Issues and obstacles in the development of Malay Reserve Land

Abstract

Malay Reserve Land (MRL) is an heirloom belonging to the Malays to be protected, preserved, and developed in line with the aspirations of sustainable development. However, it has been found that land under the Malay Reserve Land (MRL) category is still lagging in the development stream although it has the potential to be developed in tandem with other Non-Malay Reserve Land. This research paper aims to establish the issues and obstacles in developing the Malay Reserve Land eventually to formulate a strategy for development of the land in future. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were held involving experts from various backgrounds namely academics, government officers, industry players and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Issues and the respective obstacles mainly elicited from the FGDs are in the areas of data, information and research, legislation, development, and financial.