Sociopolitical economy and spatial accentuation of neighbourhood gentrification in East Malaysia

Abstract The rapid displacement and land expropriation from property owners are generating an imbalance between lower-income households and the developers in many communities in the central area of large cities worldwide. While the need to prevent urban decline, rejuvenate declining/dilapidating neighbourhoods and promote sustainable urban development has always been at the forefront of neighbourhood gentrification, developers are the major beneficiaries of the rapid rise in property prices. This study examines the important drivers of gentrification in East Malaysia from political, economic, social and spatial lenses. This research was analysed using a questionnaire survey data collected from housing developers and other allied professionals with relevant experience in neighbourhood gentrification in East Malaysia. Then, the hierarchical clustering technique followed by the Relative importance index (RII) computation was used to determine the relationship between the identified driving factors, the grouping of drivers into relatable clusters, as well as to determine the most influential cluster and drivers encouraging the course of neighbourhood gentrification. The study uncovers a compelling insight: although political factors exert the greatest influence on neighbourhood gentrification, it is crucial to acknowledge the substantial roles played by economic, social, and spatial drivers in its emergence, albeit to a somewhat lesser degree. Our findings emphasise the pivotal importance of eight political derivatives, which shape and contribute to the complex dynamics of gentrification, underscoring their significance in understanding its multifaceted nature. The findings of this research are a valid reference point for the relevant stakeholders to garner greater insight into the particularities of neighbourhood gentrification in East and Malaysia and many urban communities around the globe.