Perubahan Penduduk Wilayah Metropolitan Lanjutan Klang-Langat, Malaysia, 1957-2000 (Population Changes of the Klang-Langat Extended Metropolitan Region, Malaysia, 1957-2000)

Abstract

Population of the Klang-Langat Extended Metropolitan Region (EMR) is changing very rapidly. The dynamics of the EMR population may be explained in several ways including its pattern of distribution, ethnic composition, rate of growth and levels of urbanisation of settlements in the peri-urban areas. This article aims at analysing patterns of population change in terms of distribution and ethnic composition. Elements of natural growth rates, migration and levels of urbanisation of the EMR will be discussed to explain the change. Data from various reports, particularly the census of housing and population of Malaysia for 1957-2000 period, were analysed. Results of the analysis show that the population of the EMR is experiencing a very rapid change in terms of distribution, ethnic compositions, rates of growth and urbanisation. Although the core area of the region is still the most densely populated, there are many evidences to support that the fringe areas of the EMR is experiencing rapid rate growth resulting from natural increase as well as in-migration of people either from the core area or outside the region. After 1990s the Malays are the majority of population of the EMR followed by the Chinese and Indians. High rates of natural increase and in-migration among the Malays to the EMR particularly the fringe areas, have contributed significantly to the process of urbanisation and rapid growth of small urban centres in the outer zones of the region. It is also found that the rate of growth of population in the core area of the EMR is on the downwards trend. In contrast the rate of growth of population in the fringe areas of the region is steadily increasing. The findings tend to support the view that expansion of an EMR occurs via the process of urbanisation of people living in the fringe zones driven by the development of manufacturing and service activities in the area. Such a pattern of change will certainly have some bearings on the future social, economic, cultural and political milieus of the EMR.

Keywords: Extended Metropolitan Region; population change; ethnic composition; migration; urbanisation.

ABSTRAK

Penduduk Wilayah Metropolitan Lanjutan (WML) Klang-Langat sedang berubah dengan pesat. Perubahan penduduk WML dapat dijelaskan dari beberapa segi termasuk corak taburan, komposisi etnik, kadar pertumbuhan dan darjah pembandaran petempatan di kawasan pinggir bandar. Makalah ini bertujuan menganalisis pola perubahan taburan dan komposisi etnik penduduk di WML Lembah Klang-Langat. Elemen kadar pertumbuhan semula jadi, migrasi dan pembandaran WML dibincangkan dalam menjelaskan perubahan tersebut. Data daripada Laporan Banci Perumahan dan Penduduk Malaysia bagi tempoh 1957-2000 dianalisis. Hasilnya menunjukkan bahawa berlaku perubahan yang ketara terhadap taburan, komposisi etnik, kadar pertumbuhan penduduk dan pembandaran di WML. Walaupun kepadatan penduduk masih tinggi di zon teras tetapi terdapat banyak bukti yang menyokong bahawa kawasan pinggir WML sedang mengalami pertumbuhan yang pesat akibat pertumbuhan semula jadi dan migrasi masuk penduduk dari zon teras mahupun luar wilayah. Selepas 1990-an, etnik Melayu merupakan penduduk majoriti WML diikuti oleh etnik Cina dan etnik India. Pertumbuhan semula jadi dan migrasi masuk beramai-ramai yang pesat dalam kalangan orang Melayu ke WML, khususnya ke zon pinggiran, telah menyumbang secara signifikan kepada proses pembandaran dan pertumbuhan bandar kecil yang pesat di zon tersebut. Juga didapati bahawa kadar pertumbuhan penduduk wilayah teras khususnya Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur semakin menurun. Sebaliknya, kadar pertumbuhan penduduk kawasan pinggiran WML pula semakin pesat. Penemuan kajian ini cenderung untuk menyokong pandangan bahawa peluasan WML berlaku melalui pembandaran penduduk di zon pinggiran yang didorong oleh perkembangan sektor pembuatan dan perkhidmatan. Perubahan ini dijangka akan memberi kesan langsung terhadap pola sosial, ekonomi, budaya dan politik WML tersebut.

Kata kunci: Wilayah Metropolitan Lanjutan; perubahan penduduk; komposisi etnik; migrasi; pembandaran.