What is urbanisation?
Urbanisation is the process by which the proportion of a country's population living in towns and cities rises over time. In Malaysia the level of urbanisation climbed from around 27% in 1970 to over 75% today, driven mainly by rural-urban migration and the growth of industry and services in centres such as Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Penang.
Key idea
A settlement is usually classed as urban in Malaysia when its population reaches 10,000 or more, with most workers in non-agricultural jobs.
Why people move to cities
Migration is shaped by push factors that drive people away from rural areas and pull factors that attract them to towns.
- Push: low farm incomes, few jobs, limited schooling and health care, and land shortages in villages.
- Pull: more job openings in factories and offices, higher wages, better schools, hospitals and entertainment.
Example
A young worker leaves a padi-farming village in Kedah for the Klang Valley to take a factory or retail job that pays a steady monthly wage.
Effects of urbanisation
Rapid urban growth brings both benefits and problems. Cities offer wider job choice, better services and stronger economic activity. However, uncontrolled growth causes traffic congestion, air and water pollution, squatter settlements, higher living costs and the loss of green space to concrete surfaces, which can worsen flash floods and the urban heat island effect.
Remember
- Urbanisation = rising share of people living in towns/cities.
- Rural-urban migration is the main cause in Malaysia.
- Push factors repel; pull factors attract.
- Managed by planning, affordable housing and public transport.