Leaving No One Behind: Risk Assessment of the Indian Displaced Community in Malaysia

Abstract

Tracking the socioeconomic risk of displacement is crucial for policymakers to design better intervention programmes and plan future resettlement interventions. Yet such efforts are lacking, leaving the displaced community behind. This paper assesses the socioeconomic risk of displaced Indian plantation households in Malaysia to provide key evidence for the government to achieve its goals of shared prosperity and inclusive development in two areas of risk: joblessness and marginalisation. This study uses a mixed method, combining a questionnaire survey with selective interviews. The results show that socioeconomic risks are crucial for the displaced community, especially in terms of employment, the ability to earn a decent income and financial stability. The lack of occupational mobility, lack of appreciation of work experience, skills bias, gender discrimination and limited intergenerational mobility contribute to marginalisation. The study suggests implications for intervention policy design to effectively address socioeconomic risk.