Page 155 - IJPS-11-6

International Journal of
Population Studies Urban poverty framework for B40 in Malaysia

3.2. Socioeconomic profile of the B40 group in In addition, another 25.7% of respondents were
urban areas between 60 and 79 years old, which shows that strong
The study’s findings reveal the socioeconomic profile of social and financial support is important for this group.
respondents in PPR Kerinchi, as summarized in Table 1. This also shows the need for a long-term strategy that
By analyzing data from 334 respondents with diverse includes educational support and vocational training for
demographic backgrounds, the study provides a detailed the productive, as well as financial support and preparatory
understanding of the key challenges confronting the B40 programs for their non-productive phase.
group in urban areas. In terms of gender, this study found an equal balance

Table 1 shows that 57.2% of the respondents are in between men and women, with 167 respondents each
the productive age group of 40 – 59 years, which is the (50.0%). This balance suggests that economic challenges in
primary workforce in the family and also a group that the city affect both genders equally.
requires special attention. This is due to the fact that Marital status also provides an important insight into
this group is set to transition into the senior phase in household composition, of which 66.8% of respondents
the coming years, underscoring the importance of are married individuals. This shows that most of the
developing an early preparation strategy. In addition to households in PPR Kerinchi are families, who face
supporting their families on limited income, they also significant challenges in supporting their dependents.
need to plan financially for retirement and the future From the ethnic aspect, the study shows that urban
(Halim, 2023). Emphasis on this age group is crucial to poverty involves various races, with 76.9% of respondents
ensure that they are able to increase their income during consisting of Malay ethnicity, followed by 21.6% of Indian
their productive period and have sufficient savings and ethnicity and 1.2% of Chinese ethnicity. These data
the necessary support when they enter old age (Sabri illustrate that the issue of urban poverty transcends ethnic
et al., 2023).
boundaries and requires an inclusive approach.
In addition to the demographic profile, further
Table 1. Demographic profile of heads of households in
Projek Perumahan Rakyat Kerinchi, Kuala Lumpur analysis was conducted to examine the employment and
income stability patterns among different groups. Table 2
Profile Frequency (n) Percentage highlights the cross-tabulation of employment status by
Age age group, providing insights into the economic activities
20 – 39 years 55 16.5 of the respondents.
40 – 59 years 191 57.2 The data in Table 2 show that the 40 – 59-year age
60 – 79 years 86 25.7 group has the highest employment rate (60.5%), reflecting
80 years and above 2 0.6 their role as the primary workforce within households.
Gender In contrast, the 60+ years group exhibits the lowest
employment rate (4.5%), emphasizing the need for
Male 167 50.0
financial and social support as this group transitions into
Female 167 50.0 retirement. Unemployment is notably high among the
Marital status 20 – 39-year group (40%), highlighting challenges faced
Married 233 66.8 by younger individuals in securing stable employment.
Single 18 5.4 These findings underscore the importance of targeted
Widower 8 2.4 interventions, such as skills training for younger groups
Divorcee 67 20.1 and financial planning support for older groups, as outlined
in the responsive urban poverty framework. To further
Others (single 18 5.4 examine the association between employment status and
parents/widowed) age group, a Chi-square test was conducted (Table 3).
Ethnicity
Malay 257 76.9 Table 3 shows a statistically significant relationship
(χ² = 15.93, degree of freedom = 4, p=0.0031),
Chinese 4 1.2
indicating that employment patterns vary meaningfully
Indian 72 21.6 across different age categories. Younger respondents
Others (e.g., Sikh) 1 0.3 (20 – 39 years) were more likely to be unemployed or part-
Total 334 100.0 time employed, reflecting precarious job opportunities.
Source: Field study, 2023. In contrast, the older group (60+ years) showed a higher

Volume 11 Issue 6 (2025) 149 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.6558