Effects of Government Policy on Internal Migration in Peninsular Malaysia: A Comparison between Malays and Non-Malays

Abstract

Do policies aimed at reducing ethnic inequality affect ethnic-specific migration? This article examines the effects of the New Economic Policy on first migration experiences of individuals in Peninsular Malaysia. Using life-history data from the Second Malaysian Family Life Survey, I analyze whether the policy affected migration of individuals and how the effect differs between the Malays and non-Malays for men and women. I found that the policy had positive effect on migration of both men and women, regardless of ethnicity. There is weak evidence that the NEP was ethnic-specific in affecting migration, while NEP was not sex-specific in affecting migration.