PLANNING MALAYSIA

EVALUATING THE WALKABILITY OF OLD TOWN IN SIBU, SARAWAK, MALAYSIA, THROUGH THE ASSESSMENT OF PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY QUALITY

2024-02-22T19:16:14-07:00

Walkability is essential for healthy, sustainable cities and resident well-being. This study evaluates pedestrian walkway quality in Sibu town. In total, on-site observations, satellite maps, and photos were used to analyse the connectivity, comfort, and safety of 21 streets. The results based on the scale of walkability developed in this study showed that Sibu's old town has an average score of walkability, which may deter the use of pedestrian walkways. The findings revealed that pedestrian walkways in old town Sibu have an intermediate level of comfort and safety, but their connectivity exceeds 82%. Safety concerns plagued 20% of these streets being walkable. Although most pedestrian walkways were wide and clean, the pavement quality, shading, and resting spots remained problematic. Sibu's old town has a 65% walkability rating from our scale of study. These findings can help urban planners enhance pedestrian walkways' connectivity, comfort, and safety to improve walkability.

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION FOR SIA AND EIA IN MALAYSIA

2024-02-22T19:16:12-07:00

Public participation is an essential element in the decision-making process of social impact assessments (SIA) for proposed developments that are located near to the community. It assists the panel of evaluators in deciding whether to approve the assessment through the information obtained from the affected community. This medium is also applied to other assessments, such as environmental impact assessments (EIA), and its implementation varies according to the nature of the assessment. However, the objective of public participation remains the same: to protect the interests of the public. Thus, this paper will analyse the implementation of public participation between SIA and EIA in Malaysia using qualitative methods, library research, and comparative analysis. The results show that EIA and SIA each have their own implementations in public participation.

URBAN WATER SECURITY PROTECTION: IDENTIFYING POLLUTION SOURCES IN JURU RIVER BASIN USING CHEMOMETRICS

2024-02-22T19:16:10-07:00

The consumption of surface water is becoming increasingly significant as a main solution for Malaysia's issues with water supply, especially in urban areas. The study addresses the protection of urban water security by multivariate analysis, evaluating trends in the distribution of water quality parameters and identifies the primary sources and processes involved in water quality contamination in the Malaysian Juru River Basin. Conventional graphical and multivariate statistical methods HACA and PCA from chemometric techniques were used. The data collected in the Juru River was subjected to this investigation, which recorded 19 physical-chemical and microbiological characteristics at two sampling locations throughout the Juru River Basin. Consequently, the HACA was effectively split into the downstream and upstream areas. Six VFs are displayed by PCA in the high pollution source area (HPS), which represents 81.11% of the variance. The main cause of a decrease in water quality in the downstream areas of the Juru River Basin is anthropogenic pollution, or pollution caused by human activities. The study concludes by demonstrating how chemometric techniques can be used to identify significant details about their capacity to interpret complex data that determines the Juru River Basin's spatial and temporal variation in water quality distribution trends into MPS and HPS areas to ensure the urban water security protection.

STRATA MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF MALAYSIA AND SELECTED COUNTRIES

2024-02-22T19:16:07-07:00

The escalating trend of high-rise strata living, coupled with the evolution of strata law in Malaysia, prompts an in-depth exploration of the strata management landscape in Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong. This comparative analysis delves into various aspects, including development trends, laws, practices, and issues, offering valuable insights for Malaysia's strata living and building conditions. Many approaches from the selected countries align with Malaysia, while certain aspects warrant further exploration. Specifically, into areas such as the calculation of share value and maintenance fee as well recovery of unpaid fees. Additionally, considering the aging building factor, there's potential to introduce a blueprint or guideline for reviewing maintenance charges and sinking funds and its collection. The long-term strategy for Malaysia involves investing in awareness and facilitating access to information on costs of strata living and building maintenance.

VISITOR SATISFACTION WITH MUSEUM MANAGEMENT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A CASE STUDY OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MALAYSIA

2024-02-22T19:16:05-07:00

During the 2019 global pandemic, widespread museum closures ensued, exacerbated by Malaysia's heightened distancing measures in response to emerging Covid Omicron variants. This research addresses the scarcity of studies on visitor perception during COVID-19, explicitly focusing on evaluating satisfaction by scrutinising visitation patterns, visitor satisfaction, and initiatives by the National Museum Malaysia. Employing mixed methods, a quantitative survey involving 260 museum visitors was conducted using convenient sampling and analysed using SPSS. The study also incorporated qualitative interviews with two museum personnel to complement the quantitative aspect, and these were thematically analysed. The findings reveal a decline in physical visits, and noteworthy efforts by management in online engagement and collaborations with broadcasters were observed. While overall satisfaction prevails, there is room for improvement in communicating online activities. The data indicates a readiness for a virtual museum in the future.

THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF PLACE ATTACHMENT ON INTENTION TO VISIT AMONG VISITORS TO JAZAN PROVINCE, SAUDI ARABIA

2024-02-22T19:16:03-07:00

This study examines the complex relationship among place attachment, visitor attributes, destination attributes, and intentions to revisit, providing valuable insights into the intricacies of sustainable tourism. Place attachment, which refers to the dynamic connections that are developed with particular destinations, significantly influences the likelihood that tourists will choose to revisit those locations. This research examines the above correlation in the tourism domain, specifically emphasising the function of place attachment as a mediating factor. Incorporating tourist attributes, destination attributes, and place attachment, the research forecasts travellers' likelihood of returning. The data was gathered utilising quantitative techniques, and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM-PLS) was employed for the analysis. The results of this study offer significant contributions to our understanding of the complex ways in which visitors make decisions and the impact that emotional connections have on their intentions to return to particular locations. By illuminating the interdependencies among these variables, the research makes a valuable contribution to the progression of sustainable tourism practices.

SOCIAL NORM AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN AS THE PREDICTORS OF CITIZENS’ ACTUAL BEHAVIOUR TO ADOPT PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN TERENGGANU, MALAYSIA

2024-02-22T19:16:00-07:00

The increasing penetration of private motor vehicles for commuting demonstrates an astonishing vehicle reliance in Malaysia. The use of public transport could provide a promising alternative by enabling accessibility, reducing congestion and fatalities, and mitigating environmental problems especially in densely populated areas. However, the utilisation of public transport does not depend only on the intention but the actual use as well. Understanding individuals' readiness to adopt public transport are critical for improving sustainable mobility. Based on the theory of Interpersonal Behaviour (TIB), this study aims to assess the individuals' behavioural readiness to use for public transportation to improve sustainable mobility instead of using single-occupancy vehicles in Terengganu, Malaysia. This quantitative survey is distributed on 200 citizens at four densely-populated locations in cities of Terengganu, namely Kuala Terengganu, Chukai, Dungun and Jerteh. Data analysis is analysed using structural equation modelling of partial least squares (PLS-SEM). The empirical results indicate that social norm and environmental concern are the main predictor that affecting the behavioural readiness on adopting public transport among the respondents. However, perceived value and affective construct do not have significant impact on citizens’ readiness to use public transport. Policy implications like enhancing service quality, promoting environmental benefits and implementing visible safety measures are addressed. As cities continue to invest in and prioritize public transport, they contribute to a more sustainable and resilient transportation landscape.

ACCESSIBILITY TO WORKPLACE AND HOUSING LOCATION CHOICE AMONG THE LOW-INCOME GROUP: A CASE STUDY OF PULAU PINANG, MALAYSIA

2024-02-22T19:15:58-07:00

When deciding where to reside, households must consider several factors of accessibility, including proximity to their workplace and other aspects of accessibility that are necessary for their family. This study aims to examine job accessibility, evaluate the extent of accessibility, and identify the specific type of accessibility that low-income groups prioritise when choosing where they want to reside. A total of 306 respondents from the Pulau Pinang eKasih list for 2016 were chosen to participate in the survey using the quantitative approach. The study established a correlation between the availability of career opportunities and the decision-making process involved in selecting a residential area. In addition, the accessibility to the city centre and supermarkets are identified as significant variables in determining the choice of home site. Nevertheless, the degree of accessibility on the island part of Pulau Pinang is not consistent. The southwest district has a lower level of accessibility to the city centre and supermarkets in comparison to the northeast district. The authorities should formulate a strategy to attain a balanced and harmonic state between housing growth and the average distance to job locations, city centres, and supermarkets. By strategically planning home building in appropriate locations, the quality of life, especially for low-income households, would be improved.

DESIGN GUIDELINE: EDUCATION BUILDING FOR HANDICAPPED PEOPLE TOWARDS HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

2024-02-22T19:15:56-07:00

Malaysia needs to revamp its education system to better support handicapped individuals, allowing them to lead fulfilling lives. Currently, there is a lack of educational institutions catering to their specific needs, inclusive and unconducive learning environments. Many educational buildings in Malaysia fall short in providing essential accessibility features and overlook critical factors like lighting, air quality, acoustics, and ergonomics. This research aims to address this issue by developing design guidelines that focus on creating educational facilities that are accessible and promote a healthy environment, thereby enhancing their educational opportunities and overall quality of life. This study uses a mixed-method approach, including questionnaire surveys, expert interviews, and data synthesis to assess the current state of educational building design. Findings emphasize few factors like accessibility, spatial planning, acoustics, ergonomics, and inclusive design in creating education buildings that are accessible, healthy, well-designed, and conducive to social integration for handicapped individuals.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE “HALAL DESTINATION CONCEPT”: ASSUMPTIONS OF TOURISTS IN KAKABAN ISLAND–INDONESIA

2024-02-22T19:15:53-07:00

Since 1999, the government has been promoting Kakaban tourism. However, Kakaban Island only went viral in the 2010s through advertisements on several content such as Instagram and YouTube. At the same time, preferences have emerged regarding "halal destinations" from some world tourism. For tourism managers in Kakaban, this topic is adopted as an alternative for Muslim tourists during recreation, in the middle of a visit, or after traveling without worrying about matters of worship. The essence of this paper is to reveal the expressions of 576 tourists towards trust, religious values, commitments, and halal destination produced in Kakaban. The data collection technique used was accidental sampling. Then, the triangulation approach was operated by combining informants' opinions as outlined in the questionnaire. As a result, we found two facts: (1) religious values and commitment significantly influence halal destination; (2) religious values mediate trust to grow halal destination significantly. Halal destinations are also an appreciation for non-Muslim tourists who prioritize attractive and excellent service without any intervention that triggers rejection.

INDICATORS AND DIMENSIONS IN THE FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF A SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS INDEX

2024-02-22T19:15:50-07:00

The establishment of a green campus assumes significance in ensuring comfort and elevating the overall quality of life. This study was conducted to ascertain the variability in the questionnaires and delineate the attributes of questions exhibiting high variation in the results. Therefore, constructing the UniSZA Green Campus index based on the acquired weighted values. A total of 420 questionnaires were returned out of 500. Principal Component Analysis was employed to extract distinctive information from the amalgamated dataset. The results of the analysis draw out four factors that were discerned and subsequently interpreted as environmental management (46.65%), environmental infrastructure (12.53%), environmental atmosphere (6.35%), and environmental program (5.39%). In assessing the variation of the UniSZA Green Campus Index, distinct categories were identified, encompassing excellent, good, fair, poor, and bad classifications. This study suggests that the average UniSZA Green Campus index is situated within the second category. Despite the indication of good standing, the university should proactively take steps to ensure that UniSZA aligns with the principles of environmental sustainability in daily practices. The index system can serve as a guide for universities to attain sustainability on their campuses.

GREENING THE CITY: CRITERIA AND INDICATORS FOR EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SMALL URBAN PARKS IN PROMOTING URBAN RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE

2024-02-22T19:15:46-07:00

As cities face the challenges of climate change, small urban parks offer a promising solution for promoting urban resilience. These parks can mitigate the impacts of climate change by providing carbon sequestration, reducing the urban heat island effect, and improving stormwater management. They can also serve as a key adaptation strategy by providing shade and cooling, reducing air pollution, and enhancing social cohesion and community engagement. However, there is a need for criteria and indicators that can guide the design, implementation, and management of small urban parks for climate change mitigation and adaptation. This paper proposes a set of criteria and indicators that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of small urban parks in promoting urban resilience. The criteria include ecological, social, economic, governance dimensions, and the indicators are measurable, relevant, and practical. The proposed framework can support decision-making processes for planners, policymakers, and practitioners to prioritise and allocate resources for small urban parks that can contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation in cities.

“NOT VIRAL, NOT POPULAR”: WHAT IS THE FORMAT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF IKN? IN A PARTICIPATORY PLANNING LENS

2024-02-22T19:15:44-07:00

The Indonesian government administration, which was originally centered in Jakarta, will be moved in 2024. Interestingly, the construction of the Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN) reaps pros–cons from the community. Discussions about the IKN planning pattern continue to be debated. To conduct this event, the orientation of the article is to invite public participation (outside the government) to determine the choice of what planning format is valid for the sustainability of the new IKN development. The profiles of respondents are local netizens who often use social media to test their insights who live around the IKN. The cluster sampling survey was carried out partially using online interviews throughout the 2022 period. Besides, the data collection process only focused on 251 respondents who have skills and are certified as urban planners who are members of associations with special expertise. The collected primary data is extracted into the Chi–Square model. As a result, it detects that the planning formulation suggested by netizens has an effect on the sustainability of the IKN development. From various walks of life including: scientists, observers/environmental activists, community leaders, social media observers, and entrepreneurs, the majority consider the most realistic planning approach for the sustainability of IKNs to be green cities. For the long–term, netizens reason and assume that this concept fulfills the necessary of green open space (RTH).

PLANNING FOR QUALITY OF LIFE: AN ASSESSMENT OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN MALAYSIA

2024-02-22T19:15:42-07:00

Malaysian society develop awareness on the environmental issues such as air pollution, floods, heat waves and increase in temperature. The indigenous people community is no exception; indeed, they are the primary community to directly experience the consequences of the natural changes taking place. This study aims to assess the quality of life for indigenous people in adapting to environmental issues. This study was conducted in Gua Musang, Kelantan with 87 residents of indigenous people. Data collected through questionnaire and analysed using Relative Importance Index (RII). The findings of the study show that majority of the indigenous people were satisfied with the air quality and generally feel safe in their residential area. Moreover, various indicators and measure were highlighted aimed at enhancing the existing living standards in improving the quality of life for indigenous people.

SPATIAL-TEMPORAL ANALYSIS BETWEEN LANDCOVER CHANGE AND URBAN SURFACE TEMPERATURE OF BEKASI CITY, INDONESIA

2024-02-22T19:15:41-07:00

Unregulated urban growth can result in a rise in urban population density, leading to the expansion of developed land into suburban regions. The urbanization of Bekasi City inevitably results in the conversion of vegetated land and green open spaces into built-up areas. In addition, there has been a notable rise in the exceptionally high average surface temperature of 12.66 °C during the past 25 years. It is vital to investigate the correlation between landcover change factors and surface temperature, considering these two significant occurrences. This study conducted a spatial-temporal analysis of the relationship between landcover and urban surface temperature in the years 1993, 1998, 2004, 2009, 2018, and 2023. The Random Forest classification approach was employed to acquire comprehensive landcover information, while the remote sensing/image satellite approach was utilized to obtain surface temperature data. The temperature is determined using the thermal channel of satellite photography. The research findings indicate a robust correlation between alterations in land cover, specifically high-density buildings, medium/low-density buildings, and high-density vegetation, and variations in the surface temperature of an urban area. Hence, it is imperative to closely monitor the expansion of land cover to uphold the stability of surface temperature in urban areas.

THE POTENTIAL OF HERITAGE TRAIL MAPPING IN BANDAR PENGGARAM, BATU PAHAT, JOHOR MALAYSIA: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION

2024-02-22T19:15:38-07:00

This research assesses the potential of heritage trail mapping in Bandar Penggaram, Batu Pahat, Johor by observing the community’s perceptions. This research intends to profile and map the cultural heritage descriptions of Bandar Penggaram as a unique town from historical, economic, socio-cultural, and environmental backgrounds. This research has adopted a mixed-method approach by disseminating questionnaire surveys to the respondents, and having focus group discussions with various public and private agencies. The result shows that the majority (76.2%) of the respondents perceived that the heritage zone of Bandar Penggaram has the potential to attract tourists and researchers to the town, while the cooperation between the authorities and stakeholders has been found to be necessary to create awareness among the communities of their historical glory within the heritage zone.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REGIONAL LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF PURWOREJO REGENCY: THE EVALUATION OF STRATEGIC PLANNING

2024-02-22T19:15:35-07:00

The implementation of strategic planning in the public sector is the art of managing government affairs involving the utilization of state power. A set of regional planning in Indonesia is characterized by continuity and interconnectedness within a planning system consisting of the Regional Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPD), the Regional Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMD), and the Regional Government Work Plan (RKPD). RPJPD, as part of the national development planning system in Indonesia, is a planning document that guides regional governance for 20 years and delineated into four periods of the RPJMD, each with a validity period of five years. In the planning cycle, the evaluation process is essential to do. The study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the long-term development performance in the public sector in the framework of strategic planning evaluation in Purworejo Regency. The methods employed in the evaluation were cross-sectional and longitudinal qualitative comparative, which involved comparing and correlating the performance achievement of the four periods of the RPJMD conducted at the end of each planning year in the final period. The dominant aspect that supports the achievement of development performance targets is the aspect of government. The inhibiting aspects that hinder the achievement of performance targets in the RPJPD of Purworejo Regency for 2005-2025 are the aspects of economics, infrastructure, socio-culture, and time.

ENHANCING QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY: THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE GREEN CAMPUS INITIATIVE

2024-02-22T19:15:33-07:00

This study seeks to investigate the existing green practices implemented at UniSZA to achieve sustainability and enhance the quality of life for campus society. This study employs quantitative methodologies, specifically utilizing questionnaire survey techniques to gather empirical data. The Pearson Correlation and Cluster Analysis were utilized to determine the correlation among the questions. The result indicates that there is a positive correlation between all questions. Only some questions have weak correlations which correlated to the recognition of the significance of sustainability and the adoption of tangible measures to translate its principles into reality. The cluster analysis successfully sorted the 20 questions related to green campus and perceived quality of life into three distinct clusters: high perceived quality of life, moderate perceived quality of life, and low perceived quality of life. The findings indicated that the UniSZA society expressed a good perceived quality of life regarding their mean score. However, in terms of satisfaction with their campus society, UniSZA still lacks the green campus aspect implementation. Therefore, it is imperative to heighten awareness of the green campus aspect through the collaboration of the entire campus society, emphasizing the importance of green technology in achieving sustainable development.

TRANSPORT POLICIES, TRANSIT-ORIENTED AND DEVELOPMENT REDISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION IN PERI-URBAN: LESSONS FROM KUALA LUMPUR AND JAKARTA METROPOLITAN AREA

2024-02-22T19:15:30-07:00

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is the representation of a compact land-use management strategy relying on a mixture of land use and transport concepts to manage urban sprawl and population. The concept promotes high-density housing, mixed land use, and integrated mobility. Therefore, this article aims to discuss the incorporation process of TOD concept into urban policies and transport planning in Southeast Asian metropolitan cities. The effects of the policies on population movement patterns are examined, specifically in peri-urban areas, which are the most difficult parts of cities. In addition, the case studies include Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur, representing two of the most rapidly developing metropolitan areas in Southeast Asia where TOD has been progressively adopted. Data and information are collected from documentary reviews and interviews. The results show that the duration of TOD policy implementation gives rise to distinct trajectories in peri-urban population redistribution experiences within the two metropolitan areas.

REGIONALISM IN ARCHITECTURE: A STUDY OF LOCAL PERCEPTIONS ON PUBLIC STATE BUILDINGS IN WEST KALIMANTAN PROVINCE, INDONESIA

2024-02-22T19:15:27-07:00

Regionalism in architecture opposes the globalized approach that disregards local identity. Understanding regionalism is crucial for preserving a region's identity through architecture. Public state buildings in Indonesia play a pivotal role in expressing regional independence through distinctive features. The architectural regionalism of West Kalimantan is defined by vertical composition, building shape, mass, spatial layout, and envelope. This research aims to examine regionalism characteristics of public state buildings in West Kalimantan by comparing them with public perception. The research involves a descriptive approach using questionnaires based on variables related to architectural regionalism. Out of the 36 iconic state buildings studied, 21 meet the regionalism criteria in West Kalimantan. These buildings share common features such as the use of local materials, responsive design to the climate, and incorporation of historical and cultural values into spatial meaning. The most influential factors in assessing the identity are roof shape, cultural symbols, and ornamentation.

THE EFFECTS OF PASSENGER BEHAVIOUR ON PUBLIC BUS TRANSPORT SELECTION DECISION-MAKING

2024-02-22T19:15:25-07:00

While the quality of a public transportation system is determined by its sustainability, as well as the regulations governing its operations, the decision-making process of an individual, in terms of his/her selection of a transportation option, is highly influenced by issues related to behaviour. This research delves into the manner in which cultural (CLT), social (SCL), psychological ((PLG) and personality (PLS) issues, affect passenger preference for a transportation mode. The findings, derived through the employment of the SMART partial least squares structural equation modelling (SmartPLS-SEM) approach, clearly indicate that PLS factors, including age and lifecycle stage (PLS1), economic situation (PLS2) and lifestyle (PLS3), significantly influence an individual’s public transportation selection (TS). As such, during their efforts to enhance the quality of public bus services, it is essential that transportation operators and policymakers take into consideration the passengers’ PLS traits, along with all other influencing factors, and utilize them as the primary guideline for the crafting of policies, aimed at achieving public transportation sustainability.

ENTREPRENEURIAL HUMAN CAPITAL ON THE EMPOWERMENT OF ASNAF ENTREPRENEURS PLANNING IN THE STATE OF SELANGOR

2024-02-22T19:15:23-07:00

This article investigates the relationship between entrepreneurial human capital and empowerment among asnaf entrepreneurs in Selangor, Malaysia. Drawing on a quantitative research approach, data was collected through surveys to assess entrepreneurial human capital and empowerment levels. Results indicate moderate levels of entrepreneurial competency among asnaf entrepreneurs, with strengths in idea generation and resilience, yet areas for improvement in financial management. Empowerment scores reflect a moderate level of autonomy and proactive engagement in income generation activities. The correlation analysis reveals a positive and statistically significant relationship between entrepreneurial human capital and empowerment. Findings underscore the importance of entrepreneurial skills in fostering empowerment among asnaf entrepreneurs, highlighting the need for ongoing training and support initiatives to enhance their business capabilities and contribute to community development. The study recommends commencing with asset mapping to recognize the potential within marginalized communities, then proceeding with targeted capacity building to foster entrepreneurship-based empowerment, utilizing the identified potential as criteria for selecting asnaf individuals for entrepreneurial projects.

CO-LIVING AS AN INNOVATIVE REAL ESTATE PRODUCT: INSIGHTS FROM DEVELOPERS

2024-02-22T19:15:20-07:00

The concept of co-living rose to prominence in the last decade, with people’s searches for co-living increasing dramatically since 2015 worldwide. The purpose of this research is to reveal the developer’s insights and perceptions about the newly introduced co-living system in Malaysian society. Since co-living in Malaysia is still in its infancy, this study aims to explore the emerging trends in co-living. Twenty-five developers’ opinions were collected through face-to-face interviews and thematic analysis was performed to analyze the qualitative data. Key themes for emerging trends in co-living have been identified and organized into four sections: (i) adoption of co-living as a business model; (ii) potential advantages of co-living; (iii) barriers/challenges to co-living projects; and (iv) future trends for a living. Findings are expected to contribute to a better understanding of co-living in Malaysia.

IDENTIFYING BARRIERS TO WALKABILITY WITHIN THE HERITAGE CITY OF MYSORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA

2024-02-22T19:15:18-07:00

Historically, streets have served a range of functions, primarily those associated with shopping and social interactions. However, in the 20th century, the street design became centred on traffic movement. It enhanced the space for automobiles, while public lives were marginalized to sidewalks, not to forget the problems faced by the street hawkers, quintessential to the Street scene in India. The historic core of Mysore, a metropolitan city in the Southern state of Karnataka in India, has had various attempts to enhance its mobility but has not had much success. The paper summarises a pilot study carried out on Asoka Road in the city of Mysore to investigate its walkability. A descriptive quantitative technique was adopted, in which a random sample of respondents who happened to walk down Asoka Street were given questionnaires and surveys to complete to collect data. The results revealed that the level of comfort of the street amounted to 51.8% and that the pedestrian path was quite uncomfortable.

THE PERFORMANCE OF KUALA LUMPUR’S CARBON EMISSIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF URBAN PLANNING

2024-02-22T19:15:16-07:00

Cities are responsible for 70% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on a global scale, and cities play an important role in reducing GHG emissions. It is essential for Kuala Lumpur to consider reducing the city's GHG emissions. The city's GHG emission inventory can track and monitor the effectiveness of the climate action plans that has been implemented. The aim of this study is to identify the performance level of GHG emissions in Kuala Lumpur between 2010 and 2019. It is also to identify the performance of Kuala Lumpur's GHG emissions in 2019 in comparison to the global and Malaysian level. Data is calculated using the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory (GPC), which is recognised and utilised globally. Secondary data for the years 2010 and 2019 was analysed as well as the performance of the Kuala Lumpur GHG emission profile in 2019. With three (3) identified sources of emissions, Kuala Lumpur managed to reduce its GHG emission intensity from 2010 by 74.07% in 2019. The city's GHG emission was recorded at 15,675 ktCO2eq in 2019. The stationary energy sector contributes higher GHG emission than other sector, with 12,043 ktCO2eq (76.83%), followed by the transportation sector with 3,180 ktCO2eq (20.29%) and the waste sector with 452 ktCO2eq (2.88%). As of 2019, Kuala Lumpur's absolute carbon contribution to the global average is 0.03%, whereas Malaysia's absolute carbon contribution is 4.74%. Additionally, the city contributes just 0.07 kgCO2eq/RM (30.17%) to Malaysia's total GHG emission intensity.

ASSESSING THE RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE (KAP) ASSESSMENTS ON COVID-19 TRANSMISSION KNOWLEDGE AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES AMONG ECOTOURISM OPERATORS

2024-02-22T19:15:13-07:00

This cross-sectional study conducted in rural Pahang state, Malaysia, aimed to validate a questionnaire examining ecotourism operators’ Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) regarding COVID-19 transmission and preventive measures. Data collection utilised the snowball technique. The questionnaire, comprising 34 items covering knowledge, attitude, and practice constructs, underwent rigorous validation and piloting before the actual fieldwork. All factor loading scores (>0.65) and Cronbach’s alpha (α≥0.69) were greater than the reference value, relaying indicators of reliability and internal consistency of the measured latent variables. The findings revealed that the KAP model met the goodness-of-fit criteria (HTMT<.90, SRMR<0.08, NFI>0.90) and convergent validity was achieved (AVF≤0.50). The study confirms the meticulous instrument validation, ensuring the survey tool’s effectiveness in gauging KAP among ecotourism operators. This study’s novelty lies in its focus on the KAP spectrum vis-à-vis COVID-19 among operators engaged in these ecotourism domains. By bridging this gap, the research aspires to inform tailored interventions, ultimately fortifying resilience against future health crises in ecotourism communities.

ON RELOCATION OF SETTLEMENT AFTER THE CIANJUR EARTHQUAKE AND LANDSLIDE 2022

2024-02-22T19:15:11-07:00

An Earthquake and landslide occurred in Cianjur, Indonesia, in November 2022. This resulted in a lot of losses, both fatalities and the disappearance of some settlements. Relocation would be obligatory as post-disaster mitigation policies for areas with highest disaster threats. This research was conducted to find its relocation areas. The method used is overlay and scoring by utilizing GIS applications. The used data are rainfall data, slope, geological maps, Cianjur earthquake hazard maps, fault line buffering, and supervised classification of land cover/use maps. Analysis of the results in the form of landslide hazard maps and disaster safety maps. The search for the expected relocation area is carried out by overlaying a disaster-safe map with residential areas, so that a post-disaster residential relocation recommendation map is produced with five classes, namely very good, good, medium, bad, and very bad. An analysis is also carried out for directions for the use of the affected area for the very bad class used as a protected area and no buildings are allowed on it. Bad class is not allowed to live on it, but can be used for social activities, plantations and paddy fields. The moderate vulnerability class can still be used as a residence, economic centre, or other social activities. Meanwhile, the safe and very safe vulnerability classes do not have any land use restrictions.

FACTORS IMPACTING THE WELLBEING OF RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN MALAYSIA’S RURAL SETTLEMENTS

2024-02-22T19:15:09-07:00

A rural development process could have a direct impact on the wellbeing of rural households. This wellbeing assessment needs to be addressed adequately in Malaysia. The aim of this paper is to investigate the factors impacting the wellbeing of rural households in Malaysia’s rural settlements. The Iskandar Malaysia region in Johor was selected as a study area because of its diverse settlements, consisting of seven types of rural settlements in Johor. A quantitative approach was adopted by means of a household survey involving 282 heads of households as respondents. The finding reveals that different types of rural settlements were affected by different factors that influence the wellbeing of the rural households. This paper can provide an understanding of the factors that affect wellbeing, specifically income generation and job opportunities for rural households based on different types of rural settlements.

TEMPORAL ANALYSIS AND PREDICTIVE MODELING OF AMBIENT AIR QUALITY IN HULU LANGAT DISTRICT, SELANGOR, MALAYSIA: A CHEMOMETRIC APPROACH

2024-02-22T19:15:05-07:00

One of the most important environmental problems facing the globe today is air pollution. The centre area for the local populace is the Hulu Langat district, which borders Kuala Lumpur, the capital. The purpose of this study is to look at how the ambient air quality varies in Hulu Langat, Selangor. The Air Quality Division of the Malaysian Department of Environment provided five years' worth of secondary data on the air quality at Hulu Langat. The database included five primary air pollutant characteristics sulphur dioxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and particulate matter with a diameter of 10 microns or less (PM₁₀), in addition to data from the Air Pollutant Index (API). Chemometric analysis was used to examine the results. According to the results, SO₂, NO₂ and PM₁₀had the greatest correlations with API readings. A statistical process known as statistical control (SPC) showed that certain PM₁₀ values were over national recommendations and control limits. The artificial neural network method's air quality prediction model demonstrated good accuracy with real data (R² = 0.9). The results of this investigation indicated a strong correlation between the Hulu Langat air quality data. In order to achieve sustainable environmental practices in the future, it is imperative to engage in extensive collaboration across environmental departments and relevant authorities and engage in continuous monitoring of air quality.

PROPERTY MARKET AND THE FINANCIAL SECTOR: EXPLORING MALAYSIA'S SCENARIO IN TIMES OF CRISIS

2024-02-22T19:15:03-07:00

Amidst the global economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the financial sector faces an uncertain path due to various policy measures. This paper delves into the spillover effects of the relationship between Malaysia's property market and the financial sector. Using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) cointegration bound test, utilizing time-series data from Q12009 to Q32021, the empirical findings reveal a notable spillover effect of the pandemic on the relationship between the property market and financial sector development in Malaysia. Moreover, the marginal impact of the housing market and rental market on the development of the financial sector is elucidated by factors such as risk-averse behaviour, slower GDP growth, and government intervention through policy initiatives. It is crucial to consider this scenario as a precautionary measure, highlighting the potential for crisis prevention, despite the expansionary financial and monetary measures adopted in response to the pandemic-induced crisis.