Volume X Issue X (2023) 1 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.442
REPORT
Sustainable socioeconomic development
service for suburban population: A case study in
East Malaysia
Boo Ho Voon
1
*, Phang Ing
2
, Corina Joseph
3
, Muhammad Abang Azlan
4
,
Vloreen Nity Mathew
1
, and Kelvin Tee Yong Goh
5
1
Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sarawak, Malaysia
2
Faculty of Business, Economics and Accountancy, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu,
Malaysia
3
Faculty of Accountancy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sarawak, Malaysia
4
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
5
Faculty of Quantitative Science and Mathematics, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sarawak, Malaysia
Abstract
Sustainable socioeconomic development service dimensions, determining the
suburban residents’ satisfaction from the residents’ perspectives, have yet to be
contextually identifed for more efective policies and strategies to beneft the
targeted households. This case-based empirical research paper aims to examine the
relevant sustainable suburban socioeconomic service dimensions from the residents’
perspectives. Interviews and questionnaire survey data were employed to identify
the numerous dimensions and items in relevance. Batu Kawa suburban in Kuching
(Sarawak, Borneo), Malaysia, was chosen based on its exemplary socioeconomic
development and multi-ethnicity. The survey involved 283 respondents. The
fndings reveal that there were ten dimensions for the sustainable socioeconomic
development service dimensions. The fndings also indicate that the residents were
generally satisfed, but there is still room for further improvement, especially in terms
of public transport system, road trafc, safety and security, sport facilities, pollution,
and job opportunities. The results suggested that there were diferences between
two geographical areas separated by the Sarawak River.
Keywords: Socioeconomic development service; Suburban; Sarawak
1. Introduction
Sustainable socioeconomic development is crucial for mankind and it has received
great attention from nations worldwide. Te sustainable development goals (SDGs)
of the United Nations have been the preferred key performance indicators for many
governments and authorities at diferent levels for the community-desired development
of sustainability (e.g., Voon et al., 2021). Emerging economies, including Malaysia, have
allocated increasing amounts of fnancial and non-fnancial resources for sustainability
initiatives to serve and care for their citizens and households. Many organizations
and individuals in the public and private sectors have been recognizing the needs and
International Journal of
Population Studies
*Corresponding author:
Boo Ho Voon
(bhvoon@uitm.edu.my)
Citation: Voon, B.H., Ing, P.,
Joseph, C., et al. (2023).
Sustainable socioeconomic
development service for suburban
population: A case study in East
Malaysia. International Journal of
Population Studies.
https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.442
Received: January 10, 2023
Accepted: May 2, 2023
Published Online: May 22, 2023
Copyright: © 2023 Author(s).
This is an Open Access article
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