Page 158 - IJPS-11-6

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

local job creation to reduce urban migration pressures. 4.3. Working age group (20 – 59 years)
At the same time, urban policies should expand low- The responsive urban poverty framework takes a
skilled employment opportunities and strengthen social comprehensive approach by integrating government
protection for vulnerable populations.
initiatives with collaborative partnerships involving
A key strength of the framework lies in its integrated private sectors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
structure, which combines economic empowerment with and community-based efforts. While government
social and health support mechanisms. Beyond short- financial assistance provides immediate relief, sustainable
term measures such as cash assistance, it promotes long- development depends on the active involvement of
term resilience through capacity-building initiatives the private sector, especially in vocational training and
like vocational training. The inclusion of public–private entrepreneurship support. NGOs, in turn, contribute
partnerships enhances sustainability, while support for significantly through the provision of social services
social entrepreneurship and digital innovation introduces such as healthcare, education, and food aid, thereby
novel pathways to tackle urban poverty. strengthening the overall support ecosystem for the urban
Nonetheless, the framework’s success depends on B40 community.
consistent government commitment and meaningful To address the risk of rural-urban migration that may
collaboration with the private sector. In resource- result from an expansion of urban social services, the
constrained environments, the scale-up of programs framework promotes rural economic development to
such as entrepreneurship training may face logistical and reduce migration push factors. This includes initiatives
financial limitations. Moreover, alignment with private such as rural job creation, improved access to education,
sector goals may not always be guaranteed, highlighting and infrastructure development, which help balance
the need for institutional coordination and adaptive opportunities across regions. A dual emphasis on urban
implementation strategies.
resilience and rural empowerment ensures that efforts to
4.2. Theoretical contribution reduce urban poverty are not undermined by excessive
migration into cities.
This study contributes to the literature on urban poverty
by proposing a responsive framework that integrates The majority of respondents in this study, specifically
both structural conditions and individual-level factors. those aged 20 – 59 and categorized in the working age
Departing from conventional state-centric models, the group, constitute a significant portion of the urban
framework emphasizes collaborative partnerships, rural- B40 population in PPR Kerinchi. Figure 2 presents the
urban linkages, and a holistic understanding of poverty. It framework tailored to this group, organized into five main
synthesizes employment trends, migration drivers, and the components: education and training, employment and
role of safety nets to inform a more contextually grounded business, access to health and social services, effective
theory of urban poverty. financial assistance, and the involvement of NGOs,
The framework advances previous models by agencies, individuals, and foundations.
incorporating migration-related push-and-pull dynamics In terms of education and training, the framework
that influence urban poverty patterns. It also integrates supports inclusive education programs and skills
emerging approaches, such as social entrepreneurship development that include online learning, vocational
programs and digital health interventions, which are not education, and lifelong learning opportunities. It also
commonly addressed in traditional poverty alleviation encourages collaboration with industries to ensure
models. These elements enrich the theoretical discourse that the training provided matches current market
by highlighting practical, scalable strategies that reflect the needs. Government initiatives such as the RM 6.7
real-world complexities of urban poverty in Malaysia. billion technical and vocational education and training
Focusing on the working age B40 population, the allocation under Budget 2023, the MySTEP employment
next section examines the framework’s application to this program, and MyDigitalMaker, a partnership with
economically active group. This segment holds the potential technology companies like Microsoft, play an important
to drive socioeconomic progress if provided with adequate role in equipping B40 youth with digital and industry-
training, employment access, and entrepreneurial support. relevant skills. Future expansions may focus on advanced
By investing in long-term capacity-building and reducing technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data,
dependency, the framework aligns with the overarching and automation through the continuous skills training
objectives of inclusive growth and sustainable poverty initiative, enabling the B40 group to remain competitive
reduction. in a rapidly changing job market.

Volume 11 Issue 6 (2025) 152 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.6558