3.2. Vulnerable communities
Mileti and Gailus (2005) suggest the urban poor and the marginalised are the vulnerable communities
often involved in risk communication when responding to hazards. Risk communication means
exchanging of information about health risks caused by environmental, industrial or agricultural
processes, policies, or products among individuals, groups, and institutions (Glick, 2007). Risk
communication often attempts to establish persuasive strategies to persuade the public in adopting a
particular view regarding some risks. Low-income people in many countries try to survive in flood-prone
locations because they have few alternative livelihoods; therefore they are forced to put themselves at risk
since they have no other option (Wisner et al., 2004). Meanwhile, it has been opined that the vulnerability
of the urban poor migrants stem from their limited opportunity and lack of access to the structure of
power while their hazard response is limited due to their lack of access to knowledge and resources.
Additionally, Mileti and Gailus (2005) propose that the vulnerability of the poor can be considered 'selfinflicting'
since these sectors of society have knowingly chosen to occupy a hazardous area due to the
limited resources they have. Some of the actions or behaviours they exhibit can worsen the situation
further.
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).