AccScience Publishing / IJPS / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/ijps.6558
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A quantitative analysis framework for reducing urban poverty among the B40 group in Malaysia: A case study in People’s Housing Project in Kerinchi, Kuala Lumpur

Nik Norliati Fitri Md Nor1 Nur Amani Amalina Basri1 Azimah Abdul Rahman2 Siti Masayu Rosliah Abdul Rashid1*
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1 Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, School of Distance Education, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
2 Department of Geography, School of Humanities, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Received: 25 November 2024 | Revised: 9 May 2025 | Accepted: 23 May 2025 | Published online: 1 July 2025
© 2025 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
Abstract

Urban poverty in Malaysia remains a critical challenge that demands comprehensive and inclusive solutions. This study proposes a responsive urban poverty framework, classifying individuals into two main groups: the working age group (20 – 59 years) and the post-working age group (60 years and above). Drawing on data from 334 heads of households (HoHs) in the B40 income group residing in the people’s housing project in Kerinchi, Kuala Lumpur, the study evaluates strategies to enhance the well-being and competitiveness of the urban poor. A quantitative approach was employed, with data collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software. Findings indicate an average monthly income of RM 2,589 among B40 HoHs, with marked improvements in well-being for those adopting targeted intervention strategies. The proposed framework incorporates targeted and actionable measures to increase household income and resilience in both short and long-term scenarios. This study underscores the importance of understanding the multifaceted dimensions of urban poverty, implementing effective strategies, and developing practical frameworks to improve economic stability and quality of life of urban B40 households. The findings provide valuable guidance for policymakers, urban planners, and social development stakeholders in formulating strategies that address the economic challenges faced by B40 households in urban Malaysia.

Keywords
Urban poverty
Responsive urban poverty framework
Heads of households
Income
Economic well-being
Funding
This research is supported by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia through the FRGS, project title “Pembinaan Kerangka Asas Baharu Kemiskinan Bandar Kumpulan B40 di Pulau Pinang dan Kuala Lumpur,” [Grant number: FRGS/1/2022/SS0/USM/02/25].
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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