Page 84 - IJPS-9-2

International Journal of
Population Studies Development service in East Malaysia Suburban

economic development context (Berry & Okulicz-Kozaryn, 4 Malays, 2 Ibans, and 2 Bidayuhs), age groups, and
2009). The economic differentials tend to disappear occupations. The interviews were conducted online
when the economic development advances (Easterlin through Google Meet and WhatsApp. The major questions
et al., 2016). In other words, rural-urban differentials are used in the interviews were: Are you happy staying in
remarkably consistent with regard to the level of economic Batu Kawa and why? What are the challenges or problems
development. In the study by Shucksmith et al. (2009), a you are facing? Do you think you have a happy family
higher subjective well-being was also found among rural and why do you say so? How can your family be happier?
dwellers in the richer countries, while lower subjective well- What can you do to make your family happier? The data
being was experienced among rural dwellers in the poorer collected from the qualitative interviews were content
countries of the EU. Sasaki (2018) found that the urban analyzed, and the socioeconomic service dimensions or
Japanese who recently move to rural area tend to report items were identified. Besides, the researchers also went
higher subjective well-being. Environmental conditions to the suburban areas to personally see, understand,
(e.g., friendly and trusted neighborhood) influence social and experience the socioeconomic development, and
well-being. It is hence clear that well-being and happiness environment services rendered there. Several social
for people living in urban or rural area could be different economic aspects were identified: nature, education,
in the context of a developed versus developing nation. cultural and social issues, health, security and safety, sport
However, there is still little understanding at more micro- and recreation, transportation and logistics, infrastructure
level such as a suburb within the rural or urban area. As and amenities, economic, and sustainability.
suburb is defined in contrast to an inner city or downtown,
the residents could be working either within or out of the 2.2. Phase 2: Quantitative (questionnaire survey)
suburb area. They are able to commute to their workplace The inputs from literature review and qualitative research were
daily. One example is the Batu Kawa suburb in Kuching used to design the research instrument for the quantitative
Division (Sarawak). Before the Datuk Chong Kiun Kong research. The questionnaire was carefully designed. The
Bridge was built, the residents staying after the river (West) respondents’ demographic information socioeconomic
experienced much inconvenience and the socioeconomic service satisfaction and family happiness were obtained
development was much slower. through online survey (i.e., Google Form) as well as through
physical distribution and collection of printed questionnaires
2. Data and methods in the year 2022. The printed questionnaires were necessary
A multiple-stage triangulation study, after obtaining the especially for the less educated, the elderly, and IT-illiterate
ethics approval from the researchers’ funding university, residents. A total of 283 usable questionnaires were analyzed.
was carried out to examine the residents’ satisfaction of a Among the characteristics of the respondents are: Females
sub-urban area (i.e., Batu Kawa) in Malaysia. Batu Kawa (50.7%); ages below 25 (12.6%), 26–35 (25%), 36–45 (16%),
is a suburban area or district, administered under the 46–55 (28%), and 56 and above (19%); Malays (24%), Chinese
Padawan Municipal Council in Kuching, Sarawak. In the (41.7%), and Ibans and Bidayuhs (29.3%); occupations in
first stage, personal and group interviews were carried public sector (24.2%), private sector (34.5%), self-employed
out, aiming to identify the possible factors that contribute (14.6%), unemployed, (17.8%), and student (9%). The data
to residents’ perceptions of happiness, challenges they were randomly split into two samples (n = 124, n = 159)
1
2
faced while living in this suburban area as well as their to gauge the reliability and consistency. The multi-item
recommendations to improve their happiness. The findings measures were found to be reliable (i.e., satisfactory internal
would be useful in developing the measurement items for a consistency, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient values more than
mass-scale quantitative questionnaire survey in the second 0.70 and item-to-total correlations more than 0.40). The
stage of the study. results in Table 1 indicate that the residents are satisfied with
the socioeconomic services provided in Batu Kawa. The
2.1. Phase 1: Qualitative (interviews and visits) numerous areas with relatively lower scores are road traffic,
The qualitative phase of this research aimed to explore public transport system, safety and security, pollution, sport
the dimensions of socioeconomic development services facilities, employment opportunities, income distribution,
from the residents’ perspectives. It involved two group and digital economy development, as well as irrigation and
interviews (in 2021) to explore the sustainable suburban drainage.
socioeconomic satisfaction and family happiness. The
interviewees were made up of 20 randomly selected 3. Key findings
representatives of the households who resided in the The results in Table 1 indicate that the residents are
suburban. They were of different races (i.e., 12 Chinese, satisfied with the socio-economic services provided in

Volume 9 Issue 2 (2023) 78 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.442