With reference to Malaysia, the migration of the poor from rural to urban areas in peninsular Malaysia
is an important dimension of urban growth and it is this group of people who more often than not
occupying the less safe squatter settlements on flood plains (Chan and Parker, 1996). For instance, the
implementation of the New Economic Policy (NEP) in Malaysia in the 1970s has encouraged the
traditionally rural Malays to participate in urban economies but difficulties in buying or renting affordable
houses in the cities led to the opening of new areas as squatter settlements, including flood-prone areas
along the rivers (USM, 1999).