Migrants’ Settlement in Malaysia: Nurturing Sustainable Urban Development through Housing Rights

Sohaimi, Nor Suzylah; Mohd Arshad, Mohd Ramlan; Ajis, Mohd Na’em; Jasni, Mohd Alif

doi:10.22146/ijg.94060

Open access Journal SINTA 1

Migrants’ Settlement in Malaysia: Nurturing Sustainable Urban Development through Housing Rights

Indonesian Journal of Geography · Vol. 57 No. 1 (2025) · pp. 61–69

DOI: 10.22146/ijg.94060
ISSN: 2354-9114, 0024-9521
Published: 2025-04-27
Publisher: Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Language: eng
License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0

Abstract

Aspects of adequate housing encompass affordability, habitability, accessibility, location, cultural appropriateness, and accessibility of resources such as services, materials, utilities, and infrastructure. Migrant settlement and housing issues in Malaysia have been a persistent problem for many years. Numerous migrants are compelled to live in cramped and unsafe circumstances due to various factors, including a lack of living space, inadequate government policies, and social stigma. Surprisingly, the housing aspect of integrating regular migrants has received little focus than other integration efforts. Both locals and migrants are impacted by this apathy and vulnerability. Key guiding principles that support the right to a reasonable standard of living, which includes sufficient housing, are found in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Therefore, this article aims to explore the issues and challenges of migrants’ settlement in Malaysia’s urban area and propose suggestions to reduce the settlement issue among migrants. Correspondingly, this study employed a qualitative methodology that combined a thorough literature review with semi-structured interviews and subsequent thematic analysis. The findings show that uncomfortable living conditions for locals and overcrowding are major issues in migrant settlements. Five strategies are suggested to address these issues: creating housing cooperatives and modular dwellings; transforming emergency housing into long-term solutions; and reusing accessible derelict buildings.Received:2024-02-13 Revised:2024-02-23 Accepted: 2025-04-14 Published: 2025-04-27 Play This Podcast Article

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

15 authors · 36 co-authorship links · 5 across different organisations

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University of Mataram
Universiti Utara Malaysia
Affiliation unknown

Different organisations
Same organisation
Affiliation unknown
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Co-author	Organisation	Joint articles
Mega Nisfa Makhroja	University of Mataram	2
Zulkarnain Zulkarnain	University of Mataram	1
Sirwan Yazid Bustami	University of Mataram	1
Heavy Nala Estriani	University of Mataram	1
Noralia Claudea	University of Mataram	1
Fauziah Ibrahim	Affiliation unknown	1
Mohammad Rahim Kamaluddin	Affiliation unknown	1
Nazirah Hassan	Affiliation unknown	1
Ahmad Zuhairi	Affiliation unknown	1
Nur Syakiran Akmal Ismail	Affiliation unknown	1
Norhanizan Sahib	Affiliation unknown	1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) http://jurnal.ugm.ac.id/ijg/oai, first harvested 8 Nov 2026, last seen 8 Nov 2026.

Original metadata (oai_dc)

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	<dc:title xml:lang="en-US">Migrants’ Settlement in Malaysia: Nurturing Sustainable Urban Development through Housing Rights</dc:title>
	<dc:creator>Sohaimi, Nor Suzylah</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Mohd Arshad, Mohd Ramlan</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Ajis, Mohd Na’em</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator>Jasni, Mohd Alif</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Geography, Planning, Urban Studies</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Adequate housing; Sustainable development; Migrants; Urban planning; Social Impact</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en-US">Housing</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en-US">Aspects of adequate housing encompass affordability, habitability, accessibility, location, cultural appropriateness, and accessibility of resources such as services, materials, utilities, and infrastructure. Migrant settlement and housing issues in Malaysia have been a persistent problem for many years. Numerous migrants are compelled to live in cramped and unsafe circumstances due to various factors, including a lack of living space, inadequate government policies, and social stigma. Surprisingly, the housing aspect of integrating regular migrants has received little focus than other integration efforts. Both locals and migrants are impacted by this apathy and vulnerability. Key guiding principles that support the right to a reasonable standard of living, which includes sufficient housing, are found in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Therefore, this article aims to explore the issues and challenges of migrants’ settlement in Malaysia’s urban area and propose suggestions to reduce the settlement issue among migrants. Correspondingly, this study employed a qualitative methodology that combined a thorough literature review with semi-structured interviews and subsequent thematic analysis. The findings show that uncomfortable living conditions for locals and overcrowding are major issues in migrant settlements. Five strategies are suggested to address these issues: creating housing cooperatives and modular dwellings; transforming emergency housing into long-term solutions; and reusing accessible derelict buildings.Received:2024-02-13 Revised:2024-02-23 Accepted:  2025-04-14 Published: 2025-04-27  Play This Podcast Article </dc:description>
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	<dc:date>2025-04-27</dc:date>
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	<dc:type xml:lang="en-US">Peer-reviewed Article</dc:type>
	<dc:type xml:lang="en-US">Qualitative research design, literature review &amp; semi-structured interviews, Thematic analysis.</dc:type>
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	<dc:identifier>https://journal.ugm.ac.id/ijg/article/view/94060</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.22146/ijg.94060</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en-US">Indonesian Journal of Geography; Vol 57, No 1 (2025): Indonesian Journal of Geography; 61-69</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2354-9114</dc:source>
	<dc:source>0024-9521</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
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	<dc:relation>https://journal.ugm.ac.id/ijg/article/downloadSuppFile/94060/31678</dc:relation>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.ugm.ac.id/ijg/article/downloadSuppFile/94060/31679</dc:relation>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.ugm.ac.id/ijg/article/downloadSuppFile/94060/31680</dc:relation>
	<dc:coverage xml:lang="en-US">Southeast Asia</dc:coverage>
	<dc:coverage xml:lang="en-US"></dc:coverage>
	<dc:coverage xml:lang="en-US">Purposive sampling.</dc:coverage>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en-US">Copyright (c) 2025 Authors</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en-US">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0</dc:rights>
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