DOES SOCIAL CAPITAL INFLUENCE PARTICIPATION IN PLANNING? EVIDENCE FROM SUBANG JAYA, MALAYSIA

Abstract

The practice of involving public in planning has been in place since the birth of modern town planning in Malaysia. It is strongly felt that social connectedness among members of a community and positive feeling towards neighbourhood do have influence in making people to be more participative in planning. This study attempts to establish relationships between participation and social capital which is characterized by factors such as sense-of-belonging, trust, norms of reciprocity and voluntary association. It is evident from this study that some elements of social capital differed significantly between active and less active residents. This paper concludes that to make participation works, future strategies should not only focus on improving the participation mechanism, but emphasis should be equally given on social capital building.