Impacts of growth centres on poor households in north Kedah Malaysia

Abstract

The research has taken place in three selected growth centres; Sintok, Changlun and Bukit Kayu Hitam in north Kedah. The central concern of this research is to explore why some poor households are unable to receive the benefits provided by various development programmes at the growth centres which aim to promote economic and social development and to alleviate poverty. In order to improve economically and socially, Kedah has shifted its development focus away from agricultural development and placed greater emphasis on industrial development and promotes growth centres specifically in less developed areas of the state. The changes of job sectors in the growth centres have positively and negatively impacted the surrounding local residents including the poor households, economically and socially. Both qualitative and quantitative methods and analysis are used in this research to obtain the data to answer the research questions. The research discovers various physical and personal factors that prohibit some poor households from receiving the benefits provided by development in the growth centres. The findings provide new issues and factors that need to be taken into consideration by local policy makers and planners in formulating new policies and development planning.