Socio technical mapping of youth aspirations for post COVID future cities in Southeast Asia

Amid rapid urbanisation and the impacts of COVID-19, reimagining Malaysia’s urban futures is urgent. This study examines how young Malaysians envision sustainable, resilient, and inclusive cities using a mixed-method concept mapping approach. Participants generated and clustered 108 proposals into eight thematic areas: Urban Planning, Community Development, Laws & Regulations, Civic Consciousness, Transport, Social Support, Futuristic Attractions, and Healthcare. Validation with 248 additional respondents revealed shifting priorities, with Healthcare and Civic Consciousness gaining prominence post-pandemic. Key youth-driven demands include expanded public transport, enhanced digital infrastructure, support for localised urban villages, and stronger healthcare systems. Grounded in socio-technical systems theory, the findings offer a context-specific perspective on urban resilience and post-pandemic recovery, advancing theorisation of urban transformation by highlighting youth agency and the socio-political embeddedness of future-oriented urban imaginaries in the Global South.