Urban: Segregated and Integrated Cities

 

Give the examples of a segregated and integrated cities.

 

Segregation refers to the natural division or putting aside items or people, a method of organising people that can be voluntary or imposed by the government.  While integration is the action or process of successfully joining or mixing with a different group of individuals.  In Malaysia, residential segregation by income has risen during the past four decades. 

Residential segregation by income often happens in urbanised areas, namely Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur.  Kuala Lumpur, also known as the city's cosmopolitan centre, has the highest capital value for main residences.  For many reasons, the high-income earners usually choose to live in neighbourhoods surrounded by Kuala Lumpur.  They prefer to live in expensive areas because they believe that the areas are safe, convenient and liveable.  Besides the low criminal rate recorded, expensive neighbourhoods like Damansara Heights, Bukit Tunku, or Bangsar tended to have a diverse community of expatriates and locals.  They offered a wide range of food and beverage, retail, and entertainment options.  To most rich people, these factors make the areas highly desirable places to live.  Hence, the cause of a place becoming an affluent area is explained.  An external cost would occur.  An external price is when the individual conducting the action does not pay the entire cost of the action.  This situation may relate to the third axiom, "externalities cause inefficiency".  Suppose an individual upgrades their property in his residential area; he may also affect the neighbourhood.  The neighbours would raise the value of their homes since the community becomes more desired. 

Cyberjaya and Melaka would be good examples of integrated cities.  An integrated city means a well-planned city with the knowledge gained through researching the flaws of the existence of urban cities.  After the plan is implemented, the city can fully utilise its resources with minimal external financing or assistance.  Cyberjaya is a city with a conducive residential area and less pollution and is equipped with public facilities such as mosques, hospitals, eateries, shopping complexes, schools and others.  As an integrated city, Cyberjaya has constructed a Low Carbon City Framework to coordinate and promote green efforts.  According to Berita Harian (2015), The Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) has formed a joint venture with Encorp Berhad to construct a mixed-development plan in Bukit Katil, Melaka, worth RM4.9 billion.  The project will benefit its people as the township's location will be near urban public transport.  80% of the project includes the residential area, and the remaining 20% will be allocated for commercial purposes, office and retail lots.  Thus, all of these points that make these cities sustainable are the factors that make them integrated cities.

To conclude, segregation may trigger negative effects.  The government should have come up with any solutions to prevent the bad impacts caused by the segregated environment.  The rich living in urban areas with high segregation lived longer than the poor since the poor may face difficulties accessing healthcare.  Unlike a segregated city, the city is a sustainable place to live.  Due to the organised-planning city, the offering of leisure entertainment spaces and the good public facilities for the eldest and disabled community make people enjoy living there.