The debates on the role of state and market in housing provision in East Asia countries are still
consider new. There is still huge gap in the literatures particularly in the low income housing
segment. Therefore, the paper aims to examine the role of state and market in housing provision
in Malaysia especially for the low income housing. Based on the study in many East Asian
countries, there are tendencies for the state to move towards market-oriented in the housing
provision. Situation in Malaysia is rather different since the state still actively involved in housing
provision and allocation of low income housing. The paper will provide justifications of state
continue involvement in the low income housing provision in Malaysia.