Tension in the periphery: An analysis of spatial, public and corporate views on landscape change in Iskandar Malaysia

Southeast Asian urban peripheries have recently become destinations for the global capital influx. In this region, governments are promoting investments in the peripheries through planning and development of special economic zones. The implications of the ongoing transformations of the peripheries on people and ecosystems are least investigated. This study examines landscape change in one of the largest SEZs in Southeast Asia, Iskandar Malaysia-from investors, people and landscape data points of view. The short time changes (2006 and 2010) in the composition of urban built-up areas, mangroves, forests, and agricultural landscapes were calculated using GIS and FRAGSTATS. The study also used the Rasch model to measure public perceptions on the implications of the changing urban peripheries. On the other hand, the analysis of investors' advertorial handbills and leaflets revealed their views on the transformation of landscapes of urban peripheries. Thus, between 2006 and 2010, urban built-up areas increased by 25.8, and this has caused agricultural landscapes to decline by 15.5% while mangroves and forests decreased by 12.4% and 3.9% respectively. Unsurprisingly, the public showed widespread dissatisfaction with the effects of the recent investments on the functions of landscapes in urban peripheries.According to the study findings, investors showed apathy towards protection of critical ecosystems. Indeed, the new land development activities explicitly promote exclusion of the poor members of the society.