In this context, the solution to this population problem takes time, but efficient actions give long-term effects where urban planners should wisely plan for the population problem that occurs where economic development in the local area that is sustainable and poverty reduction can help address the population problem indirectly. This is the case, when individuals have access to better job opportunities and a better standard of living, population problems that occur in the area do not have any major impact. For example, the responsible party in an area should focus on the development and planned urban infrastructure that can accommodate population growth more efficiently. For example, by focusing on creating sustainable cities with adequate housing, transport and essential services, pressure on resources can be reduced. At the same time, protecting the environment and implementing sustainable resource management practices are important in reducing the effects of overpopulation in an area through responsible management and conservation of existing resources (iluminem, 2023). 

  Georgetown, especially the area near Komtar University, is facing problems because of too many people and a lot of migration. This includes both legal and illegal, local and foreign people. These problems include too many people living in one place, not enough houses, heavy traffic, and unfair living conditions. Georgetown is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But now, more and more houses are used for short-term homestays like Airbnb. This makes it hard for local people, especially low-income families, to find long-term and affordable places to live. Also, many old shop houses are turned into cheap apartments. This brings in many migrant workers from countries like Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Nepal. These houses were made for small families, but now many people share one house. The space is small and crowded.Because of this, we need good and fair solutions to solve these problems (Sharifah Rohayah Sheikh Dawood, 2019).

 First, the government should improve city planning and housing policies. They should fix old buildings and create more affordable housing. This will help reduce the number of people living in crowded spaces. Also, by planning where people live and where businesses are, the traffic can become better. Cities such as Shenzhen and Chengdu in China have taken action to address the challenges of rapid population growth. In Shenzhen, the government has used unused land and old factories to build low-cost housing for migrant workers (Peter Scholten et al., 2016). By 2025, more than 700 renovation projects will have been completed and more than 100 million square metres of new housing will have been built in Shenzhen. These projects provide cheaper housing for many young people and low-income families. In Chengdu, the government has renovated old neighbourhoods. They have not only built new houses, but also added parks, better public transport and community service centres. These changes have made life better for local residents. After launching the Old Residential Area Renovation Project, Chengdu has repaired more than 10,000 old houses in the Jinjiang, Chenghua and Wuhou areas (Chao Huang et al., 2020).The Komtar area of Georgetown can learn from these cities. The Konta area of Georgetown can learn from these cities. The Government can renovate old buildings and utilise vacant land for affordable housing. For example, old warehouses in Jalan Magazine, empty floors in KOMTAR, space near the old bus station, and flats such as Macallum could be repurposed. These changes can provide cheaper housing and bring new life to older parts of the city. It also provides a better, more respectful place for newcomers and low-income families to live and grow.

   Secondly, measures on migration management and legal measures, as well as the establishment of a transparent migration registration system, are important for effective monitoring of population movements. The Government of Malaysia introduced the 6P Programme in 2011 and the Migrant Repatriation Programme 2.0 in 2025. Those programmes provided forgiveness and registration for undocumented migrants to help them obtain temporary legal status or return home with low fines. This helps to reduce illegal residence and related security problems (Charlie Campbell, 2024). A study in the Journal of Population Economics suggests that such programmes not only reduce the number of undocumented migrants, but also help them enter the formal job market. This would not only improve the economy but also promote social justice. In addition, The Lancet Public Health also points out that establishing a clear and fair registration system helps governments provide public services such as healthcare and education more equitably. These actions can make population movements easier to manage and reduce pressure on urban resources, while also protecting people's rights and safety.

At the same time, community integration and cultural exchanges are actively promoted to reduce social tensions caused by migrants through multicultural integration activities. NGOs and local organisations can conduct language training and community workshops to help migrants integrate into local communities.In addition, job matching platforms and training programmes can be provided to help local residents and migrants improve their employability. The government could also encourage businesses to hire migrants legally to promote a win-win situation for society.

A number of local and international NGOs can provide a platform for substantive support and cooperation between the government and the community to address urban issues such as overcrowding, illegal immigration and social inequality in the area surrounding the Komtar building in Georgetown. Firstly, Tenaganita is one of the most representative migrant rights organisations in Malaysia and has been working to protect the rights of migrant workers, victims of human trafficking and domestic workers since 1991. Tenaganita is well placed to intervene in the labour-intensive industries in Kota Kinabalu, as it has a wealth of experience in the areas of legalisation of migrants, labour protections, and humane observation of detention camps. Tenaganita is well suited to intervene in the issue of illegal and undocumented labour in labour-intensive industries in Kota Kinabalu (Tenaganita, 2024). For example, Irene Fernandez, founder of Tenaganita, published a report in 1995 exposing the inhumane treatment in immigration detention camps, including violence, lack of medical care and nutrition. However, Irene Fernandez was prosecuted by the Malaysian government for 13 years (Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, 2007). Furthermore, in 2018, Tenaganita assisted in rescuing an Indonesian maid who had been incarcerated for two years and ultimately succeeded in bringing her abusive employer to justice. These cases demonstrate Tenaganita's firm stance and significant social influence in safeguarding the rights of foreign workers.

By concentrating on the causes of internal migration and advocating for lasting solutions, it is possible to address the movement of people within a nation. Creating economic opportunities, enhancing living conditions, and guaranteeing access to essential services in both urban and rural communities are some strategies. Policies that facilitate immigrants' assimilation into new communities are also essential. Apart from this, internally displaced persons should be provided with basic education, employment opportunities, vocational training, and basic health care services, such as family planning and reproductive health services. Modernising the pastoral economic system should be the goal, with support offered as needed through bilateral and international agreements, to reverse the deteriorating quality of the environment and reduce conflicts over access to grazing land (UNITED NATIONS, 2014).

     Finally, UNHCR Malaysia has a long history of providing identity registration, basic medical services, educational assistance and legal counselling to refugees and asylum seekers. Its registration system helps local governments track population dynamics and promotes the institutionalisation of migrant status, thereby reducing security problems associated with illegal residence (UNHCR, 2024). UNHCR also pays special attention to the education of refugee children, establishing community learning centres in Kuala Lumpur and Penang in partnership with civil society to provide basic education for refugee groups such as the Rohingya (UNHCR MALAYSIA, 2021). During the COVID-19 outbreak, UNHCR partnered with the Ministry of Health to conduct mobile vaccination and health promotion campaigns, assisting many more undocumented persons and refugees to be vaccinated, which helped to reduce the risk of infection in the community (UNHCR MALAYSIA, 2021). Despite legal obstacles such as a lack of access to detention centres, UNHCR continues to provide irreplaceable humanitarian support at the grassroots level.