DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES IN MALAYSIA

Authors

  • Hanan Elsawahli Center for Sustainable Urban Planning & Real Estate Faculty of Built Environment UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA
  • Faizah Ahmad Center for Sustainable Urban Planning & Real Estate Faculty of Built Environment UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA
  • Azlan Shah Ali Center for Building, Construction & Tropical Architecture Faculty of Built Environment UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v14i5.191

Keywords:

Demographic transition, aging population, policy framework, active aging

Abstract

As a developing country, Malaysia is undergoing a demographic transition from a high fertility and mortality rural society towards an industrialised society with low fertility and mortality rates. This transition involved an increased growth rate of elderly population. The number of elderly has risen from 1.4 million in 2000 to 2.1 million in 2010 and is projected to be 3.4 million by 2020. A population aging needs to accumulate assets in order to achieve sustainable development goals. This represents the main challenge to planners and policy makers in terms of designing aged-friendly neighbourhoods to meet the elderly needs. This paper aims to review the population aging trends and policy framework available for the elderly in Malaysia. The paper further discusses the sustainable neighbourhoods related to active aging. The paper concludes by identifying fundamental gaps in both knowledge and policy associated with planning for the aging population and successful aging.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Bengtson, V. L., Gans, D., Putney, N. & Silverstein, M. (2009). Handbook of theories of aging (2nd Edition). New York, NY: Springer.

Chan, J., To, H.-p. & Chan, E. (2006). Reconsidering social cohesion: developing a definition and analytical framework for empirical research. Social Indicators Research, 75, 273-302.

Crawford, J. (2010). Health at the heart of spatial planning. Planning Theory & Practice, 11(1), 91-113.

Dill, J., Neal, M., Shandas, V., Luhur, G., Adkins, A. & Lund, D. (2010). Demonstrating the Benefits of Green Streets for Active Aging: Final Report to EPA. Portland, OR: Centre of Urban Studies, Portland State University.

Dumbaugh, E. (2008). Designing communities to enhance the safety and mobility of older adults: a universal approach. Journal of Planning Literature, 23(1), 17-36.

Gardner, P. J. (2011). Natural neighborhood networks — important social networks in the lives of older adults aging in place. Journal of Aging Studies, 25, 263-271.

Handy, S. L., Cao, X. & Mokhtarian, P. L. (2008). The casual influence of neighbourhood design on physical activity within the neighbourhood: evidence from Northern California. American Journal of Health Promotion, 22(5), 350-358.

Jacobs, J. (1961). The Death & Life of Great American Cities. New York: Random House, New York.

Kaczynski, A. T., Potwarka, L. R., Brian, E. & Saelens, B. E. (2008). Innovations in design and analysis: association of park size, distance, and features with physical activity in neighborhood parks. American Journal of Public Health, 98(8), 1451-1456.

Li, F., Fisher, K. J., Bauman, A., Ory, M. G., Chodzko-Zajko, W. & Harmer, P. et al. (2005).

Neighbourhood influences on physical activity in middle-aged and older adults: a multilevel perspective. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 13(1), 87-114.

Mendes de Leon, C.F., Lagney, K.A., Biericas, J.L., Barnes, L.L., Skarupski, K.A., Scherr, P.A. & Evans, D.A. (2009). Neighbourhood social cohesion and disorder in relation to walking in community-dwelling older adults: a multi-level analysis. Aging Health, 21(1), 155-171.

Michael, Y. L., Green, M. K. & Farquhar, S. A. (2006). Neighborhood design and active aging. Health & Place, 12(4), 734-740.

Rohe, W. M. (2009). From local to global: one hundred years of neighbourhood planning. Journal of the American Planning Association, 75(2), 209-230.

Satariano, W. A. (2010). Lower-body function, neighbourhoods, and walking in an older population. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 38, 419-428.

Sulaiman, N., Baldry, D. & Ruddock, L. (2006). Issues concerning housing for the elderly in Malaysia. Paper presented at the 6th International Postgraduate Research Conference. April 6-7, 2006, Delft University of Technology.

The Economic Planning Unit (2010). Tenth Malaysia Plan 2011-2015. Putrajaya: Prime Minister’s Department. https://www.pmo.gov.my/dokumenattached/RMK/ RMK10_Eds.pdf.

Valuation and Property Services Department (2010). Malaysia House Price Index (2007-Q1 2011). Retrieved 25th October, 2011.

Downloads

Published

2016-11-10

How to Cite

Elsawahli, H., Ahmad, F., & Ali, A. S. (2016). DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES IN MALAYSIA. PLANNING MALAYSIA, 14(5). https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v14i5.191