Well-being index of Indigenous people of Peninsular Malaysia: an application of the multidimensional poverty index (MPI)

Abstract

The Indigenous people of Malaysia are a heterogeneous community scattered over more than 852 villages in Peninsular Malaysia. This community has been identified as socioeconomically and culturally poor and marginalized in Peninsular Malaysia. Therefore, the study aims to examine the well-being and create well-being indices of the Indigenous people. This study employed Alkire and Foster’s multidimensional poverty index (MPI) to create the well-being indices by using primary data. The finding revealed that Indigenous people are likely to remain poor due to insufficient access to basic education and lack of employment opportunities. The well-being index showed that females are more deprived than males and Indigenous people living in rural areas are better off compared to those living in urban and sub-urban areas. The study suggests that there is a need to combat low education levels and the government should introduce a community-based education system and mobile health clinics for Indigenous people.