INTERPRETING PERI-URBAN LANDSCAPE CHANGES THROUGH GOVERNANCE AND COMMUNITY PERCEPTION IN HULU LANGAT, MALAYSIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24191/myse.v13i2.9305Keywords:
Peri-urban governance, Landscape change, Community perception, Sustainable planningAbstract
Peri-urban landscapes represent dynamic frontiers of urbanisation where ecological systems, rural livelihoods, and development pressures converge. In Malaysia, these transitional zones are undergoing rapid transformation, particularly around the Klang Valley, where development intensity continues to reshape physical and cultural landscapes. Although spatial studies using remote sensing have extensively documented land-use and land-cover (LULC) change, far less is known about how such transformations are perceived by communities and how governance quality influences those perceptions. This study investigates the perceived drivers of landscape change in Hulu Langat sub-district and examines the influence of governance, policy, and institutional factors on community perception. Using a quantitative survey of 404 residents, descriptive and regression analyses were conducted to rank perceived causes and identify significant predictors of overall perception. Weighted scoring identified population increase, urban sprawl, and governance quality as the three most influential drivers. The multiple regression model (F (5,400) = 3.425, p = 0.005, R² = 0.041) revealed that governance and policy (β = 0.111, p = 0.040) were the only statistically significant predictors of perceived landscape change. The findings suggest that residents interpret landscape transformation less through its physical expansion and more through the credibility, transparency, and consistency of local governance. Strengthening institutional coordination and participatory mechanisms is therefore essential to improve community trust and policy legitimacy. The study concludes that sustainable management of Malaysia’s peri-urban landscapes requires governance frameworks that are not only technically sound but also socially responsive, aligning with the broader goals of inclusive and transparent urban sustainability.
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