Formulation of a Malaysia Modern Rural Development Framework: Synergising Rural for Change

Abstract

Malaysian government aims to transform rural areas into economic focal points, improves rural livelihoods, living environment and narrows the life quality gaps between those living in urban and rural areas. Inspired by the government directive-aspirations and the emergence of new technologies in national and global rural practices, this paper attempts to discuss the formulation of a framework for rural development in Malaysia based on a modern approach. The process undertakes two main stages, namely focused literature study and review of the national existing policies and strategies to identify the key assessment elements and criteria for modern rural development. The next stage was to conduct an expert view survey to validate the developed elements and criteria, and then formulate a Malaysia modern rural development framework (FMRD). The FMRD was finally formulated by incorporating the elements and criteria promoted in the national policies and strategies and integrating them with smart technologies and ICT practices to reflect a holistic approach for rural issues. This paper concludes that the FMRD is a timely approach for the rural assessment measure to maximise its performance towards the future niches in Malaysia - rural liveability-resilient-and-smart.

Lifestyle changes in rural communities through spatial reproduction practices: A case study in Madiun Regency

“…Rural lifestyle changes have an adverse influence on the emergence of social and economic inequality within rural communities (Vorobyov & Bugai 2019, Liu et al 2020, Rashid et al 2021. This is consistent with a study conducted by Ziwei Qi (2019), which found that changes in lifestyle lead to gender inequality in access to resources and services.…”

The Critical Success Factors of Agrotourism Real Estate Investment

“…For example, the use of GPS and precision farming techniques has enabled more efficient and sustainable agricultural practices (Putri et al, 2015;Rehman & Hussain, 2016). Furthermore, the use of electronic record storage and inventory management systems has allowed agritourism businesses to more easily track and analyze data related to their operations (Mpiti & de la Harpe, 2016;Rashid et al, 2021). However, the use of ICT in agritourism is not without its challenges.…”

“…One issue is the potential for a digital divide, where smaller or less technologically advanced agritourism businesses may be at a disadvantage (Martin et al, 2015). Additionally, there are concerns about the potential for ICT to replace personal interaction and hands-on experience, which are often valued by agritourism customers (Rashid et al, 2021).…”

Aligning Malaysian Agrotourism Real Estate Investment with The Sustainable Development Goals: Opportunities

“…By aligning with SDGs, Malaysian agrotourism real estate investments can contribute to addressing social inclusion challenges. Agrotourism programmes can empower local communities by providing employment opportunities and promoting cultural preservation through heritage tourism initiatives [1]. In addition, it is crucial that these initiatives prioritise inclusive practices that promote gender equality, accessibility for people with disabilities, and respect for indigenous rights.…”

“…Given the country's abundance of fertile land and other resources, agrotourism in Malaysia has great potential. There is a wide variety of agricultural attractions in Malaysia that could attract visitors from all over the world, such as the lush tea gardens in the Cameron Highlands, the bright tropical fruit orchards in Penang, and the pepper farms in Sarawak [1].…”