Published: Monday November 9, 2009 MYT 3:23:00 PM
2020 likely to see 75% of Malaysians living in cities
KUALA LUMPUR: By the year 2020, three out of four Malaysians will be living in cities.
Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said Monday that despite the government’s effort to slow the rural-urban migration, 75 percent of the population was expected to be living in urban areas by 2020.
Urbanisation had risen from 55.1 percent in 1995 to 61.8 percent in 2000 and now stood at 62 percent.
"The growing population in cities creates numerous challenges for the government like congestion, environmental pollution, uncertain economy, overcrowding, lack of infrastructure and demand for extra housing schemes," he said after opening Habitat Day and World Town Planning Day here.
To cater for the increasing demand for houses, the government continued to carry out various housing schemes, including low cost houses, housing schemes for the poor and those who live in squatters, he said.
The government also sets up industrial parks in rural areas to provide job opportunities for the rural folks so as to prevent them from migrating to the cities, he said.
"The government's master plan for big cities does not only involve measures to curb crime but also takes into account congestion and traffic jams due the expected increase in population," he said. - Bernama
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