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Summary

The script delves into Kuala Lumpur's urban sprawl, a consequence of the Malaysian Dream, mirroring the American ideal of car-centric living. It critiques the inefficiencies of public transport, leading to widespread car usage and traffic congestion. The video explores causes such as government policies, cheap fuel, and suburban land affordability, and their impacts on the economy, environment, and public health. It concludes with suggestions for sustainable urban planning, emphasizing the need for 'urbanization for people, not for land,' and invites viewers to consider the implications of high fuel prices on urban migration.

Takeaways

• 🚗 Kuala Lumpur's traffic congestion is a significant issue, with many drivers preferring to drive despite the inconvenience, rather than use public transportation.
• 🕒 Commuting via public transport in Kuala Lumpur can be time-consuming, often taking 1.5 to 2 hours due to transfers and walking, compared to the 30-minute drives that are common even for short distances.
• 📉 Public transportation is not the preferred choice in Kuala Lumpur, partly because of its complexity and time inefficiency, which contributes to traffic congestion.
• 🌆 Urban sprawl is identified as a major issue in Kuala Lumpur, characterized by low-density, car-dependent city expansion that pushes residents to the outskirts and necessitates driving.
• 🏠 The concept of the 'American Dream' has influenced Malaysian urban planning, leading to a preference for suburban living with personal cars, detached houses, and the associated issues of urban sprawl.
• 📈 Evidence of urban sprawl in Kuala Lumpur includes outer suburban populations surpassing that of the city center, rapid urban expansion outpacing population growth, and the separation of residential and commercial areas.
• 🏘️ Leapfrog development, where new residential areas appear disconnected from the city's core, is another indicator of Kuala Lumpur's urban sprawl, leading to lower population densities and scattered city growth.
• 🛣️ The Malaysian government's strategies, such as promoting car ownership and building highways, have inadvertently encouraged urban sprawl by making driving cheap and convenient.
• 💰 The economic repercussions of urban sprawl are significant, with costs for public services in suburban areas being much higher than in urban centers, straining government budgets.
• 🌳 Urban sprawl leads to environmental issues, including the destruction of natural habitats, increased pollution, and a sedentary lifestyle for residents, contributing to health problems.
• 🔄 The script suggests that instead of blaming individuals like the Transport Minister Anthony, a more comprehensive and pragmatic approach to urban planning is needed to address the root causes of Kuala Lumpur's traffic and sprawl issues.

Q & A

Why do many drivers in Kuala Lumpur prefer being stuck in traffic to using public transportation?

The process of commuting via public transportation in Kuala Lumpur is inconvenient, involving walking, transferring between MRT lines, and taking a bus, which can take an average of 1.5 to 2 hours, compared to the 30 minutes it takes to drive.

What is the average time spent by Kuala Lumpur residents on driving expenses per year according to the survey?

Residents of Kuala Lumpur spend an average of RM3100 per person annually just on driving expenses.

What is the term 'urban sprawl' and what does it imply for a city?

Urban sprawl refers to a city expanding outward in a disordered, low-density, and car-dependent manner, leading to a less dense and less convenient urban environment where people are forced to commute by car.

How did the American Dream influence urban development patterns in Malaysia?

The American Dream, which includes the desire for a big car, a detached house, and the freedom of movement, influenced Malaysians to pursue similar lifestyles, leading to the expansion of cities into low-density suburban areas.

What evidence is presented to show that Greater Kuala Lumpur suffers from urban sprawl?

Evidence includes the outer suburbs' population surpassing that of the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory, urban expansion outpacing population growth, excessive separation of residential and commercial areas, leapfrog development, and land being allotted predominantly to cars.

What is the impact of urban sprawl on the Kuala Lumpur city center?

Urban sprawl has led to a 'Donut City' effect, where the city center has an empty hole due to decreased population density and insufficient growth, leading to a decline in older urban areas.

How does urban sprawl affect the cost of providing public services in suburban areas?

The cost of providing public services in suburban areas can be two to ten times higher than in urban areas due to the inefficiency of spreading services over a larger, less dense area.

What are the environmental consequences of urban sprawl mentioned in the script?

Environmental consequences of urban sprawl include the destruction of natural habitats, threats to food security, increased flood occurrences due to the conversion of grasslands into asphalt roads, and pollution from increased car emissions.

How is urban sprawl related to health issues such as obesity and high blood pressure?

Urban sprawl is related to health issues because it encourages a lifestyle that involves more driving and less physical activity, leading to higher rates of obesity and high blood pressure.

What are some of the suggested solutions to the problems caused by urban sprawl?

Suggested solutions include drawing boundaries around cities to limit growth, decentralizing power and taxation to local authorities, and establishing compact cities where daily needs are within a 15-minute walk.

What is the significance of the quote from Dr. Liu Thai Ker in the context of urban planning?

Dr. Liu Thai Ker's quote emphasizes that cities should be functional and serve the needs of residents rather than focusing on appearance or spectacle, which is a pragmatic approach that can help address the issues caused by urban sprawl.

Outlines

00:00

🚗 Kuala Lumpur's Traffic Woes and Urban Sprawl

The first paragraph discusses the preference of many drivers in Kuala Lumpur for personal vehicles over public transport due to the inconvenience of the latter. Despite traffic congestion, driving is seen as a quicker option, albeit contributing to the problem. The script introduces Yin Yin, who questions the city's infrastructure in comparison to more efficient models like Japan, Korea, or Singapore. It highlights the significant annual cost and time spent on commuting, and touches on the blame placed on the Transport Minister Anthony. The concept of 'urban sprawl' is introduced as a key factor in the city's planning issues, with a brief explanation of its meaning and origins from the American Dream post-World War II.

05:01

📊 Evidence of Urban Sprawl in Greater Kuala Lumpur

This paragraph presents evidence of urban sprawl in Greater Kuala Lumpur, showing that the outer suburbs have a higher population growth rate than the city itself. It points out that urban expansion is outpacing population growth, leading to low-density living. The separation of residential and commercial areas is highlighted as a significant issue, with a comparison of planning approaches between Kuala Lumpur and other efficient cities. The concept of 'leapfrog development' is introduced, where new developments are scattered and disconnected from the city core. Lastly, the excessive allocation of land to cars, in terms of roads and parking, is criticized as a contributor to urban sprawl.

10:01

🛍️ The Unintended Consequences of Urban Sprawl

The third paragraph delves into the consequences of urban sprawl, such as the need to drive for even the shortest of errands due to the lack of walkable neighborhoods. It describes how traffic congestion is exacerbated by the need for more parking spaces, which in turn leads to wider roads and further separation of buildings. The script outlines the historical reasons for urban sprawl, including government policies from the 1970s and 1980s aimed at wealth redistribution and industrial decentralization. The affordability and convenience of driving in Malaysia are also cited as contributing factors, with the government's role in promoting car ownership and building highways being highlighted.

15:04

🏢 The Economic and Environmental Impact of Urban Sprawl

This paragraph discusses the economic implications of urban sprawl, such as the high costs of maintaining infrastructure in sprawling suburban areas compared to more compact cities. It introduces the term 'Donut City' to describe the phenomenon of a depleted city center with growth concentrated in the suburbs. The environmental impact includes the destruction of natural habitats, increased pollution, and the health risks associated with a car-centric lifestyle. The script emphasizes that urban sprawl is not merely a transportation issue but a complex development challenge that needs to be addressed with thoughtful urban planning.

20:05

🌐 Solutions and Reflections on Urban Sprawl

The final paragraph suggests potential solutions to urban sprawl, such as setting boundaries for city growth, decentralizing power, and creating compact cities where daily needs are within a 15-minute walk. It emphasizes the need for urbanization that serves people rather than land and quotes Dr. Liu Thai Ker on the importance of functional cities. The script concludes by encouraging viewers to consider the broader implications of urban sprawl and to share their thoughts on the matter, inviting further discussion on the topic.

Keywords

💡Urban Sprawl

Urban sprawl refers to the uncontrolled expansion of urban areas characterized by low-density, car-dependent development. It is central to the video's theme as it explains the disordered growth of Kuala Lumpur, leading to traffic congestion and inconvenience in daily life. The script uses the term to describe how people are moving from the city center to the outskirts, necessitating car usage and contributing to the city's sprawl.

💡American Dream

The American Dream in the script symbolizes the post-World War II ideal of owning a car, a house, and enjoying a suburban lifestyle. It is related to the video's theme by illustrating the influence of this dream on Malaysian development patterns, where the pursuit of personal vehicle ownership and suburban living has contributed to urban sprawl and its associated problems.

💡Suburbanization

Suburbanization is the process of moving populations from urban centers to suburban areas. The script mentions it in the context of Malaysians moving to the suburbs for more affordable and spacious housing, which has led to the expansion of cities like Kuala Lumpur in an uncontrolled manner, exacerbating urban sprawl.

💡Leapfrog Development

Leapfrog development describes a pattern of urban growth where new developments occur in outlying areas, bypassing the inner suburbs. The script cites this as evidence of Greater Kuala Lumpur's urban sprawl, with new residential areas appearing far from the city center, disconnected from the main urban fabric.

💡Mixed-Use Areas

Mixed-use areas are zones within a city where residential, commercial, and sometimes industrial activities are combined. The video discusses the lack of such areas in Kuala Lumpur, which contributes to urban sprawl by necessitating travel between separate residential and commercial zones, often by car.

💡Donut City

The term 'Donut City' is used in the script to describe a phenomenon where the central city area becomes less populated, while the suburbs grow, creating an urban 'hole' in the middle. It relates to the video's theme by illustrating the population shift away from Kuala Lumpur's city center due to urban sprawl.

💡Public Transportation

Public transportation encompasses mass transit systems available to the public, such as buses, trains, and subways. The script discusses the preference of drivers in Kuala Lumpur for personal vehicles over public transportation due to inconvenience and time consumption, highlighting the challenges faced by the city in reducing car dependency.

💡Car-Centric City

A car-centric city is one designed primarily to accommodate automobile traffic and parking, often at the expense of pedestrians and public transit. The script contrasts Kuala Lumpur's car-centric design with more pedestrian-friendly cities, showing how this design approach contributes to urban sprawl and traffic issues.

💡Government Policies

Government policies are the strategies and regulations implemented by the state to guide development. The video script discusses how past Malaysian government policies, such as promoting domestic car ownership and decentralizing industrial development, have inadvertently encouraged urban sprawl.

💡Population Density

Population density refers to the number of people living in a given area. The script uses this concept to counter the assumption that Kuala Lumpur's traffic issues stem from high population density, instead arguing that the city's low density contributes to the need for cars and, thus, urban sprawl.

💡Sustainable Urban Planning

Sustainable urban planning aims to create cities that are environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable. The video implies the need for such planning in Kuala Lumpur, suggesting that addressing urban sprawl requires a shift towards more compact, people-oriented urban development.

Highlights

In Kuala Lumpur, many drivers prefer to sit in traffic rather than use public transportation due to its inconvenience.

Commuting via public transport in Kuala Lumpur can take 1.5 to 2 hours, including walking and multiple transfers.

Driving in Malaysia is inconvenient, with even short trips taking at least 30 minutes.

The issue of traffic congestion in Kuala Lumpur is blamed on Transport Minister Anthony by some.

Kuala Lumpur residents spend RM3100 per person annually on driving expenses, highlighting the financial burden of transportation.

Urban sprawl is defined as a city expanding outward in a disordered, low-density, and car-dependent manner.

The American Dream, characterized by owning a car and a detached house, influenced urban sprawl in Malaysia.

Since the 1980s, Malaysia's economy and government policies have promoted the move to suburban areas.

Population growth in Kuala Lumpur's outer suburbs has significantly outpaced that of the city itself.

Urban expansion in Kuala Lumpur is faster than population growth, leading to inefficiencies.

In Greater Kuala Lumpur, there is a significant separation between residential and commercial areas, contributing to urban sprawl.

Leapfrog development, characterized by scattered new residential areas, is common in Kuala Lumpur.

Land in Kuala Lumpur is often allotted to cars, with wide roads and large parking lots contributing to urban sprawl.

Government strategies, such as promoting decentralized industrial development, have led to urban sprawl.

Low fuel prices and government encouragement of car ownership have made driving cheap and convenient in Malaysia.

Suburban land in Malaysia is cheaper, leading to larger and more affordable housing options, which encourages urban sprawl.

State governments in Malaysia encourage land development to increase tax revenue, contributing to urban sprawl.

Urban sprawl leads to a 'Donut City' effect, where the city center of Kuala Lumpur becomes less populated.

The cost of providing public services in suburban areas can be significantly higher than in urban areas.

Urban sprawl is linked to health issues such as obesity and high blood pressure due to decreased physical activity.

Inefficient urban expansion from sprawl destroys natural habitats and can lead to increased flooding.

Experts suggest solutions like limiting city growth, decentralizing power, and creating compact cities to combat urban sprawl.

The concept of 'urbanization for people, not for land' is emphasized as a necessary approach to city planning.

Dr. Liu Thai Ker, the father of Singapore's planning, stresses that cities must serve residents' needs over spectacle.

Transcripts

In Kuala Lumpur, thousands of drivers 

every day prefer to be stuck in traffic 

rather than use public transportation. 

If I were to commute using public transportation, 

I would need to walk for 5 minutes, 

transfer between 2 different MRT lines, 

then take a bus to reach my destination. 

This would take me an average of about 1.5 to 2 hours. 

Therefore, I prefer to drive, 

even though I know I am contributing to the traffic congestion. 

Driving in Malaysia is very inconvenient; 

it takes 30 minutes to drive anywhere! 

Kuala Lumpur is both congested and inconvenient! 

It's all the fault of the Transport Minister Anthony! 

Is it okay to say this?

Hi I am Yin Yin

Have you ever wondered why Malaysians, 

especially those in Kuala Lumpur, 

seem to always need to drive no matter what they're doing? 

Moreover, each drive takes at least half an hour!

The government claims Kuala Lumpur is an international city, right? 

So why can't we be like Japan, 

Korea, 

or even Singapore, 

where within a few minutes of walking downstairs, we can buy groceries, eat, or have coffee?

Why is it like this?

According to a survey, 

Kuala Lumpur residents spend 

RM3100 per person annually 

just on driving expenses. 

It's not just about the money spent; 

even after paying, you still get stuck in traffic!

A journey that should take 30 minutes

ends up taking 49 to 54 minutes to complete.

Why is it so inconvenient? 

Some people might blame it all on Anthony,

saying the Minister of Transport isn't doing his job. 

Really? Would someone actually say that? 

Another group might argue that 

KL is meant to be a car-centric city, just like in the US, and they're doing fine.

No problem at all!

But actually, 

if we take a closer look, the problem is significant. 

It's subtly threatening our 

health, economy, productivity, and the money in your pocket!

Speaking of money, are you starting to care now?

Today, we're going to take a closer look 

at the Greater KL metropolitan area in Malaysia. 

It's all about four words: 

learning new terms!

What is that?

Usually, everyone loves to criticize the poor planning in Kuala Lumpur. 

Please don't just criticize like that. 

If we're going to criticize, 

we should do it professionally. 

That's why today we're going to teach everyone 

this professional term:

urban sprawl.

What is urban sprawl?

Let's imagine a typical city. 

Normally, 

it should have a high population density, with many people living close together.

When you walk down the street, you would see many people shopping, eating, and so on. 

It's a dense and convenient place.

However, urban sprawl is completely the opposite! 

Urban sprawl refers to a city expanding outward in a disordered, 

low-density, car-dependent manner. 

This means people move 

from the crowded city center to the outskirts. 

They move from high-rise buildings in the city center to low-density residential areas on the city's edge, 

like landed houses.

As a result, people have to commute by car every day,

making driving unavoidable.

Why does this happen?

Actually, it all started with the 

American Dream.

In the United States, 

freedom represents the ability to drive on the highway, 

the freedom of movement. 

This has always been the ideal we yearn for, 

the American Dream.

Starting from the 1950s,

after World War II, the American economy began to stabilize. 

People started pursuing a perfect life.

Everyone wanted to drive a big car, live in a detached house, and even have a dog.

This is the American Dream

Because incomes improved, cars became widespread. 

Many Americans began to afford personal cars, 

so they started moving to low-density suburban housing, 

similar to our Taman. 

If the land on the city’s edge wasn’t enough, what could be done? 

No problem, just keep expanding. 

Expand further into the suburbs. 

After all, everyone has cars now, and there are highways everywhere.

As a result, it took the U.S. about 30 to 50 years 

to become what it is today. 

Doesn’t this seem familiar? 

Doesn’t it look a lot like Malaysia? 

In fact, it’s not just the photos that look similar 

because we in Malaysia also have our own 

Malaysian Dream!

Deputy Minister Liew Chin Tong spoke very directly.

He said that

Malaysia started pursuing the American Dream

even before it became wealthy.

Since the 1980s, 

our economy started to improve, 

and the government promoted domestic cars. 

As a result, people began moving to the suburbs.

Consequently, Kuala Lumpur gradually 

expanded into the suburbs in a loose and uncontrolled manner.

While the city did grow,

it was the kind of inefficient urban sprawl.

Greater Kuala Lumpur's urban sprawl

Does Greater Kuala Lumpur really have urban sprawl? 

Don’t just make random claims. 

You need proof! Let's see the evidence.

Evidence 1: The population in the outer suburbs has surpassed that of the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory! 

From 1980 to 2020, 

the population growth rate in the outer areas of Kuala Lumpur has been significantly faster than that in the city itself. 

For example, the population growth rate in the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory is only about 2%, 

while the suburban areas have seen growth rates of 4% to 8%.

Even the populations of Petaling and Ulu Langat have started to surpass that of Kuala Lumpur.

The proportion of Kuala Lumpur's population within Greater Kuala Lumpur has fallen

from half in 1970 to just a quarter now.

Evidence 2: Urban expansion is faster than population growth

Firstly, many people often see traffic congestion on the roads 

and assume it's because Kuala Lumpur has a high population density. 

But actually, 

according to a 2015 World Bank survey, 

Kuala Lumpur has the third lowest population density in East Asia! 

Despite the government proudly stating, 

"Malaysia's urbanization rate is as high as 75%!", 

"Three-quarters of the population live in cities nationwide!", 

the reality is that 

our urbanization 

mostly involves converting 

rural areas on the outskirts into urban land.

It's just suburbanization.

Look at this English word;

I don't know how to pronounce it, you can see it yourselves - 

Suburbanization. 

Now, let's take a look at this map. 

The red area represents the developed area of Greater Kuala Lumpur in 1990,

which expanded to the green area by 2001

and further to the blue area by 2014.

Although the city is expanding rapidly,

the population cannot keep up with the pace of urban expansion.

Evidence 3: Excessive Separation of Residential and Commercial Areas

Friends who have been to Japan, South Korea, or Hong Kong and Taiwan 

know that urban life there is very convenient. 

Whether it's supermarkets, pharmacies, or restaurants, 

you can find them within a few steps. 

But why is it so difficult in Greater Kuala Lumpur?

Let's take a look at this map. 

The red represents shops, 

yellow represents offices, 

and gray represents residences. 

On the left side, we have Kuala Lumpur's planning approach, 

while on the right side, we have mixed residential and commercial areas from other countries.

Which side do you think is more convenient to live in, the left or the right? 

Look, on the left side, not only is it inconvenient, 

but it indirectly encourages you to drive! 

In fact, Malaysian universities have conducted many studies, 

comparing the city centers of Kuala Lumpur and Penang, for example.

The results show that 

Kuala Lumpur's mixed-use areas are even less than those in Penang,

and the separation of residential and commercial areas in Kuala Lumpur is a key factor in urban sprawl.

Let's take the Bandar Utama MRT station in Petaling Jaya (PJ) as an example. 

These red dots represent shops or malls where you can buy groceries, 

but they are concentrated in just one or two areas.

The surrounding Taman areas hardly have any shops.

This means that when you need to buy household items for your home,

you might have to drive quite a distance to find a store.

Of course, someone might say, 

"Oh, but Singapore also has residential and commercial separation!" 

You're not mentioning that? You're not mentioning it! 

Huh? Are you targeting me? 

Oh, yes, 

Singapore does have residential and commercial separation, that's correct—no targeting intended! 

However, the biggest difference between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore 

actually lies in the details! 

Let's take Ang Mo Kio in Singapore as an example. 

The beige areas represent residential zones, 

while the small pink, light blue, and dark blue areas represent different shops. 

See?

These commercial areas are cleverly and evenly distributed throughout the residential areas.

You only need to walk a little to fulfill your daily needs.

Evidence 4: Leapfrog Development

Actually, healthy urban development should expand gradually in an orderly manner. 

It starts from the red city core 

and slowly expands to the purple area. 

Once the purple area matures, it further expands to the blue area. 

However, once it loses control, "leapfrog" development occurs. 

These scattered red dots outside 

are disconnected from the city's development. 

That's leapfrogging! 

Have you often seen new residential areas 

popping up in faraway suburbs of Kuala Lumpur, where there used to be nothing?

They even self-identify as "Bandar" something "City" and so on. 

According to sampling surveys, 

up to 46% of Kuala Lumpur's development plans are leapfrog developments! 

Leapfrog projects typically have lower population densities, 

leading to Kuala Lumpur becoming increasingly scattered.

This can address some friends' questions 

you must have had just now. 

Isn't our area enough? 

What if everyone squeezes into the city? 

Can't we go further away? This is inevitable! 

It's not that we can't, 

but it needs to be planned with practical expansion,

not leapfrogging!

Evidence 5: Land Allotted to Cars

For many island cities, land is an extremely precious resource. 

Efforts are made to plan land for residential, commercial, or green spaces. 

But in Malaysia... 

well... it's given over to cars! 

How should I put it? 

Look, it's either wide and vast roads 

or colossal parking lots. 

And did you know?

The space required for driving a car might be larger than your home! 

According to statistics, 

the average area used by cars for roads and parking spaces is approximately 850 to 2500 square feet. 

Isn't that larger than your home? 

Or are all our viewers really wealthy? (Where are the sponsors?) 

Let's take a look at this chart. 

Starting from the left, 

it shows the space needed for walking, taking the bus, and riding a bicycle.

They hardly take up any space. 

But on the far right, 

the most space-consuming is, 

of course, cars! 

Isn't it excessively large? 

Let's say 

you want to go out and buy a bottle of soy sauce, 

but it's too far to walk

because you have to go to another area to get it. 

So, you have no choice but to drive, right? 

But once you drive out, you get stuck in traffic, 

all just because you wanted 

a bit of salty flavor, 

leading to an inexplicable increase in traffic volume! 

Isn't this a burden?

Okay, when you reach the commercial area, 

parking spaces are always full! 

So, the government, afraid of you cursing them, 

tries to widen the roads, 

and then developers, afraid of you not buying their houses, 

quickly convert more land into car parks 

to solve parking problems.

As a result, buildings become farther and farther apart, 

with huge roads and parking lots in between, 

needlessly increasing walking distances 

and worsening urban sprawl! 

Next time you go out, observe carefully, 

and you'll find that walking seems to have become more difficult, 

and you end up driving again, 

falling into an endless vicious cycle.

So, there's always a cause for everything. 

We often complain about this and that, 

but we don't really know what the real key reasons are.

This episode aims to solve everyone's doubts.

Reasons for Urban Sprawl

Reason 1: Government's Effective Development Strategy

From the 1970s to the 1980s, 

the federal government of Malaysia 

pursued a new economic policy aimed at narrowing the wealth gap. 

This policy led to a significant influx of government funds into rural and undeveloped areas. 

At the same time, 

the government promoted decentralized industrial development 

to avoid industries clustering in more advanced cities . 

like Kuala Lumpur or Penang. 

Instead, it encouraged businesses to invest in other locations. 

As a result, many people either moved from rural areas to newly developed new towns created by the government 

or witnessed their own villages urbanizing or suburbanizing

In the 1980s, the government began efforts to attract foreign investment, 

leading various multinational companies to establish factories in the outskirts of cities 

such as Port Klang and Shah Alam in Kuala Lumpur 

or Bayan Baru and Kulim in Penang. 

Factories require employees, and where there are employees, there must be housing.

Therefore, new towns began to emerge around industrial areas. 

In later years, the government aggressively built places like Putrajaya and Cyberjaya.

The result was that the speed of urban sprawl became unstoppable!

Reason 2: Driving is Cheap and Convenient~

In Malaysia, fuel prices have always been relatively low. 

Coupled with the gradual increase in national income, 

the government encourages car ownership! 

Why does the government encourage car ownership? 

As mentioned in our previous video, 

with commuting becoming more comfortable and faster, 

driving has become the norm, with people opting for longer distances.

Public transportation users have become a minority.

Moreover, our government is so considerate of its people~ 

In order to alleviate traffic congestion, they keep building highways. 

Before 1990, 

Kuala Lumpur only had two highways with a total length of 68.3 kilometers. 

But by 2019, 

Kuala Lumpur had a total of 26 highways! 

The total length surged to 754.4 kilometers!

Although this allows people to enter the city from the suburbs faster,

it indirectly encourages people to move even further away,

exacerbating urban sprawl.

Reason 3: Suburban Land is Cheap, and Government Encourages Development?

Usually, land in urban areas tends to be more expensive, 

and living spaces are relatively small. 

Therefore, many developers prefer to acquire land in the suburbs to build houses. 

Especially in Malaysia, where land is vast and abundant, the supply is endless! 

Consequently, houses in the suburbs are larger and cheaper. 

Many middle-class buyers find that with the same budget, 

they can only afford a small unit in the city center, 

whereas in the suburbs, they can live in a Landed House~ 

which is much more comfortable! 

"Since I have a car and fuel is cheap," they say, 

"why not live a little further away?"

This might be the mindset of many people! 

For example, many used to move to Puchong or Setia Alam 

because property prices there were much more affordable than in Kuala Lumpur. 

Moreover, often the state governments also encourage developers to develop land! 

Why is that? 

Because the state government's tax revenue is limited! 

It mainly comes from land tax or property tax. 

Income tax and SST are paid to the federal government. 

So, state governments can only continuously develop land 

to encourage the construction of houses and thereby increase tax revenue. 

Speaking of taxes, we've done an episode before 

where we fully explained Malaysia's "taxes." 

Where does the tax money go? 

It's definitely worth watching, so be sure to check it out~

Now, after such development, as time goes by, 

are we starting to see the repercussions of urban sprawl? 

Endless troubles~ 

From an economic perspective, 

urban expansion in the early stages can indeed stimulate economic activity. 

Building bridges, buildings, and roads will surely boost GDP numbers. 

However, these benefits are short-lived because the other repercussions

it brings may be more worthy of our attention.

Aftermath 1: Donut City

Here's a new term to learn! 

Let's make it clear: this "Donut" isn't something you eat, although it's delicious~ 

Here, "Donut" refers to 

the phenomenon where there's an empty hole in the middle of our Kuala Lumpur city center! 

This is because the population in the center 

has decreased or grown insufficiently, leading to the decline of those older developed urban areas.

For example, from 1991 to 2010, 

Malaysia's population moved to the suburbs, 

causing the proportion of the population in the city center to maintain only one-third. 

Conversely, in the outskirts, 

the proportion surged from nearly 0% to 37.1%!

So, the ministers say that 

although Kuala Lumpur's city center has the best public transportation in the country 

and has spent a lot of money to improve various facilities 

like the River of Life, LRT, and MRT, 

the truth is that there are very few people 

actually living in the Kuala Lumpur city center!

Therefore, this indirectly wastes the allocation of public funds and space,

draining the government's coffers!

Aftermath 2: Draining Government Funds?

Because many people live in the suburbs, 

the government also has to foot the bill for local public construction and maintenance, 

such as 

roads, 

streetlights, 

water supply, 

electricity, 

sewage, 

flood prevention, 

internet, 

fire departments, 

hospitals, 

schools, 

police stations, 

and so on and so forth. 

If there are 10 outer cities, 

then these services and facilities have to be multiplied by 10. 

If there are 50, then by 50! 

So, we can see the cost items 

arising from urban sprawl. 

No need to read them all out loud; just looking at them might make you dizzy.

Some might start getting angry at this point, 

saying that it's the government's responsibility to provide these services! 

Well, yeah, 

you're not wrong. 

But... 

the costs are high! 

That's all I'm saying. 

According to studies abroad, the expenditure on providing public facilities 

and services in large and sprawling suburban areas 

can be two to ten times higher than usual.

A study in Canada found that while the cost per household in urban areas 

was 1,400 Canadian dollars (approximately 4,800 Malaysian Ringgit), in the suburbs, 

it was 3,400 Canadian dollars (approximately 11,700 Malaysian Ringgit)! 

Why is that? 

Well, we've got an example! 

Singapore has a population of about 5 million 

and a land area of 700 square kilometers. .

Kuala Lumpur has a population of 8 million 

but a land area of 2,800 square kilometers—

four times larger but with less than half the population. 

As a result, the hardware facilities, whether it's the internet, electricity, or mass transit, 

in Singapore can serve more people in a smaller area, 

leading to lower average costs per person

According to data, 

the economic burden of urban sprawl on the US economy 

has exceeded 1 trillion US dollars (approximately 4.8 trillion Malaysian Ringgit)! 

Scary, right? 

Are we in Malaysia as rich as the US? 

Ugh, let's not go there~

In fact, a classic book on urban studies mentions the 

"Goldilocks population density" problem, 

where the population density 

is too low for cities 

but too high for suburbs, 

making it unrealistic. 

Because when the government provides facilities, 

it faces issues of supply and demand and costs. 

If covering costs is difficult, the government has no choice but to lower the quality—

for example, delaying pothole repairs, 

reducing bus services, 

or postponing flood prevention measures. 

It probably hasn't rained recently anyway~

So, in the end, urban sprawl ends up devouring us.

Aftermath 3: Destruction of Nature and Worsening Pollution

Let's look at some pictures for the truth. 

Which do you think is better for nature, the 100 landed houses on the left 

or the 100 apartment units on the right? 

Actually, the biggest problem with urban sprawl 

is inefficient expansion. 

Let's emphasize: inefficient expansion. 

It's not that expansion shouldn't happen, but it's inefficient expansion that encroaches on forests or farmland. 

This not only destroys natural habitats 

but also indirectly threatens our food security. 

Moreover, when grasslands are turned into asphalt roads, 

the result is more frequent occurrences of floods.

Speaking of why Malaysia often experiences floods, we've made a video about it, so you can go watch it. 

So, skyscrapers aren't necessarily to blame~ 

We've talked before about things like "steel forests."

Actually, they're not the ones at fault!

Let's not blame them wrongly.

Aftermath 4: Threats to Life and Health

According to an American magazine, 

urban sprawl is closely related to obesity and high blood pressure. 

WHY? 

Because people's daily lives mostly involve driving, with very little walking.

So, we have much fewer opportunities for physical activity compared to people in other countries. 

Look at Japan; everyone there is slim.

Unless you intentionally spend money on the gym or treadmill, 

our level of physical activity is really low!

Plus, we often drive because we're afraid of the heat. 

Sorry, but I drive because I'm afraid of the heat. 

This indirectly increases the risk of accidents. 

And let's not even talk about the pollution caused by increased exhaust emissions.

Just think, when was the last time you walked for a long time on the road? 

Not the kind from the mall to the car park. 

Not the kind where you think walking to the car park is too far.

I mean the kind where you actually walk or take public transport to get things done.

Conclusion - Don't blame Anthony

Alright, after talking so much, what should we do? 

It seems like there's no right answer, huh? 

We can't do anything about it, can we? 

If the government plans everything well, why not just buy the houses? 

Actually, the problem already has a solution. 

Experts say we can draw a boundary around the city to limit its growth, 

decentralize power and taxation to local authorities, 

or establish compact cities that are the opposite 

of urban sprawl.

It means confining people and resources within a defined area, 

where everything needed for daily life 

is within a 15-minute walk. 

If we delve into these topics further, it might get a bit too long

We'll have the opportunity to share more with you next time.

Feel free to comment! 

If you think it's too heavy, say it's too heavy! 

If you're interested, say you're interested! 

We're looking forward to your response. 

Okay! I think our scriptwriter really... 

doesn't know how much data crawling he's done!

 Let's give him a big hug, shall we?

Give him some love! 

In summary, 

the government shouldn't just pursue "bigness" 

because what we need is "urbanization for people, not for land." 

This concept needs to be clear. 

ok , one more time 

because what we need is "urbanization for people, not for land." 

After all, Kuala Lumpur's issues go beyond just transportation. 

No matter how much MRT we have, 

it only temporarily solves commuting needs without addressing the challenges and problems brought by urban sprawl.

So, let's not blame Anthony anymore. 

This is a result of very complex development. 

Lastly, let me quote the father of Singapore's planning, Dr. Liu Thai Ker: 

"Cities must be fully functional, serving residents' 

needs rather than prioritizing spectacle." 

This isn't just something for Malaysia's government to consider; 

many countries could learn from it.

Perhaps Malaysians and the government need to adopt this pragmatic approach. 

Recently, the government 

decided to cancel fuel subsidies. 

With high fuel prices, 

we might see a wave of urban migration. 

Would people moving back to the city be a good or bad thing?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

If you liked today's video, 

remember to leave a comment! If you didn't like it, no need to tell me. 

Alternatively, you can tell me what topics you'd like us to cover. 

Our YouTube editor, Soon Teik, was also the scriptwriter for this episode.

He collects interesting topic suggestions from everyone, 

and then we discuss and decide which one to make in our meetings. 

So, feel free to share any ideas you have! 

We upload a new video every Wednesday and Saturday. 

If you're watching at home on TV, 

don't forget to use your phone to comment after watching!

Interaction, or joining as a member, is also welcome! 

Just the cost of a cup of milk tea each month can help us go even further!

I'm Yin Yin, see you in the next video!