A nutritional study was carried out on six (five rural and one urban) low income groups in
Peninsular Malaysia from 1992-1995. In this paper, the socio-economic data for the five rural
groups - padi farmers, rubber smallholders, coconut smallholders, estate workers, and fishermen
- are presented. With the exception of the estate workers, the sample was predominantly Malay,
with an overall mean household size of 5.30. Household incomes were generally low, and 47%
of all households had incomes that were below the poverty line income (PLI) of RM405. Based
on this PLI, the prevalence of poverty was above 50% among the padi, rubber, coconut, and
fishing households. Nevertheless, the study population appeared to be better off in terms of the
other indicators examined. Poultry rearing, for example, was widespread in the padi, rubber, and
coconut villages; 65% of all households owned at least one motorised vehicle, 53% owned a
refrigerator, and 83% owned a television set. Furthermore, over 80% of all households had
access to piped water, 96% had electricity supply, and over 90% had a flush or pour-flush latrine.
In comparison to the 1979-1983 poverty villages study (Chong et al., 1984), the households in
the current study enjoyed better living conditions. Strict comparisons between the two studies,
however, is difficult owing to the different criteria adopted in the selection of the study villages.