CONCLUSION AND LESSONS
One of the main reasons for the massive, unsolved housing problem in the developing countries is that solutions based on western prototypes have been applied to the problem of housing the poor- solutions that are inappropriate, expensive, and alienating, both physically and socially.
The traditional Malay house, on the other hand, demonstrates that the housing problem can be efficiently solved by the users themselves, pro- vided they are given the necessary resources: land, finances, and the freedom to build. This may require appropriate government intervention, for example, to ensure that the people have land tenure security - or it may require the removal of inappropriate government interventions, as when new standards, rules, and bureaucracy take the decision-making rights from the people and give them to experts.
One solution to the problem of urban housing could be a prefabricated system that is based on the traditional Malay house - an approach that could lead to a more humane, socially and ecologically sound urban environment and one that fosters a strong sense of community. In so doing, we would be building on the positive aspects of our indigenous heritage, strengthening our cultural identity, and developing the confidence for a more self-directed and self-reliant development