CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE

REVIEW

CHAPTER 2:
LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 INTRODUCTION
Low cost housing is one of the incentives of government to help the residents from
the lower income group to have their own house. The aim of the government for this
group is to help them live in comfortable environment and also to improve their
quality of life. According to Husin, et. al (2013), the low cost housing programmes
was established in the 7th Malaysia Plan (1996-2000) to the 9th Malaysia Plan
(2006-2010). The intention of this housing program is to avoid or eliminate the
squatters or illegal residents. This entire squatters and illegal residential also gives a
bad image of the country. That is why the government wish to solve this squatters
problems.
The programme of low cost housing also includes the infrastructure facilities.
Government provides the facilities for use of the residents. Adequate facilities would
create comfort in the residents. This means that the facilities are one of the benefits
to the residents. Nowadays, the cost of life has increased especially in urban areas.
The low income families could not afford to do everything on their own. The low cost
housing must also be provided with related facilities such playgrounds, recreational
area and the like.

The satisfaction level among the residents is important too. This is because it can
help in producing good quality of life for the residents. The satisfaction level among
the residents is based on the physical characteristics of the housing units, the
neighbourhood environment, and the services provided within the housing area and
quality of public facilities and services (Mohit and Azim, 2012). The residents
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satisfactory level is not just based on the condition of the house and the
environment but also the facilities. The facilities are one of the things that they need
in their daily life. Based on a research by Pina, Kowaltowski et. al as citied in Mohit
and Azim (2012), the satisfaction in the housing was related to the communal
services like roads, sewer system and basic utilities at the housing area. All this are
the main factor to the satisfaction of the residents. It shows that the infrastructure
facilities are important at the housing area.

2.2 LOW COST HOUSING

The house is one of the basic needs of human beings. For human beings their home
is brilliantly refuge from any threat or danger. Humans also have a desire to have
their own home. This is because ownership will provide comfort to them. Because of
this, the government has introduced a new program of low-cost housing program.
The purpose of the introduction of this program is to help low-income residents. The
program was introduced in the Seventh Malaysia Plan and it is still under discussion
in the present Malaysia Plan. The low-cost housing program is meant to help lowincome earners to own their own home. This can also help these people improve the
quality of life. When the standard of living of these people, it will also help the socioeconomic country. Table 1.0 is show the types and price of the house in Malaysia.

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Table 2.0: Types and price of the house
No

Types of House

Floor Area

1
2
3

Low Cost
Middle Low Cost
Middle Cost

700 sq ft
750 sq ft
800 sq

Price

ft

Price

(Peninsular)
From RM 35,000
From RM 50,000
and From RM 80,000

(Sabah & Sarawak

From RM 50,000
From RM 70,000
From RM 100,000

above
Source: Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad
Low cost housing program is one of the programs to provide a house for the low
income groups. The design for this low-cost housing has been set up by the
government. All low-cost houses built are hoped to be in accordance with the
standards set by the government. The design the house of the low cost housing is
similar all the way. This is because the costs for the construction of low cost houses
have been allocated. The characteristics of low-cost houses are the living room,
kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms. These features show that the low cost houses
are the perfect home for the low-income earners. According to Kementerian
Kesejahteraan

Bandar,

Perumahan

dan

Kerajaan

Tempatan

(2013),

the

characteristics of the low cost housing can be as listed below:

Type-rise between 5 and 18 floors in the large cities

Landed properties in coastal and suburban

Width - not less than 700 square feet

Construction 3 Bedroom, 1 Living Room, 1 Living Kitchen, 2

Bathrooms

The reason to provide this house is to help the people who cannot afford to get their
own house. So this would mean that this group can also get their own house and the
house is really comfortable for living. The demand for this house is always high. A

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research by Awang Besar, et al. (2012), shows that the low cost housing demand is
increasing. It is because the changes in perception of the house from the public and
also the growth of the socioeconomic that is really fast moving. It is an important
needed by the residents. But there are some people who are not satisfied with the
low-cost houses. To them it is too small to live in. This makes them uncomfortable to
occupy the house. It is very obvious especially for people who have a large number
of family members.
The low cost housing is categorized into two (Kementerian Kesejahteraan Bandar,
Perumahan dan.Kerajaan Tempatan, 2013). It is either they own it or just a rental
basis. This low-cost housing program is for those who have an income from RM750
to not more than RM2500 per month. These people cannot afford to own a home
with the current market price. It is shown in Table 1.1.It is specially meant for those
living in the urban area. The availability of low-cost housing price, the low-income
groups can afford to own their own home. This indicates that the government has
never ignored the low-income groups. They are also given the opportunity to live
more comfortably. For the low-income communities the advent of low-cost housing
program seems can reduce the burden of their lives. Thus they can enhance their
quality of life as everyone else as well.

Table 2.1: Category of low cost housing

No

Category

Price (Peninsular)

Price

(Sabah

Sarawak)
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1
2

Own
Rent

RM 30,000 and RM 35,000

RM 124.00

RM 40,500
-

Source: Kementerian Kesejahteraan Bandar, Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan

(2013)
According to Omar (2008), residents in low-cost housing areas were aware that they
will be sharing environment and facilities provided. Government Transformation
Program in their annual report (2010), this basic infrastructure is important as it lays
the foundation for the introduction of social amenities such as schools and hospitals
as well as economic opportunities in the rural areas. Omar (2008) mentioned that
the community facilities provided including secondary and primary schools,
kindergartens, religious centres, community halls, bus stops, shop houses,
playground, car parking spaces and motorcycle parking bays. In other hand, the
housing development and the role of transport infrastructure road network of quality
of life of the community and it related to each other (Aznie, et al. 2012). Aznie, et al.
(2012) stated, these include variable income, working environment, housing
ownership, environmental conditions, family life, social participation and the
provision of infrastructure facilities and basic amenities in connection therewith,
including clean water, electricity, road networks, drainage, drainage, waste disposal
system, garbage facilities, health services, education, recreation, telephone lines
and communication as well as providing comfort and happiness in the lives of
people throughout the community. Housing facilities should be provided near the
workplace and with good access to public facilities, such as public transport (Malek
& Husin, 2012). This is also seen when low-cost housing is located on the periphery
of urban areas, away from job opportunities and transport links, or where housing is
located next to rubbish dumps, polluted waterways and busy roads (Zami & Lee,
2010).

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This research is more focus on the types of the infrastructure facilities in low cost
housing, the problem on the infrastructure and a way to solve this problem. All these
objectives hope to know what the level of satisfied the residents against the
infrastructure facilities. The first is to find the types of the infrastructure facilities
provided in the area of low cost housing. Secondly, to identify the problem that
occurs in the infrastructure facilities. The research also hopes to know if all the
facilities provide a good service to the users. After getting the result the next step is
to take the necessary action to look for solution. The solution is more on how to
improve the quality of the infrastructure facilities.

Figure 2.0: Low Cost Housing (Flats)

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2.3 TYPES OF INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES THAT NEED

BY THE RESIDENTS IN THE LOW COST HOUSING
Infrastructure facilities are one of the essential requirements in the present. With
increasing life progress, the infrastructure also affects. When a country becomes
more developed then the provision of this infrastructure will also increase.
Infrastructures are provided by the government for public use. The purpose of this
facility is available is to simplify the lives of people in this country. It is especially lowincome earners. Provisions of these facilities have a positive impact on their daily
lives. Provision of these facilities has reduced the burden of life in the present. This
is because with the progress of this increasing then it will affect their standard of
living which has also increased.
Housing construction in the country is increasing. This is because the demand for
houses higher society. It is especially in urban areas where housing demand is very
high. Most people in the village have migrated to the city area is. This is due to more
job opportunities that urban than in villages. When this migration occurs, the
demand for houses in the city will increase. In this case the government or private
parties will comply with their requests further increase housing construction in the
city. This includes the construction of low cost housing where housing demand is
also increasing. For housing construction it also includes the provision of
infrastructure. Each residential building is built it should include provision of
infrastructure facilities for users. Provision of this infrastructure is one of the
attractions to consumers to buy homes in the area.
The infrastructure facilities is one important needed at the housing area. It is
because the facilities can make easier to the residents to do their activity. Usually
most of the residents will make sure before they buy the house the area of the
house is provide and nearest at the facilities. Government that want develop

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housing must also provide the facilities to be used for the residents. This is because
the housing and interconnected facilities. Once the infrastructure facilities are
provided it can give the benefits to the both parties. First party is the as the authority
can get the benefits from this when they provide a facilities with the good services
can attract the people to buy the house. Second party who is the residents can feel
the benefits to use the facilities when they buy a house.
Provision of infrastructure is crucial for the construction of low cost housing. In this
study it is more focused on the provision of facilities to the residents of this low-cost
housing area. Infrastructure can be defined as the facilities provided or required for
a life. With the provision of this infrastructure will help reduce the burden of life for
people who belong to the low income. The path can also help improve the quality of
their lives. Some of the basic facilities that are as electricity and water supply, roads,
garbage disposal system, parking and others. While other facilities like playgrounds,
shops, schools and places of public transport services. The important utility for this
area housing is supply clean water to the residential (Sani, 2006). All these facilities
are the basic need of the resident to in low cost housing for their use in their daily
life. Not only in this area but another area also needs these facilities. It is shown how
the importance of the facilities in the housing area. If the facilities not good enough
provided it can be affect to the resident lifestyle. Reported by the Bahagian
Penyelidikan Dan Pembangunan Jabatan Perumahan Negara (2013), the good of
the infrastructure facilities can improve the socio-economic community residents.
The infrastructures are like road network, water supply system, and sewerage and
drainage systems. All these facilities must be designed based on the minimum
standards set for producing efficient infrastructure network. MoHLG (1998) as citied
in Sufian and Sapian (2013), they mention that the development of the housing and
infrastructure is important to achieve the national development program. The

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government wants to give the affordable shelter to the residential where it also can
help the socio-economy that has been issued in Malaysia.

Figure 2.1: Playground

The facilities that provide to the residents must be good to use and also to supply.
All the infrastructure facilities must be good in condition. Typically, the basic of
facilities that provided are road, water supply, drainage and also sewerage. These
facilities must be provided to all the housing including the low cost housing. Once
the responsible party does not provide such facilities then it is wrong. Therefore it
can be legal.

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Figure 2.2: Drainage system
Low-cost housing construction is cooperation between the government and private
sectors. The government will appoint the private sector to do the work of
construction of low cost housing. The government will provide capital to the private
sector to do the construction work. Here the private sector is the person responsible
for the completion of the construction work. This includes the provision of public
facilities. The private sector must build public facilities in accordance with a
predetermined contract. All provisions are from the government. All costs have been
allocated include the cost of construction of public facilities. Due to this private party
shall use the capital allocated wisely. This is so that they do not use money
allocated indiscriminately causing construction projects are abandoned.
In this study, it is more focused on infrastructure facilities available for use by
residents of the low-cost housing. The aim is to find out the types of facilities
provided by the government for the use of residents in low-cost housing. Besides
that the purpose of this study is to find out if the facilities provided are sufficient for
this population.

2.4 PROBLEMS THAT OCCURRED AT LOW COST HOUSING

RELATED TO INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES
Low-cost housing is one of the government's plans to help those consisting of low
income. With this house it will reduce the burden of this group. The government also
allocated costs for the construction of low cost housing. In the development of lowcost housing it also has an infrastructure. In this case the government is also
providing infrastructure facilities. The purpose of this facility is available for use by
residents in the area. Even the cost of housing is not only just let go with these
infrastructure facilities. In fact, each housing construction should provide these

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facilities. This infrastructure is one of the basic needs of housing construction in the
country.

2.4.1 Insufficient facilities

Each provision of these is problems that arise. Among the problems are insufficient
facilities. This arises when the responsible party fails to execute the work of these
linkages. There are reasons that result in them not able to provide this infrastructure.
The reason is the cost allocated is not enough. Therefore they cannot provide this
facility. But there are other reasons they are not able to provide this service. The
reason is that there are some people who are more concerned with profit than
welfare. This low-cost housing construction is to serve its citizens. Therefore, the
construction of low cost housing, the profits to be derived is little or sometimes it will
not give any benefit to the developer. Therefore in order to get their profits reduced
construction work. One is to reduce the provision of infrastructure.

2.4.2 Lack of maintenance work

In addition there are other problems that arise. The problem is the lack of
maintenance work done. When there is damage to these facilities, there is no
maintenance done. This is because there are parties ignore their responsibility for
this maintenance work. Although residents of these neighbourhoods have reported
damage, but the party that be responsible is ignored. The effect of this problem is
the facilities provided cannot be used. When it cannot be used then it will be
wastage. This will also affect the image of the environment in residential areas.
Other effect is the environment. Environmental problems that can be occur at the

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low cost housing including congestion, house pests, poor drains, waste water, air
pollution and waste (Cheresek and Opata, 2011). This will not only have a negative
impact on the environment, but it will interfere with social life in the housing area.
For example, when there is a problem Drainage system, the water flow will be
interrupted. If these problems are not resolved, flooding will occur. When flooding
occurs, this residential area is also affected by the floods. Due to the flood, the
people will suffer significant losses. Their property has been destroyed due to the
impact of flooding. Due to maintenance is not done, and then the problem has
arisen.

2.4.3 Garbage system is not done consistently

In addition, land subsidence problems arise is garbage system is not done
consistently. Assembly garbage collection is not done systematically. The party that
responsible is not doing their job according to a predetermined schedule. This will
cause the garbage that has been dumped will be idle for long. Various diseases can
arise from the removal of this rubbish. Sometimes the disease can cause death.

2.4.4 Space for parking not enough

Other problem faced by the population in the low cost housing is space provided is
not sufficient. Space here could include space for the parking. There are some
areas that have multiple low-cost housing is limited space for parking. According to
the Abu Bakar (2008), at the low cost housing the car parking is not enough to be
use by the residents. For people in this area it will be painful for them to park their
cars. Although parking available but it was not enough use for the residents. There's
residents has put their vehicles in areas it should not such as it park under a tree or
near the streets. These places are quite dangerous for parking. In the event of not
welcome such as hurricanes and the occurrence of fallen trees it can damage the
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vehicle residents in the area. When accidents like this happen the residents will
suffer from loss of damage they experienced. Due place put these vehicles is not
enough, they had to put the vehicle in a place where to suppose to be dangerous.
This will also cause other problems will arise. Examples are illegal roadside parking,
traffic obstruction and other.

Figure 2.3: Limited parking space

2.4.5 Space for recreational activities not enough

While space for recreational activities also are one of the problems that arise in the
area of low cost housing. Among the places available is a playground. At each of the
housing there is at least one playground. This playground is one of the basic
amenities for every residential area. The trouble is that there are developers who do
not provide these basic facilities in low-cost housing areas. For developers this
playground provision of no interest but different in the residents. By having this
playground that they can do their morning exercises with the family. Besides that,
other activities can also be done as these activities with neighbours. When this
facility is not available it will limit recreational activities residents in low-cost housing
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areas. This will also result in a lack of communication between neighbours. There is
also a residential area that provides space for this exercise. But the problem arises
when these recreational areas cannot be used because of damage. Responsible
parties are not doing restoration of damage caused. Therefore, this recreation area
could not be used and it can only be seen simply adornment on low-cost housing
areas.

2.5 THE SATISFACTION AMONG THE RESIDENTS TOWARD

THE FACILITIES THAT PROVIDED
According to Mohit and Azim (2012), the satisfaction of the residential based on the
house, the surrounding of the housing and the facilities that been provide in that
area. In here it has addition the satisfactions also influence by the design of house,
society, the location of the housing, and the background of the residents in that
housing area. From this research it shows the facilities are also one of the things
that can be affecting to the satisfaction of the residents. The satisfaction of the
residents is important because it can be known that the residents feel comfortable or
not living in that housing. It is also agreed by Kollekci and Berkoz (2006) as cited in
Salleh and Badarulzaman (2012). They said the satisfaction of the residents is
affected by the surrounding of the housing.
From the explanation before, one of the satisfaction residents is the facilities. All the
housing development has provide the facilities for using the residents. By referring
Karim (2008), the facilities the can be gave the satisfaction to the residents are
regional facilities, water and electricity facilities, playground, markets, recreational
area, school and the parking space. These are all the types of the facilities that
been provide at the housing area that can give the satisfaction to the residents.
These facilities is main needed by the residents especially residents in the low cost
housing.
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The distance of the facilities is one of the consequences of the satisfaction level of
the residents. The distance of the facilities must be not far from the housing area. It
is because to easier for the residents to get and use it. This opinion agreed by the
Mohit and Azim (2012). In his research most of the residents satisfied the location of
the facilities in their housing area. It is because the facilities are not far from their
housing. From that the research the types of the facilities that ben listed are regional
centre, health facilities, markets, and school.
Once to develop the housing, it will include the facilities. It is one of the requirements
to develop the residential area. This one is especially develop at the new area
where there is not having the existing facilities. It was different in build housing
development area that is already available. When develop a housing area, to
provide the facilities can be reduced. It is because in that area it is already have the
existing facilities. So the contractor or developers that are responsible to build this
housing not have to provide the facilities. In here the contractor or developer can cut
the cost from there. According to the Karim (2008), the residents is still satisfaction
event the facilities has long been available. It is mean the residents is not care about
the long span of the facilities, but if it can still be used the residents still feel satisfied
to the facilities that been available.
Meanwhile there are still have the residents not satisfied too the facilities that been
provided in their housing area. From the residents the facilities that be provide is not
enough to be used. Then the residents feel the burden because of that. Sometime
the facilities that be provided at the low cost housing is not complete to be build.
When this happen the facilities that not complete was abandoned. From here it can
cause the danger at the housing area. It is stressed by the Abu Bakar (2008), from
her research it found that the residents is less satisfied to the facilities that be
provided at low cost housing area. Most of the resident feel more satisfied to the
quality of the material that be used to build the house of the low cost housing.
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Some of the residents in the low cost housing provide their own facilities without
permission by the authority. So it became illegal. Example the area of the low cost
housing is not enough provide the car parking. The residents open a new space for
the parking. But when they want to use the space they may need the empty land. In
here they may use the playground space to build the parking. It can be affected to
other facilities and it's still illegal.
Reported by Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2020 as citied in Abu Bakar (2008), the
facilities at the low cost housing is not fulfilling the requirement. From that report
show the facilities at the low cost housing is still not enough to be used. The
residents feel less satisfied to the facilities was been provided. The reason they feel
less satisfied because the distance of the facilities is far from their house. Other than
that the reason is the facilities are providing, but it cannot be used. It is because the
construction of the facilities is incomplete and the party that is responsible to the
work was not continuing the construction. So that why the facilities is cannot be
used and then cause the facilities that be provided is not enough. It is the reason
why the facilities are not enough to be used.

2.6 SOLUTION TO IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE

FACILITIES QUALITY IN LOW COST HOUSING
2.6.1 Cooperation between the government and the private
It is important to improve the infrastructure facility's quality in low cost housing. It is
because the facilities are important to the resident in the low cost housing. The
government must take their role to solve this problem. They must think another
initiative to upgrade the facilities among the residents in low cost housing. The
government must be cooperation with the private sector. Aswicahyono (2008)
mention that, to improve the quality of facilities the public and private partnership
must be continued in cooperation. It means the both parties must continue with
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progress of the work. The both parties share all the work including the risk and the
improve coordinate of mechanism. These parties are the group that is responsible to
manage the system of low cost housing and also the infrastructure facilities. These
parties must be ensuring all the facilities run smoothly. If not when the facilities is not
in good condition it can be burdened to the resident.

2.6.2 Concerns the residents to the condition of the infrastructure

facilities
Another initiative to improve the quality is coming from the resident themselves.
They must be fair to report if there any damages to the facilities. Other than that they
also can make requests to the authority to add the facilities in the area of their
housing if not enough provided. It is because the government has provided the
budget to develop the facilities for the resident in low cost housing. So it is not wrong
if they make requirement to take their right.

2.6.3 Role of the developer and the residents

There are may way can improve the quality of the infrastructure facilities. Before this
it have the explain how to improve the facilities.in here there are other way can help
to improve the quality of the facilities. It is the role of the developer and the residents
of the low cost housing. To make sure the facilities always in good qualities this both
must make sure they do their role.
The developer is the party that is responsible to build the low cost housing. When to
build this housing they also must be build the infrastructure facilities for the use of
the residents in that area. This people know the quality of the facilities. If there any
damage of the facilities it can be refer to the developer. In here the developer must
be make sure that the facilities that be provided can be used by the residents. It is
also must be enough to be used. The facilities that are build must be can be used in

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long span. It mean the material that be used to develop the facilities must be use the
good quality. If the developers use the low quality of the material, the facilities can
easy to be damage. When the facilities are always repairing, the quality can be
reducing. Sometime in cannot be sure. So to make sure the facilities can be used in
the long span, the developer must use the material in good quality. Sometime it has
the developer use the low quality of material to build facilities. It is because they
want getting extra profit from this development.
In here the residents in the low cost housing is also main their role. The residents
have the responsibility to the facilities that be provided. To improve the quality of the
infrastructure, the residents must be making sure the facilities are in good condition.
Residents should also work together to keep the facilities provided this. When
residents have free time, they can perform clean-up activities in their
neighbourhoods. If doing this activity, it also includes the cleaning of this
infrastructure. The quality of these facilities will always be circumstances better.
Other than that, residents should keep these facilities from vandalism activities. In
the event of vandalism activities will cause damage to these facilities. If these
facilities are damaged then it will decrease the quality. By the residents should take
care facilities provided that no vandalism occurred.

2.6.4 Maintenance and fee

Maintenance is repair work for all damage caused. Sometimes maintenance is
defined as maintaining something from further damage. In the building maintenance
will be done on the building constructed. The purpose of this maintenance is to
make the building will be built to last a while longer. Normally all maintenance work
carried out will have a fee will be charged.
In low-cost housing is also available maintenance work done. Purpose of this work
is to make sure the building housing will always be in good condition. Other than
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residential buildings, maintenance will be done on the infrastructure facilities
available in the area. Here it can be seen that the maintenance of these facilities is
one way to improve the quality of this infrastructure facilities. Usually this
maintenance work done by the authorities. According to Government of Malaysia as
citied in the Ramli et al. (2013), the Government has provide the budget for the
maintenance work in the range of RM500 million for the low cost housing. Local
authorities will appoint someone to do this maintenance work. Local authorities will
ensure the responsible parties are doing the maintenance works according to what
has been set.
Each maintenance charges are applicable. Common responses to this payment will
be made by residents. Here it can be seen one of the ways to ensure the
maintenance work, the payment will be applied to residents the housing area. When
the money payment was taken then the maintenance work can be done.
Maintenance of infrastructure facilities will also be done. Then in this case, the
quality of these infrastructure facilities can be improved.

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2.7 SUMMARY OF CHAPTER

In this chapter is a review of previous studies on infrastructure facilities available in
low-cost housing. In this chapter has explained what the low-cost housing and
amenities. The type of infrastructure facilities that needed by the residents are also
described in this chapter. Apart from that the problems arising from the infrastructure
facilities are also listed in this chapter. The most important things that need to be
explained in this chapter are about the satisfaction of residents of the facilities
provided. This case because the final project focused more on the satisfaction of
residents of infrastructure facilities provided. Lastly in this chapter describes how to
improve the quality of these infrastructure facilities.

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