Preliminary communication
https://doi.org/10.5673/sip.51.3.6
Development at the Margins: Livelihood and Sustainability of Communities at Malaysia - Indonesia Borders
Sulehan Junaenah
; Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities; Center for Social, Development and Environmental Studies; University Kebangsaan; Malaysia
Rahamah Abu Bakar Noor
; Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities; Center for Social, Development and Environmental Studies; University Kebangsaan; Malaysia
Awang Abd Hair
; Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities; Center for Social, Development and Environmental Studies; University Kebangsaan; Malaysia
Yusof Abdullah Mohd
; Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Center for Media and Communication Studies, University Kebangsaan, Malaysia
Puay Liu Ong
; Institute of Ethnic Studies, University Kebangsaan, Malaysia
Abstract
Small communities living on the margin of development generally face a
myriad of issues and challenges. Paradoxically, although livelihood is a major concern
for these communities, their integration into the mainstream of development seems
a remote and endless problem. This article, therefore, has three objectives. Firstly,
it discusses the socio-economic dynamics of the Sarawak-Kalimantan border communities
whose villages are obscured from the mainstream of development. Lately,
villages and small townships along this border had caught the attention of the media, politicians, planners and researchers. This was the consequent result of media highlights
on Malaysia-Indonesia border disputes and cultural issues, which were further
expanded to encompass matters relating to national security and economic interests
of both countries. However, the socio-economic plights of these border communities
were seldom articulated. Secondly, based on case studies conducted between 2009
and 2010, this paper focuses on issues of livelihood and sustainability of these border
communities, particularly the Bidayuh ethnic living in Serikin (Sarawak) and JagoiBabang
(West Kalimantan). The studies especially focused on the participation of these
villagers in the socio-economic spheres within the border areas, and also assessed to
what extent the livelihoods of these villagers were influenced and affected by such
dynamics. Lastly, by exploring the possible theoretical explanation of the unique social
phenomenon taking place at the margin of development in Malaysia, this article
examines the embedded cultural and social affiliations which help sustain the tradition
of economic exchange between communities on both sides of the borders.
Keywords
community development; livelihood; sustainability; border communities; social dynamics
Hrčak ID:
115076
URI
Publication date:
3.2.2014.
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