Economic equity among ethnic in retail sector: case study in Seremban City Center, Negeri Sembilan

Retail sector is one of important components in urban economic activity for urban livability. Currently, the retail sector contributes 60% of Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Since retail sector provide more than half of the country’s GDP, an in-depth study to understand the framework of this sector should be emphasized. This paper will discuss the participation of Bumiputera in the retail sector with a focus on the Seremban City Center (SCC) as the designated study area. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the New Economic Policy (NEP) is successful in bringing about even economic equity by ensuring 30% Bumiputera participation in retail sectors. Preliminary results obtained through primary and secondary data indicates that Bumiputera involvement is only 7% (Malays), while 93% of it is participated by non Bumiputera (Indian 13% and Chinese 80%). Bumiputera only involved in specific business such as restaurant, beauty care, travel and insurance agency, tuition center, boutique and also private clinics. In addition, data trend for the past three decades showed a mere 6% increased in Bumiputera participation in retail sector in SCC. This paper discusses the important of the retail activities for urban dwelling. The preliminary result shows that participation of the Bumiputera in retail sector are still questionable and urban planner should play more roles for the Bumiputera livability and sustainability

Moving towards embracing sustainability: learning from doing in the extended mega urban region, Kuala Lumpur

The embracing of sustainability and liveability of an extended urban region depends on several underlying factors related to the three pillars of sustainable development. We have identified some of these factors: the soundness of collaboration between stake holders to create functioning institutions; effective governance to ensure feasible implementation and monitoring of plans and policies, the consideration related to the physical environment, creation of favourable social sphere, and balanced economic drivers such as industrial and retail diversity. In ensuring Malaysia’s rapid development, the industrial sector was promoted, thus encouraging domestic and foreign investments and diversified industrial activities. Industrial growth is important to boost up the economic growth. However, the growth of industrial areas in cities makes it a very vulnerable environment for people to live in, for their pollution threats. Retailing is the main component that contributes to the liveability of a city centre because this will encourage residents to visit the central business district. However, for traffic congestions there is a need for regional redistribution of marketing such as regional shopping complex. Retail planning is compulsory in order to sustain from either the arrangement or distribution of the shops. Seremban Town Centre showed that the retail outlet has moved to sell “high end” products. Education is one of an essential tool for achieving sustainability. An education for sustainable development is based on an integrated approach to economic, environmental and societal development as well as encompasses a broad range of related issues. Governance in sustainable development institutions can refer to the procedures and processes as a bridge that will link to sustainable development. The process of effective governance in achieving sustainable development requires the proactive involvement of all parties