01/06/2025

ON SUNDAY JUNE 1, 2025 X theSunday Special

Is KL at risk of becoming overpopulated?

BY ASHRAF WAHAB

While this theory might sound like something out of a sci-fi novel, it’s grounded in real concerns. Cities across the globe are feeling the pressure. So what about us here in KL? Are we anywhere close to being in trouble? KL’s growing pains KL has come a long way from its days as D PXGG\ FRQÀXHQFH ,W¶V QRZ D YLEUDQW metropolis of over 8.6 million people in the greater Klang Valley area, which includes Selangor and Putrajaya. While the city proper within the DBKL jurisdic tion has about 1.9 million residents, the GDLO\ LQÀX[ RI FRPPXWHUV WRXULVWV and transient residents swells those numbers considerably. Malaysia’s urbanisa

Why? Jobs, education, lifestyle and op portunities. It’s no surprise that young professionals from across the country and even the region see KL as a launchpad for their careers. But that popularity comes at a cost.Public transport is still playing catch-up despite efforts like the MRT and LRT expansions. Traffic conges tion remains a daily headache. Housing, SDUWLFXODUO\ D̆ RUGDEOH RSWLRQV LQ FHQWUDO DUHDV LV JHWWLQJ KDUGHU WR ¿QG $QG JUHHQ spaces? They’re increasingly being traded Let’s put KL’s growth into context. Com pared to cities like Tokyo, Jakarta or Bangkok, KL may not seem as densely populated. For instance, Tokyo’s metro politan area has over 37 million residents. Jakarta has over 11 million people within its city limits and Bangkok has about 10 million. for high-rises and mega malls. How we stack up globally

L ET’S face it: almost every Ma laysian moves to Kuala Lumpur (KL) or the Klang Valley by extension, after they graduate. Hey, they even do that before they graduate, judging from the increasing number of higher learning institutions in the area. Year by year, this influx of people makes our beloved capital city increas ingly more crowded. But the question is, can it cope?

Some urbanists suggest a ‘15-minute city’ model, the idea that all your essential needs – work, school, groceries, healthcare, parks – should be within a 15-minute walk or cycle ride from your home.”

GDLO\ LQÀX and tr thos ti a o i

So, was Thanos right? You’ve probably seen the movie $YHQJHUV ,Q¿QLW\ War , right? In the slim chance that you haven’t, I’ll give you a quick run down. Thanos is the main villain in the movie and he is on a quest to wipe out half the universe’s population. Why? Because he’s seen the FDWDVWURSKLF H̆ HFWV RI RYHUSRSXOD tion. He isn’t entirely wrong. e f n. the SRSXOD

tion rate currently hovers around 78% and much of that urban magnetism is drawing people to KL.

You’ve probably heard the phrase “bursting at the seams” before. It’s of ten used to describe something packed beyond its limit, like a fully loaded MRT train during rush hour. But what happens when this metaphor becomes a little too real? That’s essentially the concern behind the theory of death by overpopulation. Coined by thinkers like Thomas Mal thus in the 18th century and popularised again in the 20th century by ecologists like Paul Ehrlich, the theory suggests that if population growth outpaces resources and infrastructure, cities and even entire civilisations can collapse. It’s not about dramatic, apocalyptic endings, but rather D JUDGXDO EUHDNGRZQ RI V\VWHPV WUḊ F gridlocks, housing shortages, rising liv ing costs, increased pollution, stretched healthcare and the slow erosion of quality of life.

The key is a balanced approach. Not just building for growth, but also for resilience.