay urban migrants’ satisfaction is higher compared to that of Chinese.
Prof. Zhang’s presentation pointed out that the ratio of Chinese population in urban areas has been on the decline since 1970s. One reason for this was due to two government policies (DEB and DPN) that encouraged indigenous people and the Malays to migrate to urban areas. In my view, this is the government’s solution to equal economic distribution in Malaysia.
According to Prof. Zhang, studying the implications of these policies on urban economic and social spheres is important in helping to achieve an effective restructuring the urban economic and social structure. To me, fairness can only be achieved if there is equality of opportunity for all citizens in the country.
Summarized by Yip Zhen Hao (zhenhao_88@hotmail.com)
