Page 161 - IJPS-11-6

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

citizen community housing scheme in urban areas would 5. Conclusion
not only provide affordable housing but also integrate
healthcare facilities, recreational areas, and community- This study contributes to the existing discourse on urban
based support services. Such arrangements are essential to poverty by introducing a responsive framework that
addresses the socioeconomic vulnerabilities of the B40
ensure that older adults remain active, healthy, and socially group in Malaysia. Unlike conventional approaches, this
connected.
framework integrates both immediate relief and long-term
Finally, social protection for the elderly must address structural strategies to promote sustainable well-being
issues of inadequate retirement savings and insecurity. among urban poor households.
Programs such as the senior citizen house guarding scheme The framework distinguishes between the needs of the
and the provision of insurance tailored to seniors’ needs can working age group and the post-working age group. For the
help enhance safety and financial resilience. Coordination working age population, interventions emphasize vocational
with foundations, NGOs, and public agencies ensures that training, entrepreneurship support, and employment access
these services reach the intended population. Developing a facilitated through public–private collaborations. For the
centralized digital platform to manage and distribute these post-working age population, the framework prioritizes
services could streamline delivery and increase accessibility. healthcare, social safety nets, and financial assistance
4.5. Strengths and limitations of the study schemes to ensure dignified living conditions.
This study offers several strengths, notably its systematic Empirical findings from this study highlight the urgent
and focused design to assess urban poverty within the need to address employment instability, insufficient savings,
specific context of PPR Kerinchi, Kuala Lumpur. The and low-income levels. Initiatives such as the continuous
skills training program and the digital health center program
use of Slovin’s formula for sampling allowed adequate serve as forward-looking recommendations that equip the
representation with a 5% margin of error. In addition, B40 group to navigate the evolving urban economy.
the structured and validated questionnaire enhanced the
reliability of the data, capturing a wide range of indicators At the theoretical level, this study bridges the gap
related to urban poverty, such as socioeconomic status, between structural and individual-level perspectives
employment conditions, and access to services. by proposing a holistic, adaptable, and inclusive urban
poverty response model. It expands the literature by
The strength of the study also lies in its robust data proposing scalable, targeted interventions that align with
collection method. Face-to-face interviews conducted by national development goals while remaining sensitive to
trained enumerators ensured accuracy and minimized the diverse needs of urban communities.
misunderstandings. The data were analyzed using SPSS
software, enabling the identification of statistically Moving forward, policy interventions must focus
significant patterns and relationships across key variables. on expanding access to inclusive education, upskilling
initiatives, and balanced regional development to reduce
Despite these strengths, the study also presents several migration pressures. Collaborative efforts involving
limitations. First, Slovin’s formula does not incorporate government, private sector, and community-based
statistical power considerations, which may affect the organizations are essential to ensure that urban poverty
precision and generalizability of the findings. Future studies is addressed not only through aid but also through
may consider using statistical software such as G*Power empowerment, resilience, and sustainable livelihoods.
to enhance sampling rigor. Second, reliance on self-
reported data may result in biases such as overreporting Acknowledgments
or underreporting due to social desirability. Third, the The authors would like to thank the Ministry of Higher
cross-sectional design limits the ability to infer causal Education Malaysia for supporting this research under
relationships or track changes over time. A longitudinal the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) [Grant
study would be more effective in understanding the number: FRGS/1/2022/SS0/USM/02/25].
evolving nature of urban poverty.

Finally, although the responsive urban poverty Funding
framework introduced in this study presents useful This research is supported by the Ministry of Higher
strategies, its implementation may require adaptation to Education Malaysia through the FRGS, project title
suit different urban settings. Therefore, future research “Pembinaan Kerangka Asas Baharu Kemiskinan Bandar
should test the scalability and relevance of the framework Kumpulan B40 di Pulau Pinang dan Kuala Lumpur,”
in varied urban environments. [Grant number: FRGS/1/2022/SS0/USM/02/25].

Volume 11 Issue 6 (2025) 155 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.6558