The development of Urban Malays middle class house ownership: moving beyond basic social needs

Housing is considered a basic social need and important to the well being of individual and the family as well as the community. The kind of housing people have, tells the world who they are, their status, and class of society. The pursuit to house ownership is not just a dream but it is a realit...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Hamdan, Hazlina
Format: Conference or Workshop Item
Language:English
Published: 2008
Subjects:
Online Access:http://eprints.usm.my/34920/
http://eprints.usm.my/34920/1/HBP34.pdf
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Summary:Housing is considered a basic social need and important to the well being of individual and the family as well as the community. The kind of housing people have, tells the world who they are, their status, and class of society. The pursuit to house ownership is not just a dream but it is a reality and a targeted dream for every household. This paper discusses the development of house ownership in the perspectives of urban Malay middle class society. The Malay in urban areas has gone trough a rapid urbanisation process with increase level of income, better economic opportunities and an increase in quality of life. This paper attempt to look at the development of house ownership among the urban Malay middle class households who have been experiencing social and economic changes for the past 20 years and measures to what extent the Malays involved in housing transactions which beyond providing the basic social needs. A survey questionnaire approach was conducted in Shah Alam to study the house ownership status of middle class Malay, the socioeconomic characteristics of multiple house ownerships as well as the trend and pattern of residential property ownership. This paper will highlight that the middle class Malay has valued house ownership not just to satisfy the basic social needs but also continue to expand house ownerships as a mean to increase asset and for investment strategies.