Local public goods and citizen satisfaction: A case study of district of Sik, Kedah, Malaysia

• Main Author: Ibrahim, Fatimah Wati
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: HC Economic History and Conditions
• Online Access: http://repo.uum.edu.my/13759/1/214-Fatimah.pdf; http://repo.uum.edu.my/13759/; http://www.wbiworldconpro.com/pages/previous_confo/malaysia-conference-2014

Local governments play a crucial role in facilitating the economic activities and developments of a region.As instrument of national development, they are seen to be more responsive to the local environments and are capable of directly influent the regional and urban development.Essentially, they have involved in numerous decision makings with regards to the provision of local public goods and services. It is important that the provision of local public goods not only be done efficiently, but also it should give opportunity to local citizens to participate in the decision making process. Besides, local population sees the role of the local governments as their front liner in delivering local public goods and services. However, the question that ensues is to what extent this role has been executed efficiently and effectively and to what extent local citizens are satisfied with the provision of public goods and services.Although government professionals are uniquely qualified to assess service quality, citizen perspectives or what citizens want from the local council with respect to the provision of local public goods and services, is imperative in determining the outcome of a decision making. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between the provision of local public goods and services and the extent of citizen satisfaction with the local public goods and services provided by local authorities in Malaysia.The district of Sik in the state of Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia is chosen as a case study. The primary data are gathered using a survey instrument.The results of this study will give indication on the performance of service delivery by the local authorities in Kedah.The main findings will also give new information regarding the level of citizen satisfaction in terms of the structure of local public finance.