The aim of this paper is to formulate the pioneer material deprivation index for Peninsular
Malaysia. This index is proposed so on to identify areas in need of regeneration and to explain
variations in health. We developed material deprivation (MD) index by applying Townsend
method on census-based data for the years 1991 and 2000. After taking into consideration data
harmonization in terms of variable detail and area boundary, the 2000 census data was
converted so as to equalize the 1991 census administrative district’s geography. Deprivation
was calculated so that the MD index of 1991 can be directly comparable with those or MD
index of 2000, so that change over time can be identified. Analysis by choropleth maps
showed that the West Coast’s administrative districts (ADs) are apparently more affluence
compared to the East Coast for the two different time-points. Apart from that, some affluent
ADs in the west coast became more affluent and some of the east coast ADs showed higher
deprived score for year 2000. The opposite scenario also exists. These phenomena indicated
the existence of patchiness for unequal socioeconomic growth within ADs.