Internal migration and sociodemographic changes in Malaysia
Tey Nai Peng
International Conference on Migration, Urbanization and Development organized by
National Population and Family Development Board, and Population Studies Unit
(University of Malaya)
8 July 2013
at
Faculty of Economics and Administration
University of Malaya
Scope and objectives of the paper
• Re-examines levels, trends and patterns of
internal migration for 1991 and 2000.
• State and regional level analysis
• Reasons for the concentration in the Klang
Valley
• Migration selectivity
• Effects of migration on
- Demographic changes
- Socio-economic changes
Theories and Hypotheses
• Ravenstein’s law of migration - Most migrants only proceed a short
distance, and toward centers of absorption
• Lee’s push and pull factors- migration directed to areas with more jobs
and higher incomes
• Neoclassical economic theory- the main reason for labor migration is
wage difference between two geographic locations
• Chain migration – migrants from a certain city of region tend to
migrate to the same area as others from their city or region. It can also
refer to the process where relatives who have previously migrated to a
new country can sponsor family to migrate to the same city by
sponsoring them.
• Migration is selective, especially by age and education
• Inter-regional predominates intra-regional migration (except KL
Selangor), because for a small country distance is not a deterrent
• Govt policies affect migration, which in turn is instrumental to achieve
the objectives of restructuring society
Data sources and measures
• 2% sample data from 1991-2000 censuses
• Measures –obtained by cross-classifying by current
state and state of birth/5 years ago
- Life time migration (place of birth)
- Recent migration (place of residence 5 years before
the census) Note: in 2000 census, 7.2% unknown
place cf to 1.9% in 1991, and these are assumed to
be inter-state migrants).
- Estimate for % that changed states between 1996
and 2000 varies from 4.8% (published figure) to
11.6% if include persons with unknown state
Bi-polar migration in 1970s
Life time in, out and net-migrants (U-u migration
made up about 2/3 in 1995-2000, from 50% in 1986-1991, r-u
migration decrease from 17% to 12%)
-200000
-100000
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
Johor
Kedah
Kelantan
Melaka
NS
Pahang
Penang
Perak
Perlis
Selangor
Terengganu
In-migration
out-migration
Net-migration
Life time and 5-year migrants
25
20.7
19.7
20
11.6
15
8.9
Life time
10
5
0
1991
5-year
2000
% living in other states 5 years ago
(Data for 2000 include 7.3% of unknown state of origin, and this is as high as
13-14% in KL/Selangor, 10% in Sarawak and 7% in Sabah)
0.0
Johor
Kedah
Kelantan
Melaka
NS
Pahang
Penang
Perak
Perlis
Selangor
Terengganu
Sabah
Sarawak
KL
Labuan
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
1991
2000
Percent distribution of 5-year migrants by
receiving states
0
Johor
Kedah
Kelantan
Melaka
NS
Pahang
Penang
Perak
Perlis
Selangor
Terengganu
Sabah
Sarawak
KL
Labuan
10
20
30
40
Year 1991
Year 2000
Migration status (1996-2000). In Pen. Malaysia,
inter-state predominates intra-state migration.
Kedah Perlis 1991
2000
Penang
1991
2000
Perak
1991
2000
KL Selangor 1991
2000
NS Melaka 1991
2000
Johor
1991
2000
East Coast 1991
2000
Sabah
Sarawak
1991
2000
Same major,
Same major,
different
Different
same minor
minor
major
administrative administrativ administrativ
unit
e unit
e unit
Abroad
87.9
4.3
7.4
93.8
2.1
3.8
87.8
4.1
7.5
88.9
4.3
4.9
91.3
3.6
4.6
94.1
1.9
3.1
80.7
3.2
14.5
86.0
3.0
9.3
83.1
3.5
12.6
89.3
2.0
7.0
87.0
5.4
5.8
90.8
2.7
4.3
86.0
6.1
6.1
93.2
2.7
3.2
82.2
90.4
10.9
5.8
2.1
1.1
Total
0.4
0.2
0.6
1.9
0.5
1.0
1.6
1.7
0.9
1.6
1.7
2.1
1.8
0.9
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
4.9
2.7
100.0
100.0
Life time net migration ratio, 1991
40.0
30.4
30.0
20.0
10.0
0.0
0.5
East
Coast
Sabah
Sarawak
0.0
-10.0
Kedah
Perlis
Penang
-1.7
Perak
-11.4
-12.6
-20.0
-22.3
-30.0
KL
NS
Selangor Melaka
Johor
-3.0
Life time net migration ratio 2000
5-year net migration ratio, 1991
5.0
3.6
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
1.3
0.4
0.1
Kedah
Perlis
Penang
0.3
0.0
-1.0
-2.0
Perak
-4.0
-6.0
Johor
East
Sabah
Coast Sarawak
-1.4
-3.0
-5.0
KL
NS
Selangor Melaka
-5.0
-0.1
5-year net migration ratio, 2000
Migration selectivity. Persons aged 20-24 have the highest
propensity to migrate. Young women > men
1996-2000
12.0
10.1
10.0
9.0
7.6
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
8.3
6.5
5.9
4.1
3.8
5.4
4.1 4.2
2.7 2.8
1.8 1.9
1.5 1.7
1.4
Male
Female
0.9
1.2
0.0
15 to 20 to 25 to 30 to 35 to 40 to 45 to 50 to 55 to 60 to
19
24
29
34
39
44
49
54
59
64
Percentage distribution of migrants (1996-2000)
by age and sex. Younger women made up 29.5%
Educational level by migration
status (1996-2000)
60.0
50.0
45.9
53.1
47.5
52.6
36.8
34.4
40.0
30.0
21.9
20.0
10.0
51.5
4.3
Primary completed
20.5
Secondary completed
8.2
2.5 4.1
4.9
9.3
2.4 University completed
0.0
Same major,
same minor
administrative
unit
Same major,
different
minor
administrative
unit
Less than primary completed
Different
major
administrative
unit
Abroad
Persons aged 20-39 were most mobile (during 1996-2000).
Higher proportion of young Malays have migrated as
compared to non-Malays –objectives of NEP
45.0
40.0
37.2
38.0
35.5
34.4
35.0
30.6
31.3
28.7
30.0
24.9
25.0
20.0
18.5
23.8
5- year
17.9
12.4
15.0
3.2
Life time
7.8
7.6
10.0
5.0
38.6
2.5
1.9
4.2
6.5
1.9
5.6
2.7
2.4
0.0
Below 20-29 30-39 40+ Below 20-29 30-39 40+ Below 20-29 30-39 40+
20
20
20
Malay
Chinese
Indians
The pulls in Klang Valley
• Rapid industrialization – one third of the
approved manufacturing projects for the
period 2001-2005 located in Selangor
• Administrative/business/commercial/financial
and educational hub
• Job availability -In 2000, 28.3% of all jobs in
the country, 38.9 % of 2.7 million modern
sector workers lived in KL/Selangor, up from
33.2% of 1.7 million in 1991
•
Klang Valley has the highest income level. Net inmigration rate is highly correlated with household
income
Net migration ratio
4
3
KL Selangor
2
NS Melaka
1
Johor
0 Kedah Perlis
2000
3000
Sabah Sarawak
-1
-2
-3
East coast
Perak
Penang
4000
5000
Household monthly income
6000
Correlation between net migration
ratio and urbanization level
% urban
-3
100
90
80
70
60
Perak
50
Sabah Sarawak
East Coast
40
Kedah 30
Perlis
20
10
0
-2
-1
0
KL Selangor
Penang
Johor NS Melaka
1
2
3
Other reasons for the attraction to
Klang Valley
• Concentration of institutions of higher learning in the
region
• Housing development
• Better facilities – health care, entertainment etc
• Preference for the bright lights of the city
• Chain migration and existing network – presence of
relatives and friends in KV facilitates migration
• Central location and easy accessibility
• Port and airport
Consequences: Unequal population growth
The population of Selangor grew rapidly at 6% p.a. Perak,
Kelantan and Perlis had a growth rate of less than 1 %
0
Johor
Kedah
Kelantan
Melaka
N. Sembilan
Pahang
Perak
Perlis
P. Pinang
Selangor
Terengganu
WPKL
Sabah
Sarawak
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1991-2000
2000-2010
Selangor increased its share of total population to 19
percent in 2010, from 12% in 1980. Perak registered
the sharpest decline
0.0
Johor
Kedah
Kelantan
Melaka
NS
Pahang
Perak
Perlis
P. Pinang
Selangor
Terengganu
KL
Sabah
Sararak
Labuan
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
1980
1991
2000
2010
Between 2000 and 2010, the population in some
districts had grown rapidly, others had experienced
depopulation.
1980-1991 1991-2000
2000-2010
Sepang (including
Putrajaya)
1.6
8.3
8.7
Petaling
5.1
7.6
3.4
Kulim
3.0
5.0
3.3
Johor Bahru
5.0
5.5
3.1
Seremban
2.4
4.6
3.0
S.P. Selatan
1.5
4.4
2.8
Sabak Bernam
-0.3
2.0
-1.4
Jempol
5.4
0.7
-1.4
Kota Tinggi
3.8
1.5
-0.6
Kuala Pilah
0.1
-0.4
-0.3
Segamat
1.5
0.7
-0.3
Effects on age-sex composition
Internal migration has affected the age sex
composition of the population of each state.
This is borne out by the sharp contrast of
changes depicted by the population pyramids
in 1970 and 2010 for Selangor (with rapid
increase and concentration in the prime
working age) and Perak (showing a decrease
in the young age population and an ageing
population).
Population pyramid: Selangor
Selangor 1970 & 2000
80+
75 -79
70 -74
65 -69
60 -64
55 -59
50 -54
45 -49
40 -44
35 -39
30 -34
25 -29
20 -24
15 -19
10 -14
5-9
0-4
300000
2000 Female
2000 Male
1970 Female
1970 Male
200000
100000
0
Population ('000)
100000
200000
300000
Population pyramid: Perak
Perak 1970 & 2000
80+
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
150000
2000 Female
2000 Male
1970 Female
1970 Male
100000
50000
0
Population ('000)
50000
100000
150000
The rate urban population growth (1991-2000) much
higher than the rate of natural increase – the important
role of migration
Migration accounted for 1/3 of urban population growth (19912000) (49% in Selangor), with negative impact on urban
population growth in five states, Kelantan (-170%)
State/territory
Natural increase
Reclassification
Migration
Johor
Kedah
Kelantan
Melaka
N.Sembilan
Pahang
Perak
Perlis
P. Pinang
Selangor
Terengganu
KL
P. Malaysia
Sabah
Sarawak
Malaysia
44.6
67.5
270
25.9
38
41.8
90
68.6
68.2
33.3
88.9
142.9
48.9
28.8
44
45.8
16.1
0
0
77.8
24
29.1
15
74.3
18.2
19.7
37
0
20
35
12
20.8
39.3
32.5
-170
3.7
38
29.1
-5
-42.9
13.6
48.7
-25.9
-42.9
31.1
36.3
40
33.3
Rural depopulation in eight states with Melaka
taking the lead at -5.1% pa
Migration resulted in rapid urbanization of
all the ethnic groups
100
90
80
70
60
Malays
Chinese
Indians
50
40
30
20
10
0
1970
1980
1991
2000
2010
Changes in ethnic composition of urban
population
70
60
58.5
50.3
50
37.9
40
30
41.5
39.4
47
43.9
33.9
28.9
27.6
20
12.8
11
10
1.1
12.9
9.49.7
9.3
15.7
8.5
0.7
0
1,970
1,980
1,991
2,000
2,010
Malays
Chinese
Indian
Others
Economic transformation since 1970
1970
1975
1985
1990
2000
2005
52.6
47.6
31.3
26.0
15.7
12.9
Mining
2.6
2.2
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.4
Manufacturing
9.6
11.1
15.2
19.9
27.7
29.7
Construction
2.7
4.0
7.6
6.3
8.1
7.0
Utilities
0.7
0.6
0.8
0.7
0.8
0.8
Transport/
communication
3.9
4.5
4.3
4.5
5.0
5.8
Sales
9.3
12
16.3
18.2
17.1
17.7
Government
8.5
12.9
14.6
*19.8
10.6
9.7
*
1.0
3.5
3.9
5.4
6.7
*9.6
4.1
5.6
*
9.6
10.3
Agriculture
Finance
Other services
33
Other consequences of migration
• agglomeration and economy of scale
• regional disparity and land abandonment in
the rural areas (but remittances benefited
rural areas)
• Escalating prices of houses
• Urban poverty.
• Pollution, traffic congestion, environmental
degradation
• Rising crimes
Polices, programmes and strategies
• No direct policy on internal migration, but economic
policies affect migration
• National Urbanization Policy and National Physical Policy
• Strategies for managing urban growth while enhancing
productivity and efficiency of small towns and rural areas
• The Greater KL initiative under the ETP is to create an
urban agglomeration to spur the country’s economic
growth, and this will attract more migrants to the region
• Corridor development – expected employment by around
2025 – Iskandar Malaysia (1.4 million), NCER (3.1 million),
ECER (1.9 million), SDC (2.1 million), SCORE (3.0 million)
Conclusions
• Migration played an important role in
economic transformation, raising income
level, and restructuring of society
• Regional disparity and over-concentration in
the Klang Valley, but Selangor managed to
achieve zero squatter settlement
• More efforts to promote the integration of
migrants and improve their income-earning
capability
• The impact of migration and effectiveness of
population redistribution policies/programs
need to be evaluated
Thank you!
Appendix 1: % born in other states
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Johor
Kedah
Kelantan
Melaka
NS
Pahang
Penang
1991
Perak
2000
Perlis
Selangor
Terengganu
Sabah
Sarawak
KL
Labuan
Appendix 2: Life time inter-regional migration flow,
1991 (read col. for in-migration, row for out-migration)
Region at birth Kedah Perlis
Kedah Perlis
Penang
Perak
KL Selangor
NS Melaka
Johor
East Coast
Sabah Sarawak
1276250
82800
53600
97000
14500
20900
52650
9750
Penang
57950
803150
33300
76600
8550
14200
14600
5200
Perak
44700
67500
1586950
348900
34650
47650
85000
12650
KL Selangor
13350
12250
38700
2111800
62450
35750
64250
11250
NS Melaka
9500
7100
16150
243600
939400
76600
40350
12400
Johor
9800
8550
20900
128750
84950
1672750
43100
10350
17000
11550
25250
161200
33700
45150
2586750
12250
4850
3500
5650
23250
7650
7600
7500
2834600
89.0
8.3
3.0
3.0
1.2
1.1
1.8
0.3
Penang
4.0
80.6
1.9
2.4
0.7
0.7
0.5
0.2
Perak
3.1
6.8
89.1
10.9
2.9
2.5
2.9
0.4
KL Selangor
0.9
1.2
2.2
66.2
5.3
1.9
2.2
0.4
NS Melaka
0.7
0.7
0.9
7.6
79.2
4.0
1.4
0.4
Johor
0.7
0.9
1.2
4.0
7.2
87.1
1.5
0.4
East Coast
1.2
1.2
1.4
5.1
2.8
2.4
89.4
0.4
Sabah Sarawak
0.3
0.4
0.3
0.7
0.6
0.4
0.3
97.5
In migrant
157150
193250
193550
1079300
246450
247850
307450
73850
Out-migrant
331200
210400
641050
238000
405700
306400
306100
60000
Net migrant
-174050
-17150
-447500
841300
-159250
-58550
1350
13850
East Coast
Sabah Sarawak
From
Kedah Perlis
Appendix 3: Life time inter-regional migration flow, 2000
Kedah Perlis
Kedah Perlis
Penang
Perak
KL Selangor
NS Melaka
Johor
East Coast
Sabah Sarawak
1493100
96900
52150
136800
16000
27950
50800
9250
Penang
78000
915100
29150
92650
8200
14800
14800
3450
Perak
56750
75500
1680700
466400
32400
66550
70650
11200
KL Selangor
17300
13250
38900
3058850
60750
40450
63850
11650
NS Melaka
10850
5950
17950
294850
1071750
70900
38100
6650
Johor
10650
7850
16900
184700
81150
1997950
50000
11250
East Coast
Sabah
Sarawak
23150
17900
30700
299700
40800
83650
2942250
16000
8750
7800
8550
68650
14100
22650
14750
3792850
87.9
8.5
2.8
3.0
1.2
1.2
1.6
0.2
Penang
4.6
80.3
1.6
2.0
0.6
0.6
0.5
0.1
Perak
3.3
6.6
89.6
10.1
2.4
2.9
2.2
0.3
KL Selangor
1.0
1.2
2.1
66.5
4.6
1.7
2.0
0.3
NS Melaka
0.6
0.5
1.0
6.4
80.9
3.0
1.2
0.2
Johor
0.6
0.7
0.9
4.0
6.1
85.9
1.5
0.3
East Coast
Sabah
Sarawak
1.4
1.6
1.6
6.5
3.1
3.6
90.7
0.4
0.5
0.7
0.5
1.5
1.1
1.0
0.5
98.2
in migrant
205450
225150
194300
1543750
253400
326950
302950
69450
Out-migrant
389850
241050
779450
246150
445250
362500
511900
145250
Net migrants
-184400
-15900
-585150
1297600
-191850
-35550
-208950
-75800
From
Kedah Perlis
Appendix 4: 5-year inter-regional migration, 1991
Kedah Perlis
Kedah Perlis
Penang
Perak
KL Selangor
NS Melaka
Johor
East Coast
Sabah Sarawak
1359600
25300
14200
23950
6050
6100
10550
5400
Penang
24600
938900
9850
19550
5500
4950
5150
2800
Perak
18300
21850
1745700
79300
11700
15050
24250
7750
KL Selangor
18450
10900
26050
2869200
47050
25150
36500
11700
NS Melaka
8250
2500
6250
49850
1075900
25250
12700
5550
Johor
5000
3800
6850
34650
32550
1864450
15450
8450
14550
6050
14850
64000
17550
29150
2832950
7400
7650
3250
5850
16850
6050
6400
7300
3132150
93.4
2.5
0.8
0.8
0.5
0.3
0.4
0.2
Penang
1.7
92.7
0.5
0.6
0.5
0.3
0.2
0.1
Perak
1.3
2.2
95.4
2.5
1.0
0.8
0.8
0.2
KL Selangor
1.3
1.1
1.4
90.9
3.9
1.3
1.2
0.4
NS Melaka
0.6
0.2
0.3
1.6
89.5
1.3
0.4
0.2
Johor
0.3
0.4
0.4
1.1
2.7
94.3
0.5
0.3
East Coast
1.0
0.6
0.8
2.0
1.5
1.5
96.2
0.2
Sabah Sarawak
0.5
0.3
0.3
0.5
0.5
0.3
0.2
98.5
In-mgrants
96800
73650
83900
288150
126450
112050
111900
49050
Out-migrants
91550
72400
178200
175800
110350
106750
153550
53350
Net migrants
5250
1250
-94300
112350
16100
5300
-41650
-4300
East Coast
Sabah Sarawak
From
Kedah Perlis
Appendix 5: 5-year inter-regional migration, 2000
Kedah Perlis
Kedah Perlis
Penang
Perak
KL Selangor
NS Melaka
Johor
East Coast
Sabah Sarawak
1603700
20850
8400
21600
4050
6000
5900
4150
Penang
16350
1069250
6400
12250
2000
4250
2900
1500
Perak
11850
13550
1806550
51350
5050
12250
7900
4350
KL Selangor
13800
9100
21100
4164600
35600
20600
23200
9850
NS Melaka
2850
1650
3650
33000
1252050
16150
9700
2100
Johor
3400
2600
6450
34550
17800
2163850
12950
3500
East Coast
7650
5800
9500
65150
14250
26450
3155650
7700
Sabah Sarawak
4000
3500
3150
31700
7100
11250
10550
3966300
96.4
1.9
0.5
0.5
0.3
0.3
0.2
0.1
Penang
1.0
94.9
0.3
0.3
0.1
0.2
0.1
0.0
Perak
0.7
1.2
96.9
1.2
0.4
0.5
0.2
0.1
KL Selangor
0.8
0.8
1.1
94.3
2.7
0.9
0.7
0.2
NS Melaka
0.2
0.1
0.2
0.7
93.6
0.7
0.3
0.1
Johor
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.8
1.3
95.7
0.4
0.1
East Coast
0.5
0.5
0.5
1.5
1.1
1.2
97.7
0.2
Sabah Sarawak
0.2
0.3
0.2
0.7
0.5
0.5
0.3
99.2
in-migrants
59900
57050
58650
249600
85850
96950
73100
33150
Out-migrants
70950
45650
106300
133250
69100
81250
136500
71250
Net-migrants
-11050
11400
-47650
116350
16750
15700
-63400
-38100
From
Kedah Perlis