‘WHAT is the city but the people?’ writes William Shakespeare in Coriolanus. If a city is defined by its people, then the measures adopted by international surveys need to change to emphasise the people, its rich culture and traditions as much as the high living standards.
Last year, the Global Liveability Index ranked Kuala Lumpur 77, the second highest-ranked city in Southeast Asia behind Singapore. In another survey this year, Mercer’s 21st annual Quality of Living ranked Kuala Lumpur 85. Again, it listed KL behind Singapore, but ahead of other cities in Southeast Asia.
The idea of a liveable city is in itself problematic, depending on who you speak to. Views from environmentalists and anthropologists may differ from those of economists and international businesses. Measures, indices and methodology are not foolproof. Then there is also the question of context.
What makes a city liveable? The answers vary. During the Ecocity World Summit in Melbourne in 2017, experts argued that popular international surveys mainly catered to international businesses seeking to relocate their employees abroad. Liveable cities is a concept embedded in subjectivity. If international surveys are of any indication, then there is a disconnect between the desire of the people wishing to grow old gracefully and the multinational companies looking for global expansion.
This Leader will not argue the measures that make a city liveable. Let the facts speak for themselves. Just look at Malaysia’s achievements in areas that mark the cities liveable, affordable and sustainable with a network of rural-urban interconnectedness. The fact that Malaysia is one of the top countries to retire in is proof enough — in the Top 10 World’s Best Places to Retire in 2019, the Annual Global Retirement Index placed Malaysia at No. 5 behind Panama, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and Equador. Affordability, efficient public transportation system and rich cultural heritage are some of the measures used in the survey. It also named Penang as one of the preferred destinations for foreigners to settle down. Another city high on the list is Ipoh, with its modern infrastructure and excellent healthcare facilities.
Liveable cities is not a utopian concept and Malaysia continues to define them by having its people in mind. In May, it was announced that the Seberang Perai Municipal Council would be upgraded to city status after Hari Raya. Seberang Perai, formerly Province Wellesley, is the largest municipality in the country, with a population exceeding 500,000 and a revenue of RM100 million.
The plan for an integrated bicycle lane network in KL is another people-centric idea that should carry huge scores in the global liveability index. As the city prepares to embrace its Greater Kuala Lumpur initiative, the city’s transportation system continues to expand, reaching out beyond the city limits. With the West Coast Expressway scheduled to be rolled out soon and the revised East Coast Rail Link back on track, the country’s extensive transportation system is complemented by its devotion to the people’s basic needs. Just take a walk in the Ramadan bazaar, weekly night markets and neighbourhood markets in the city, such as Pasar Keramat and Pasar Chow Kit. Listen closely and you can almost hear the city beating rhythmically to the pulse of the people.