A socio-economic transformation of the ECER-development programmes in enhancing the well-being of the people

Abdul Rahman Abdul Latip, Norfatiha Othman

Abstract


Just and sustainable socio-economic development is an important indicator in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). In 2007, the states in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia were among the states with the highest poverty rate in Malaysia. East Coast Economic Region (ECER) that has been established in 2008 is an economic development region based on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, covers Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and the district of Mersing in Johor. The ECER Master Plan, approved by the Government in 2008, was formulated as a basis to guide the development of ECER until 2025 to reduce regional socio-economic disparities, eradicating poverty, creating employment opportunities and improving the standard of living for the local populace. This study aims to analyse the socio-economic transformation brings by ECER into this region in the aspects of job creation, investment, and entrepreneurship opportunities. The study uses the qualitative approach (in-depth interviews) with 10 key informants including direct observation, as well as library research. The informants comprised of five informants from the policy making level, and the remaining five informants from the implementation level. NVivo software used to analyse the qualitative data. The finding of this study finds positive transformations of the ECER development programmes towards the region in terms of investment, job creation, and entrepreneurship opportunities. It is hope that ECER will continue to facilitate the socio-economic transformation of this region towards becoming a developed region by 2025.

Keywords: Development programmes, East Coast Economic Region (ECER), Regional Development, Socio-economic transformation


Keywords


Development programmes; East Coast Economic Region (ECER); Regional Development; Socio-economic transformation

Full Text:

PDF

References


Abdul Latip, A. R., Othman, N., & Md Yusoff, O. (2020). Socio-economic impacts of ECER human capital development programmes in empowering the rural women of Malaysia. International Journal of Business and Society, 21(1), 387-398.

Beer, A., Haughton, G., & Maude, A. (2003) Developing Locally: An International Comparison of Local and Regional Economic Development. Bristol: Policy Press.

East Coast Economic Region Development Council. (2009). East Coast Economic Region Development Council Annual Report: 2008. Retrieved from https://www.ecerdc.com.my/en/media-room/publications/

East Coast Economic Region Development Council. (2017). East Coast Economic Region Development Council Annual Report: 2016. Retrieved from https://www.ecerdc.com.my/ en/media-room/publications/

East Coast Economic Region Development Council. (2018). East Coast Economic Region Development Council Annual Report: 2017. Retrieved from https://www.ecerdc.com.my/ en/media-room/publications/

Gennaioli, N., Laporta, R., López-de-Silanes, F., & Schleifer, A., (2011). Human capital and regional development, Economics Working Papers 1286, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra,

Glasmeier, A. (2000). Economic geography in practice: local economic development policy. In: G.L. Clark, M. Feldman and M. Gertler (eds). The Oxford Handbook of Economic Geography. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Haliru, I., Abu Samah, A., & Ahmad, N. (2019). Relationship between Human Capital Investment and Economic Wellbeing: A Case Study in Business Apprenticeship Training Centers (BATCs), Kaduna, Nigeria. Pertanika Journal of Social Science & Humanities, 27(S1), 143-155.

Hassan, N., Mohd Jaafar, N. I., Raja Ariffin, R. N., Abu Samah, A., & Mohd Jaafar, N. (2013). Perceptions on quality of life in Malaysia: The urban-rural divide. Planning Malaysia Journal, 11(3). doi: 10.21837/pmjournal.v11.i3.106

Hutchinson, F. (2017). Evolving Paradigms in Malaysia's Regional Development Policy. Journal of Southeast Asian Economies, 34(3), 462-487.

Irz, X., Lin, L., Thirtle, C., & Wiggins, S. (2001). Agricultural productivity growth and poverty alleviation. Development Policy Review, 19(4), 449-466. doi:10.1111/1467-7679.00144

Limonov, I., & Nesena, M. (2019). Evaluation of the impact of public investment programs on social and economic performance of territories. Voprosy Ekonomiki, (1), 109-123. doi: 10.32609/0042-8736-2019-1-109-123

Mackay, K. (2006). Evaluation capacity development institutionalisation of monitoring and evaluation systems to improve public sector management. ECD Working Paper Series no 15, January 2006. Independent Evaluation Group & the Thematic Group for Poverty Analysis, Monitoring and Impact Evaluation: The World Bank.

Mason, J. (2002). Qualitative Researching. 2nd edition. London: Sage.

Mohamed Osman, M., Bachok, S., & Rabe, N. S. (2015). Local residents’ perception on socio-economic impact of Iskandar Malaysia: an example of urban regeneration program in Malaysia. Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences, 170, 58-69.

Ngah, I. (2012). Challenges of regional development in Malaysia in the globalization context. International Conference on Regional Development, Vulnerability, Resilience, and Sustainability, Semarang 9-10 November 2011. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate. net/publication/283078879_Challenges_of_Regional_Development_in_Malaysia_in_the_Globalization_Context

Nik Muhammad, N. M., Md Isa, F., Othman, S. N., & Che Yaacob, H. (2011). Regional economic development: Rethinking the region. Journal of Information Technology and Economic Development, 2(1), 74-82.

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). (1999). Improving evaluation practices: best practice guidelines for evaluation and background paper. OECD Public Management Service PUMA/PAC(99) 1.

Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Powell, E., Steele, S., & Douglah, M. (1996). Planning a Program Evaluation. Retrieved from http://learningstore.uwex.edu/assets/pdfs/G3658-1.PDF

Rubio, G., and Subbarao, K. (2001). Impact evaluation in bank projects: A comparison of fiscal 1998 and 1999. Mimeo, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network, World Bank

Mohd Tobi, S. U. (2016). Qualitative Research, Interview Analysis & NVIVO 11 Exploration (1st ed.). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: ARAS Publisher.

Ülengin, F., Kabak, Ö., Önsel, S., Aktas, E., & Parker, B. R. (2011). The competitiveness of nations and implications for human development. Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, 45(1), 16–27.

UNDP. (2018). Sustainable Development Goals. Retrieved from https://www.undp.org/ content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals.html

World Bank (2021). The World Bank in Malaysia. Retrieved 13 August 2021, from https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/malaysia/overview

World Bank (2000). World Development Report: Attacking Poverty. New York: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/230351468332946 759/pdf/226840WDR00PUB0ng0poverty0200002001.pdf

Yusoff, R., Mulok, D., Md Kamdari, N. A., and Abdullah, M. F. (2009). Pembangunan ekonomi wilayah pantai timur: satu konsep teori dan perlaksanaan pembangunan di negeri Kelantan. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292137351_ Pembangunan_Ekonomi_Wilayah_Pantai_Timur_Satu_Konsep_Teori_dan_Perlaksanaan_Pembangunan_Di_Negeri_Kelantan

Zaleha, M. N., & Asfari, N. A. (2013). Regional development programmes and poverty reduction in east coast states of Malaysia. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 21(S), 201-210.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.