Evolving Paradigms in Regional Development in Malaysia

Abstract

In seeking to foster economic growth, policy-makers in Malaysia have also had to grapple conceptually and operationally with how best to deal with differing income levels in different parts of the country. In addition, this challenge has changed in nature over time, in line with the country’s increasing wealth and urbanization, and as understandings of what regional development is and how it should be pursued have evolved. Over the decades, approaches have shifted away from a sole focus on rural development and an aspatial approach to regional development towards a greater emphasis on urbanization and a deeper understanding of the relationship between location and economic growth. Basing itself on the analysis of central government planning documents and budgetary allocations, this article will look at the evolution of regional development policy in Malaysia. In so doing, it will analyse what Malaysian policy-makers have understood regional development to be, how they have sought to approach it, what resources they have spent on this issue, and how the government has been structured to tackle it.