Abstract
Framed by global south urban studies‟ discussions about the issues of power in the production of informality, this paper critically assesses the urban development history of a traditionally inhabited area in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Based on the analysis of official documents and 18 months of observation and application of semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, this paper first presents the urban development history of this area, and then discusses it in light of two emergent themes associated with issues of power in informality, namely state power and market forces. Casting a critical eye towards the idea of informality as something that should be „fixed‟ by urban development practices, this work discusses the sharp influence of state power and market forces in the production of informality in Kuala Lumpur and, consequently, in other global south cities.
Highlights
The beginning of the 21st century marked a major shift in the urbanization of the world
The development interventions in and around the emblematic area of Kampong Bharu located in the heart of the city highlight the urge of an urban practice compromised with different ways of looking at informality
Addressing the UN-Habitat call for the exploration of a different planning approach to reduce inequality within growing cities – stated in the beginning of the paper – and framed by the global south urban studies‟ discussion about the issues of power in the production of informality, this paper has explored the informality in Kampong Bharu, Kuala Lumpur, through its urban development history
Summary
Focusing on experiences of cities everywhere, but in particular those of the global south, a group of authors have broadened the understanding of informality. Discussing in depth the official notion and narrative of development within Africa, AbdouMaliq Simone (2004) critiques what is conventionally known as legality/illegality, formal/informal,etc., documenting and analyzing the emergent forms of social collaboration and their importance in the remaking of a broad range of African cities. As another example, drawing on the Indian context, Roy (2009) discusses the question „why some forms of informality are criminalized and rendered illegal while others enjoy state sanction or are even practices of the state‟(83). Conscious of the complexity of each of those critical elements, this paper focuses on one of them: the issues of power
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
