DECENTRALIZATION OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA: COMPARATIVE NOTES AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS*

Abstract

National development in South-East Asia today has been accompanied by the emergence of developed urban centers as a significant element in the national system of cities. Besides the drastic urban growth due to natural increases in population and process of urbanization, the development of these cities ironically continue to enhance primacy which to a large extent contradicts urban policy efforts to create a balanced national system of cities. Their dominance is a consequence rather than the cause of centralization or over concentration of urban functions, policy decisions, city-size distribution and basic resources. Even the regionalized growth pole strategy seems to play a supplementary role in their predominance. So various comparative notes and research questions are highlighted to expose another namely decentralization. Specific focus would be given to various policy views and emerging alternative options. The trend in major South-East Asian cities shows little change despite concerned redistribution goals and regional equality. The general conclusion is that new planning alternatives as well as fruitful research have to be undertaken.

ABSTRAK

Pembangunan negara di Asia Tenggara hari ini disertai dengan pembangunan pusat-pusat urban sebagai elemen signifikan rialam kontek sistem perban- daran nasional. Selain daripada pertumbuhan bandar yang pesat oleh kerana pertambahan penduduk semulajadi dan proses urbanisasi pembangunan bandar-bandar ini dengan ironisnya terus berkembang ke arah primasi yang secara kebetulan bertentangan dengan usaha-usaha polisi urban untuk mengrealitaskan sistem perbanriaran nasional. Dominan ini diakibatkan oleh sentralisasi atau konsentrasi fungsi-fungsi urban, keputusan, distribusi saisbandar dan sumber-sumber asas. Malah strategi "growth pole" pun seolah-olah memain peranan supplementar sahaja. Oleh itu beberapa nota komparatif dan persoalan-persoalan penyelidikan dikemukakan untuk menunjukkan elemen essensial rialam kontek pembangunan bandar masakini, khususnya berkenaan desentralisasi. Fokus utama diberi kepada hal-hal polisi dan alternatif baru. Pola dalam bandar-bandar utama Asia Tenggara tidak menunjukkan apa-apa perubahan besar walaupun ada kecenderungan pada tujuan-tujuan redistribusi dan equaliti regional. Konklusi umum ialah alternatifbaru dikehendaki dalam perancangan dan juga dalam penyelidikan.