Comparative assessment of residents' satisfaction with older and younger condominiums: case studies from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (UP 046)

During the last two decades, the growth of condos in Kuala Lumpur as a high density housing is a respose to the growing demand for housing in the city. So far housing research in Malaysia is focussed on public or private low-cost with little attention paid to the growing condo sector. Therefore, a research need arises due to limited studies on the subject and further that due to more than one reason. Malaysian middle class city dwellers prefer to live in condos than their preferred terrace housing. Against the above backdrop, this paper provides a comparative assessment of residents' satisfaction with older (>10 years) and younger (<10 years) condo dwellers within the Kuala Lumpur metropolis. Three components of satisfaction - dwelling unit variables, dwelling unit support services, neighbourhood and management, have been studied. Two hundred respondents participated in the survey exercise with 100 residing in older condos and another 100 living in younger condos. Findings from the study indicate that the residents of older condos are not satisfied with the dwelling unit support services and management and over 40% of the residents are also planning to relocate due to current housing situation. On the contrary, the younger condo residents rated a relatively high level of satisfaction with the dwelling unit support services and they are moderately satisfied with condo management. Further, the older condo residents showed a more significant and positive relationship between the overall housing satisfaction and the tested variables as compared to the younger condo residents due to the age differences between the two condo types. Finally, the paper comes up with three basic issues where immediate attentions are required to improve condo management enhance condo residents' satisfaction

The effects of construction on environmental resources in peninsular Malaysia: the perspective of land use planning

Environment forms the basis upon which all human activities such as physical, social and economic take place. Malaysia is a nation that is blessed with the beauty of nature and at the same time advanced in terms of infrastructural development. Environmental resources are vital components of the environment that include land, vegetal resource, water bodies, atmosphere, flora and fauna. Nowadays, due to high rate of urbanization, rapid population and economic growth led to greater need of space for operation, which subsequently forced the construction industries to meet this demand. This gives rise to various forms of environmental degradations which lead to disruption of environmental equilibrium. The study assesses the effects of construction industries on the environment in the perspectives of land use planning. However, if proper measures are not taken, the consequences will never be of benefit to the country. Land use planning is an approach used to identify the relationship between construction activities and environmental resources. Generally, the study area covers Peninsula Malaysia because of the similarities of construction conditions and the environmental effects. The methodology employed in this study is based on the available data derived from the secondary sources of information. It also aims at suggesting ways of achieving sustainable construction activities so that our natural earth will not be harmed, destroyed or degraded