Malaysian Journal of Tropical Geography (MJTG)
The Malaysian Journal of Tropical Geography (MJTG) is published by the Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya. Submissions in the areas of human geography, physical geography, regional geography, environmental studies, GIS and remote sensing are welcome.
Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya
PENGARUH EL NIÑO-SOUTHERN OSCILLATION (ENSO) TERHADAP CUACA: SATU TINJAUAN LITERATUR SISTEMATIK BERASASKAN PANGKALAN DATA SCOPUS
Artikel ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti pengaruh fenomena iklim El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) terhadap keadaan cuaca, khususnya suhu dan hujan, melalui kaedah tinjauan literatur sistematik. Persoalan kajian ini dibentuk berdasarkan kerangka PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes) dan seterusnya disokong oleh penggunaan Systematic Searching Strategies (SSS) bagi membentuk kriteria pencarian yang terfokus di pangkalan data Scopus. Sebanyak 174 artikel telah disaring, dan 17 artikel telah dipilih untuk dianalisis menggunakan carta alir PRISMA. Berdasarkan artikel-artikel tersebut, satu jadual sistematik telah dibentuk yang menekankan isu kajian, jurang penyelidikan, metodologi serta dapatan utama. Hasil tinjauan ini menunjukkan bahawa fenomena ENSO mempunyai pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap corak cuaca di pelbagai lokasi, namun sifatnya adalah dinamik dan dipengaruhi oleh pelbagai faktor lain.
BENCHMARKING UNDERGRADUATE GEOGRAPHY COURSES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, NIGERIA, AND UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA, MALAYSIA
Undergraduate courses are pivotal in shaping students' futures, guiding their skills and knowledge. Additionally, it forms an integral part of various assessments of educational quality, ranking methodologies, and accreditation prerequisites across educational frameworks. Thus, this study adopts mixed-method approach to benchmark undergraduate geography courses at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria in Africa and University of Malaya, Malaysia, located in Asia continent help identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement in both departments, offering insights for further development and progress. Analysis of course documents and credit unit distributions reveal differences in core coursework emphasis and program structures. While a strong correlation (r =0.73) exists in course relevance between both universities. The lack of statistical significance (T-Statistics value is 2.62 and P-Value of 0.98) could indicate that other factors are influencing the number of courses offered at both institutions. This might include differences in curriculum design, educational priorities, or regional/geographical influences on the types of courses offered. The study emphasises the significance of benchmarking in geography education for ongoing improvement. It advocates for regular comparisons and comprehensive data analysis to enhance program quality globally.
THE EXTENDED URBANIZATION OF CAMERON HIGHLANDS: AN OPERATIONAL LANDSCAPE PERSPECTIVE
This study examines the transformation of Cameron Highlands, Malaysia, through the lens of extended urbanization, mobilizing the concepts of “operational landscapes” and “planetary urbanization” (Lefebvre, 1989; Brenner, 2014). It investigates how this former colonial hill station has evolved into a complex agrotourism destination, shaped by urban demands and global economic forces. Using a qualitative multi method approach, including field observations, interviews, and historical analysis, the study examines the working hypothesis that Cameron Highlands functions as an operational landscape that serves urban needs while being reshaped by urban influences, and evaluates this hypothesis through the triangulation of multiple qualitative data sources. The study finds that rapid development and commercialization have significantly altered the region's physical and cultural landscape, undermining its traditional appeal as a rural retreat. Key transformations include the 'plasticization' of the landscape, intensification of urban development, and erosion of the area's distinctive climate and character. These changes reflect broader processes of extended urbanization, where urban logics and practices extend far beyond conventional city boundaries. The research contributes to the theoretical discourse on operational landscapes by applying this framework to hill stations and agrotourism destinations. It also offers practical insights for sustainable development in areas experiencing rapid urbanization, highlighting the need for balanced approaches that consider both economic growth and environmental preservation in evolving operational landscapes.
ANALYSIS OF THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND PHENOMENON IN WEST KALIMANTAN PROVINCE USING GOOGLE EARTH ENGINE
Urban Heat Islands (UHI) refer to areas where urban temperatures are significantly higher than those in surrounding rural regions. This study utilizes remote sensing data from Google Earth Engine to examine spatiotemporal UHI variations in West Kalimantan Province from 2019 to 2023 by analyzing land surface temperature (LST) and vegetation density. The findings reveal that urban areas, especially Pontianak, experienced higher UHI intensity, with temperature differences ranging from 0.5°C to 2°C compared to more vegetated rural zones. Interior regions with dense vegetation showed lower UHI effects, whereas coastal cities such as Pontianak, Kubu Raya, and Mempawah exhibited UTFVI values above 0.02, indicating moderate to strong clustering of UHI. During the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021), average temperatures decreased by approximately 2°C due to reduced anthropogenic activity, but rebounded in 2022–2023. The province was categorized into four UHI intensity levels: strong (4 regions), moderate (3), weak (2), and non-UHI (5). These results highlight the crucial role of vegetation in mitigating UHI and emphasize the need for sustainable spatial planning that incorporates green infrastructure to enhance urban thermal comfort and resilience.
RIVERS AND RIVER ESTUARIES IN SRI LANKA: AN INTERPRETATION
Sri Lanka’s river systems are essential to the nation’s geomorphological, ecological, and socio-economic fabric. Despite their significance, the country’s river classification and drainage mapping have long been misrepresented, particularly the misconception that Sri Lanka possesses 103 river basins flowing radially from the Central Highlands. This study addresses this critical research gap by revaluating and redefining Sri Lanka’s true drainage systems, origins, and outflow characteristics through comprehensive geomorphological and hydrological analysis. The primary aim of this research is to provide an accurate interpretation of rivers and river estuaries in Sri Lanka by integrating field investigations, geomorphic mapping, and digital elevation models (DEMs). The specific objectives are to (1) correct long-standing misinterpretations regarding river basin classification and drainage patterns, (2) identify the true number and distribution of rivers that directly discharge into the Indian Ocean, (3) categorize the types of river estuaries based on geomorphological and hydrological parameters, and (4) examine the implications of human interventions, such as dams and diversions, on natural flow regulation and estuarine dynamics. Using SRTM derived DEMs, topographic contour analyses, and field validation across 29 major river outlets, the study reveals that Sri Lanka comprises 94 true river basins, of which only 29 rivers directly discharge into the Indian Ocean. These outlets form five distinct estuarine types: drowned river valleys, bar-built perennial, bar-built seasonal, perennial delta, and seasonal delta estuaries. Contrary to previous literature, only eight of these rivers originate above the 1200 m contour line of the Central Highlands, while the majority emerge below it. The findings underscore the necessity of reinterpreting Sri Lanka’s fluvial and estuarine systems for accurate hydrological assessment, policy formulation, and sustainable water management. Recognizing the spatial and functional diversity of these systems is vital for ecological conservation, flood control, agricultural planning, and the preservation of cultural heritage linked to ancient hydraulic civilizations. This reinterpretation provides a scientifically grounded framework to guide future research and national resource management strategies concerning Sri Lanka’s riverine landscapes.
FROM PREPAREDNESS TO RESILIENCE: A QUALITATIVE-META-SYNTHESIS ON INTEGRATING GOVERNANCE, MEDIA, AND GEO-SPATIAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR EFFECTIVE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION IN PAKISTAN
Floods remain one of the most devastating and recurring climate-induced disasters in Pakistan, exposing the pervasive nature of risks alongside communication, technological, and governance challenges. This study explores how combining risk-informed governance, media, and geospatial technologies can strengthen resilience in flood-prone areas across the country. Using qualitative meta-analysis, it examines institutional frameworks, and the roles of geoscience and media, in shaping disaster preparedness, response, and long-term resilience with reference to the Sendai Framework. It highlights how geospatial technology supports the entire cycle from preparedness to resilience, while media plays a critical role in effective mobilization, communication, and awareness. The discussion situates floods within broader debates on risk knowledge, disaster risk governance, policy implementation mechanisms, fiscal policies for disaster risk reduction, and post-disaster “Build Back Better” initiatives. It emphasizes the importance of both technological and policy evolutions in mitigating escalating flood risks. Case studies of flood events, specifically the 2010 and 2022 floods in Pakistan, highlight uneven access to communication infrastructure, a lack of risk knowledge among communities, and limited capacity-building initiatives for both geospatial and media technologies, challenges that are deepened by existing socio-economic inequalities. By bridging perspectives from geography and media studies, the study argues that the effective integration of risk governance and modern technologies is essential for reducing vulnerabilities. The analysis offers policy frameworks to institutionalize geospatial technologies, strengthen governance mechanisms, and expand digital media infrastructure, all of which are critical to advancing inclusive and optimal flood resilience in Pakistan.
COPING WITH INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIT: A NARRATION FROM HOUSEHOLDS’ HEADS IN THE DEVELOPMENTAL ZONES OF OGBOMOSO, NIGERIA
Despite government efforts in the provision of infrastructure, many residents in the developing countries, Nigeria inclusive experienced infrastructure deficit at the household level. This study therefore examined coping strategies to infrastructure deficit by households’ heads in the three developmental zones of Ogbomoso, Nigeria. Using multistage sampling procedure, the residential areas in Ogbomoso were stratified into core, transition and suburban developmental zones for questionnaire survey. Due to homogeneity of the areas in each zone, one area was randomly selected in each zone, this resulted into sampling of every 10th residential building with the selection of 221 households’ heads. This comprised 89, 72 and 60 respondents in the core, transition and suburban zones respectively. Data collected were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed that the level of absorptive, adaptive, and transformative as coping strategies to infrastructure deficit increases as distance increases from the core to suburban zones, and this is influenced by socioeconomic characteristics of households’ heads. The study concluded that there is a need for viable framework, programme and actionable plans by international actors towards the provision of sustainable infrastructure at household level, thereby complementing government efforts towards sustainable infrastructure provision especially in the core and transition developmental zones of the study area.
A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW OF COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND ADAPTATION TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE WATER SECURITY
This systematic review examines the key factors driving community resilience and adaptation within the framework of sustainable water security, with a specific focus on both urban and rural environments. Utilizing the PRISMA guidelines, a thorough search of multiple databases identified 15 relevant studies published between 2011 and 2021, a period selected to capture recent trends while maintaining analytical depth. The analysis revealed six critical themes: awareness, water conservation, education, pricing mechanisms, social movements, and the value of water. The study uniquely contributes by emphasizing the necessity of integrating indigenous knowledge and advancing tailored solutions to enhance water security. The findings suggest significant implications for future research, particularly in developing long-term strategies and assessing the efficacy of current approaches.
LOCAL ATMOSPHERIC OZONE VARIABILITY AND CHANGE AS OBSERVED AT KUALA LUMPUR (2.73ON, 101.7OE), MALAYSIA
We present the first comprehensive analysis of attributing large-scale influence on the local changes in atmospheric ozone over Kuala Lumpur (KL). KL is located near the western fringe of the equatorial South China Sea. We focus on radio- and ozone- sonde data available from the Southern Hemisphere ADditional OZonesondes (SHADOZ) network and investigate the variability and trends observed from 1998 to 2016. The most important drivers of variability over KL are the Quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) and the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). QBO signatures are evident in both the stratospheric ozone and temperature anomalies (including the 2016 disruption) while ENSO plays a small role in impacting tropospheric ozone and temperature variabilities. Over KL chemical depletion of stratospheric ozone is small and occurs in conjunction with decreasing temperature trend. However, tropospheric ozone and temperature show increasing trends. Apart from attributing observed local ozone and temperature changes to the most important drivers of year-to-year variability, trends obtained are regional indicators of a changing climate.
THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT IN FACILITATING ESG ADOPTION AMONG MALAYSIAN SMEs
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices are becoming important for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia to stay competitive and to meet global sustainability standards. However, SMEs often face challenges extending from limited resources to lack of knowledge and confusing ESG requirements. This paper intends to investigate into the role of the government in helping SMEs with ESG adoption by focusing on two guidelines: the National Industry ESG Framework (i-ESG) or the i-ESGStart by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) and the Simplified ESG Disclosure Guide (SEDG) for SMEs in Supply Chain by Capital Markets Malaysia (CMM). i-ESGStart gives comprehensive instructions for reporting and improving ESG practices while SEDG, on the other hand is simpler and easier to use, especially for smaller companies just starting with ESG. Thi paper begins with description about the i-ESGStart and SEDG, and followed by discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of both guidelines and concludes that they can complement each other to help SMEs adopt sustainable practices and enhance ESG transparency.
LEBUH RAYA PANTAI BARAT, WCE: CORAK PEMBANGUNAN DAN PERKEMBANGAN AGROPOLITAN DI DAERAH SABAK BERNAM, SELANGOR
Lebuh raya merupakan antara faktor berlakunya proses penyerakan dan pembangunan sesuatu kawasan. Lebuh raya merupakan infrastruktur awam yang dibina bertujuan untuk menyuraikan masalah kesesakan, mengurangkan jarak perjalanan serta masa perjalanan serta struktur dan perkhidmatan yang lebih baik berbanding dengan jalan negeri atau jalan kampung. Pembinaan infrastruktur pengangkutan seperti jalan raya, lapangan terbang, pelabuhan dan laluan kereta api bertindak secara tidak langsung dalam menentukan kawasan tumpuan pembangunan. Infrastruktur pengangkutan ini berperanan sebagai pemangkin dan pemacu kepada peningkatan aktiviti ekonomi di samping meningkatkan keupayaan untuk menghidupkan kawasan berhampiran yang terlibat. Fenomena pertumbuhan ekonomi ini membawa kepada penyerakan bandar yang memberi kesan kepada guna tanah di kawasan sekitarnya kesan peningkatan aktiviti pembangunan kawasan ekonomi, kemudahan awam, penempatan dan industri yang dijalankan bagi memenuhi permintaan ekonomi dan sosial. Impak dari pembinaan lebuh raya dapat dilihat melalui masa perjalanan yang semakin singkat dan kos pengangkutan yang lebih menjimatkan. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan spatial bagi menganalisis kesan pembinaan lebuh raya WCE terhadap pembangunan yang dicadangkan di dalam Draf Rancangan Tempatan Daerah Sabak Bernam bagi tahun 2010-2025.
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ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF VERTEBRATE PEST-INDUCED ON-FARM MAIZE LOSSES ON YIELDS, INCOME, FOOD SECURITY AND FARMERS’ LIVELIHOOD IN IFELODUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KWARA STATE, NIGERIA
In developing countries, pests’ damage to fields and stored crops substantially contributes to losses in farm yields and income. Studies have investigated the impact of insect pests on maize production, with inadequate attention on the impact of on-farm losses of maize from vertebrates. Consequently, this study examined types, stages, intensity, effects, and control of vertebrate pest-induced on-farm losses of maize as well as assess its effects on maize’s yields and income and its impact on food security and farmers’ livelihood in Ifelodun LGA, Kwara State, Nigeria. 500 Maize farmers were selected through convenient sampling from 14 randomly selected settlements in the study area. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics (percentages), while inferential statistics (ANOVA) was used to assess the degree of spatial variations and hypothesis testing; because of its suitability for analysis of differences among the means of more than two groups. The result shows that the majority; identified grass cutter as the vertebrate pest largely responsible for on-farm losses (38.6%), sustained on-farm losses at the fruiting stage (60.0%), described the intensity of on-farm losses as very high (58.4%), affirmed negative impact of on-farm losses from vertebrate pests on Maize’s yield and income (70.8%) and upheld the negative impact of On-farm losses of Maize from vertebrate pest on food security and farmers’ livelihood (75.4%). The result shows no significant variations in the perception of respondents on the negative impact of vertebrate pest-induced on-farm losses of maize on food security and farmers’ livelihood across the settlements (F (3,483) =0.755, P> 0.05). The study concluded and consequently recommended improvement in the control mechanisms of vertebrate pests to reduce on-farm losses to increase maize yields and income as well as improve farmer’s livelihood and food security.
PEMETAAN GANGGUAN BEKALAN AIR BERSIH DI KAMPUS UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SABAH BERASASKAN GIS
Kegawatan dalam bekalan air bersih terhadap sesuatu kawasan setempat boleh memberi kesan kepada manusia dalam pelbagai aspek. Oleh itu, kajian ini dijalankan dengan memfokuskan kepada pemetaan gangguan bekalan air bersih yang berlaku di kampus Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) menggunakan GIS. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah kuantitatif dengan pengaplikasian ‘Geographic Information System (GIS)’ melalui teknik interpolasi ‘Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW)’ dalam perolehan dapatan kajian ini. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa gangguan bekalan air bersih di UMS boleh berlaku berpunca daripada beberapa faktor, antaranya ialah bekalan air terhenti (dengan nilai skor min paling tinggi), diikuti oleh tekanan air rendah, kecurian air, kerja penyelenggaran, catuan air, cuaca panas berpanjangan dan bekalan air tercemar. Secara keseluruhannya, ketersediaan bekalan air bersih di UMS pada masa ini memerlukan kerjasama daripada pelbagai pihak dalam usaha mengekalkan kualiti dan kuantiti air bersih di UMS. Sebagai contohnya, penggunaan air bersih secara jimat-cermat, kurangkan pembaziran air, dan kesedaran tentang kepentingan air bersih di UMS.
TEMPORAL ANALYSIS OF VEGETATION COVER CHANGES IN NORTHEASTERN PART OF NIGERIA’S SUDAN SAVANNAH
Survival of teeming population in sub-Saharan Africa necessitates conversion of natural vegetation to farmland in an unsustainable manner leading to environmental degradation and subsequently, the threat to food security. The study aims at analyzing of vegetation cover changes in Nigeria’s Sudan savannah agroecological zone. Landsat images of Yamaltu-Deba town with periodic interval of 10 years between 1990-2020 were acquired at 30 m spatial resolution and 16 bit of radiometric resolution was analyzed using Arc GIS. Image processing and data analysis was used to determine the trend pattern of vegetation cover changes. While NDVI was used to classify the vegetation into high, low, moderate, no vegetation and water body, overlay analysis was used to produce vegetation cover change map. The study discovered reduction in high vegetation at the rate of -9.32% in 1990 to -29.81% in 2020 while low vegetation cover changes increased from 4.09% in 2000 to 50.01% in 2020. In conclusion both high and moderate vegetation cover have been reducing at alarming rate resulting to increase in low vegetation cover. Therefore the study hereby recommended the need for incorporation of spatial integration of soil nutrient improve tree into the farming system and legislation against all form of deforestation.
INFLUENTIAL ELEMENTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF IRAN'S URBAN POPULATION
Urbanization is the concept of increasing urban population and the number of cities in a region. The growing trend of urbanization in developing countries is one of the challenges of today's world due to the occurrence of problems and its negative consequences. This article analyses the spatial distribution of Iran's urban areas and the factors affecting it, examines the rate of change in the country's urban population over 6 decades, and finally predicts the change in the country's urban population until 2030. The main question of the research is how urbanization in Iran has changed over the last 6 decades (1956-2016) and what factors have influenced it. The results showed that urbanization in Iran, as in most developing countries, has grown rapidly in recent decades, with the country's urban population increasing more than tenfold over the past six decades. The reasons for the rapid growth of the urban population in Iran can be listed as follows: the massive migration of villagers to urban areas, the development of industries in big cities, land reforms, the occurrence of the Islamic Revolution, the Iraq-Iran war, the continuation of the centralization process, regional inequalities in the country, the tendency of Afghan immigrants to live in the city and the implementation of some inappropriate laws, such as the abolition of the population criteria for turning a village into a city, the high natural population growth rate in the cities due to the suspension of the family planning program.
ASSESSMENT OF LANDSLIDE VULNERABILITY REGARDING TNB ASSETS IN BUKIT ANTARABANGSA
The assessment of vulnerability to landslides is crucial for effective risk management, especially for infrastructure and human lives. This study aims to evaluate the vulnerability of landslides toward Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) assets in Bukit Antarabangsa, an area known for susceptibility to slope and landslide failures. The TNB assets include substations and pylon towers. Substations were selected based on their proximity to slopes and a landslide inventory within a 50-meter distance. The study uses an Indicator-Based Method (IBM) to quantify the vulnerability level, allowing for a systematic and comprehensive analysis. The IBM involves selecting and assessing key indicators that reflect the physical aspects of vulnerability. These indicators are grouped into clusters, each corresponding to specific indicators and sub-indicators, and then integrated into a geospatial model for the vulnerability assessment. The Bukit Antarabangsa assessment revealed that the Athenaeum Condo substation exhibits very high vulnerability to landslides, while the entire pylon tower generally demonstrates a lower vulnerability level. This assessment provides TNB with critical information to make informed decisions, implement mitigation measures, and prioritize actions to minimize potential risks and maintain service reliability. The study's significance lies in its valuable contribution to infrastructure safety against landslides, safeguarding communities, and ensuring the continuity of essential utilities during natural disasters.
SPATIOTEMPORAL VARIATION OF PARTICULATE MATTER (PM) 2.5 CONCENTRATION IN THE INDONESIAN MARITIME CONTINENT
Indonesia is recognized as the country with the highest level of Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 pollution in Southeast Asia. This study aims to investigate the spatial and temporal variations of PM2.5 concentrations in the Indonesian maritime continental region (IMC) over a span of 38 years (1980-2018), based on seasonal and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomena. The data used are surface PM2.5, rainfall, wind components at 850 hPa pressure, and fire hotspot points in the IMC region. The results showed higher PM2.5 anomalies in summer (JJA) compared to winter (DJF). There is a positive PM2.5 anomaly during the JJA period and a negative anomaly during the DJF period in the IMC region, which is caused by particle deposition by rain. Seasonal wind patterns carry pollutants from urban areas and hotspots towards the countryside, significantly increasing PM2.5 concentrations in rural areas. Riau and South Sumatra provinces show the highest hotspot density on Sumatra Island, Central Kalimantan and West Kalimantan provinces show the highest hotspot density on Kalimantan Island, and southern Papua has the highest hotspot density on Papua Island. The peak number and density of hotspots in Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua occurred in September. The rainfall patterns in IMC are closely linked to ENSO years. During El Niño years, rainfall decreases, and the atmosphere tends to become drier, leading to an increase in hotspots. These hotspots contribute to elevating the concentrations of PM2.5, as observed in 1997/1998 and 2015/2016 when the region experienced its highest hotspot density and a corresponding rise in PM2.5 levels. This association underscores the complex interplay between climatic phenomena, atmospheric conditions, and air quality dynamics in the Indonesian context.
A CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE IMPACTS OF MALAYSIAN OIL PALM INTERESTS ON INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN EAST AND NORTH KALIMANTAN
Resource peripheries are areas that are physically distant from national cores and difficult to access, often found along international borders. The provinces of East and North Kalimantan, situated within the Sulu Sulawesi Zone, share both land and maritime borders with Malaysia. Trade exchanges and commodities have been an important factor in the development of these provinces, which owe much of their recent economic development to land-use based sectors, particularly the agribusiness sector, fueled mainly by palm oil. This oil palm boom has made this region one of the largest economies in Indonesia, experiencing consistent growth over the recent decades. However, this has led to significant socio-economic and environmental challenges for the indigenous communities in East and North Kalimantan, raising concerns about sustainability and cultural preservation. This study aims to critically analyze the socio-economic and environmental effects of the palm oil boom and globalization on the indigenous communities of East and North Kalimantan. Using content analysis of primary and secondary sources consisting of publicly available documents, this critical review examines the effect of these new relationships on the indigenous communities here, as well as the impact of globalization and capitalism on these two peripheral provinces. It finds that cross-border investments by Malaysian plantation companies in these provinces have brought more negative than positive impacts upon the indigenous communities residing there.
APLIKASI SISTEM MAKLUMAT GEOGRAFI (GIS) DALAM MENENTUKAN KEBOLEHUPAYAAN PEJALAN KAKI TERHADAP KEBOLEHTERSAMPAIAN DI BANDARAYA BERSEJARAH MELAKA
Kebolehupayaan pejalan kaki ialah satu kajian disiplin ilmu yang meluas terhadap kebolehtersampaian tanpa menggunakan mod pengangkutan berteraskan motor. Kajian ini dijalankan di kawasan bersejarah iaitu Bandaraya Melaka yang mempunyai pelbagai akses dan aktiviti pelancongan. Kaedah yang digunakan ialah analisis rangkaian dan proses hierarki analitik berasaskan aplikasi sistem maklumat geografi (GIS) sebagai platform data ruangan utama yang dapat menentukan skor akses kebolehupayaan pejalan kaki di kawasan kajian. Empat parameter digunakan iaitu pemboleh ubah perhubungan jalan raya, guna tanah, tempat kediaman dan bangunan komersial atau sejarah. Hasil kajian yang dijalankan dapat menunjukkan peratusan skor kawasan yang mempunyai keupayaan berjalan kaki yang tinggi, sederhana dan rendah. Selain itu, penggunaan GIS dan data walk score dapat menentukan bahawa lokasi Bandar Hilir merupakan kawasan yang sangat tinggi ‘walkability’ dan akses yang sempurna. Oleh hal yang demikian, kajian ini dapat memberikan impak positif kepada perancang bandar yang lestari dari segi ekonomi, alam sekitar dan reka bentuk bandaraya tanpa penggunaan kenderaan bermotor.
CYBERCRIME EXPERIENCE'S IMPACT ON WOMEN'S EMOTIONS: A CASE STUDY IN PENANG
According to reports, 73% of women worldwide are cybercrime victims due to the consumption of social media. Cybercrime incidents have various effects on female victims, including emotional, relationship, and educational consequences. This study aims to investigate the emotional effects of cybercrime among the female victims. Ten women who were victims of cybercrime were selected for in-depth interviews using snowball and purposive sampling. This study employed the qualitative approach; the data was analyzed using content analysis. The results show that cybercrime involving instances of cyberbullying and fraud was the most prevalent among respondents, at 21.4%. The emotional effects of cyberbullying and fraud include sadness, trauma, embarrassment, stress, depression, frequent crying, anxiety, distraction, anger, fear, depression, loss of trust, always thinking negatively, lack of self-confidence, and becoming a hater. This study provides information about the emotional impact of cybercrime on women who use social media. This study suggested that government agencies and related organizations should consider the potential dangers posed by social media, which could negatively impact the emotional and psychological health of young women.
ENVIRONMENTAL-INDUCED MIGRATION AND LIVELIHOOD VULNERABILITY IN PATIGI LGA, KWARA-NORTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT, NIGERIA
Migration and livelihood are interwoven so that both can be perceived as products of the environment. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the global occurrence of forced migration as a result of environmental stress, which is a global challenge. However, approaches adopted in confronting it vary globally, and the present study contributes to global knowledge from a rare perspective. The approach solution to environmental stress holistically, particularly with the advocacy for community members' participation at every stage of solution building, which was downplayed in the past in solving disaster-prone area challenges. It neglects the adoption of edge-cutting methods, such as the blue economy approach, that the old order did not have. The paper assessed the prevalence and occurrence of environmentally induced disasters in Patigi's environs as well as their impact on livelihood vulnerability as a case study. The data for this study were obtained from a structured questionnaire, focus group discussions (FGD), and in-depth interviews. Purposive sampling was used by the National Emergency Management Agency to select five communities considered disaster-prone areas. These communities are Edochigi, Gudugi, Mawogi, Sokingi, and Gakpan. A total of 125 copies of structured questionnaires were administered using a disproportionate random sampling technique. Twenty-five disaster victims were selected from each community. The result showed that floods accounted for 72% of the prevalence of environmental disasters in the study area. Findings also revealed that 75.2% of the respondents are mostly farmers in rice cultivation. The correlation analysis shows that flooding greatly impacts farming, with a correlation of 0.615, especially during the rainy season. The study concluded that environment-related disasters had led to displacement and negatively impacted inhabitant livelihoods. The study recommended the need for community members' involvement in the problem-solving process and the need to adopt the blue economy concept to minimize the adverse effects of disasters.
HISTORICAL EXTREME TEMPERATURE TRENDS IN A PART OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
The study examines the historical trends and changes in extreme temperature events in Nigeria using both observed (NIIMET) and simulated (Regional Climate Model) data over the study area. The spatiotemporal patterns, variability and trend analysis of the datasets were carried out. Fourteen (14) indices of the 27 climate indices were used to determine the trends and changes in extreme events across the region. Results showed an increase in trends of minimum and maximum temperature across the eco-climatic regions of Nigeria, and the RegCM replicated the observed data for most of the eco-climatic regions, except for the Sudan savanna. The study identified significant implications attributed to the temperature increase in humans, plants and animals.
SPATIAL VARIATION OF CLIMATIC HAZARDS IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF SRI LANKA
There are no discernible patterns concerning drought and flood hazards in Sri Lanka; some areas have experienced more disasters than others. The objective of this study is to identify the spatial patterns of drought and flood hazards that exist in this region. Monthly, seasonal, and annual climatic data were gathered from thirteen stations, covering the period from 1972 to 2022. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) was employed to examine each station's drought and flood hazards from 1972 to 2022. The Arc GIS 10.4 Krigging method was utilized to identify the spatial variations of the drought and flood hazards. During the South West Monsoon Season, severe droughts were detected in Vavunikkulam, Akkarayankulam, Murunkan, and Pavatkulam. Extreme floods were common during the First Inter Monsoon Season; three occurrences were noted at Iranaimadu, Thirunelveli, Pallavarayankaddu, and Nainathivu stations in the Northern region, identified through the SPI method. During the Second Inter Monsoon Season, two extreme floods in Thirunelveli, two in Vavuniya, and three in Murungan and Akkarayankulam stations were identified alongside seven severe droughts at Nainathivu and five at Vavuniya. During the North East Monsoon Season, three severe floods were identified in Akkarayankulam, three in Ambalapperumalkulam, three extreme floods in Pallavaraykaddu, three severe floods in Muththaiyankaddu, four severe floods in Vavunikkulam station, and three severe floods in Vavuniya in the Northern region of Sri Lanka. Some areas in the Northern Region of Sri Lanka have been affected several times spatially by both floods and droughts. The eastern parts of the study area have more flood hazards, while the western parts have more droughts, according to 70% of the people surveyed. Furthermore, the frequency of flood occurrences decreases gradually in the direction from east to west, while that of droughts decreases gradually from west to east.
MORPHOMETRIC CHARACTERISATION OF YEWA DRAINAGE BASIN, SOUTHWEST NIGERIA
Morphometric analysis is a prerequisite for understanding the hydrological dynamics of a drainage basin's characteristics. This study focused on the morphometric characteristics of the Yewa drainage basin using GIS. The areal, linear, and relief morphometric parameters of the drainage basin were characterised using ArcGIS. The drainage map of the study area reveals a dendritic drainage pattern with a fourth-order stream network on a 4832.40 km² area. The mean bifurcation ratio of the basin is 2.03, indicating that the geological structures do not exercise a significant influence on the drainage pattern. The drainage density of the Yewa drainage basin is 0.256km-1, indicating coarse texture, high infiltration, and permeability with thick vegetation and moderate to low relief. The elongation ratio of 0.556 and the form factor of 0.243 reveals that the basin has an elongated shape. This present study gives an account of information about drainage patterns, stream behaviour, and morphometric setting of drainage within the network that support watershed management. The significance of morphometric analysis on the hydrological characterisation is discussed, and this study's relevance in water resources management and planning has been explicated.
ROCKFALL HAZARDS ALONG ABURI-ACCRA ROAD, GHANA
The expansion of the Peduase-Ayi Mensa road along a section of the Akwapim-Togo Range required excavation forming rock-cut slopes. These exposed the rocks face to geologic and climatic conditions influencing weathering. Even though ditches and benches have been constructed in some sections, rock falls still occur. The exposure of road users to rock fall hazards puts human lives and properties at risk. This study, therefore, sought to determine the factors influencing rock fall and evaluate slope face using the Modified Colorado Rock Fall Hazard Rating System (MCRHRS) for contribution to policy considerations on measures to prevent these failures. The study area was purposively divided into thirty-five sites. In determining the factors influencing the failure, observations were made to identify types of rocks and describe the nature of distinct joints. Interviews were also conducted to seek information on the causes and management of rock falls. Furthermore, observations and measurements of parameters were used to evaluate sites with MCRHRS. Total RHRS scores obtained from the evaluation of sites, in addition to aerial photographs, were used to map the degree of rock fall hazards at each site. Findings from the study indicated that rock fall hazards are influenced by the physical disturbance of the geology of the area during the construction of the road and buildings, unfavourable slope angles at some sites, in addition to rock mining and rainfall. Also, evaluation of sites indicated that RS11 is most likely to fail and hence requires higher priority of remedial works. In the course of the study, vegetation along the slope face and a section of the natural slope from RS35 to 18 were removed for the installation of wire mesh. Since it still occurs, the removal of weathered rocks and spraying of fibrecrete onto the slope face could also be considered.
AKTIVITI PENTERNAKAN KAMBING DAN CABARAN DI KUANTAN, PAHANG
Pernternakan merupakan komponen penting dalam sektor pertanian, yang berperanan sebagai penjana peluang pekerjaan kepada masyarakat, dan menjamin kelangsungan bekalan makanan iaitu sebagai sumber protien alternatif. Namun demikian, industri penternakan kambing di Malaysia masih berada dalam skala kecil dengan menunjukkan senario permintaan melebihi penawaran. Sehingga ke hari ini, Malaysia masih bergantung kepada 70% import hasil ternakan kambing setahun dari negara luar. Justeru itu, kajian ini dijalankan untuk mengkaji aktiviti penternakan kambing yang dijalankan oleh penternak di Kuantan, Pahang serta cabaran yang dihadapi oleh mereka. Empat objektif dikemukakan dalam kajian ini iaitu, untuk mengenal pasti jenis baka kambing yang diternak, mengkaji jenis sistem penternakan yang digunakan, menganalisis adaptasi amalan penternakan moden dan mengenal pasti cabaran yang di hadapi oleh penternak di Kuantan dalam aktiviti penternakan kambing mereka. Menerusi kajian ini, didapati bahawa secara keseluruhannya penternak kambing di Kuantan mengaplikasikan teknik penternakan moden seperti yang digariskan Jabatan Penternakan Veterinar Malaysia. Penyakit kambing, bencana alam, ancaman keselamatan ternakan, kesukaran mendapatkan makanan ternakan dan modal merupakan cabaran utama yang dihadapi oleh penternak kambing di Kuantan, Pahang. Maka bidang penternakan kambing haruslah lebih dikomersialkan sebagai saluran kerjaya dengan masa depan yang cerah, terutamanya kepada golongan muda. Pihak kerajaan dan badan bukan kerajaan juga perlulah lebih peka terhadap kebajikan golongan penternak. Bantuan berbentuk modal dan kemahiran perlu diperbanyakkan agar dapat menarik minat masyarakat untuk menceburkan diri dalam bidang ini.
KESAN PERUBAHAN GUNA TANAH TERHADAP POLA SUHU DI KUNDASANG, SABAH
Kundasang, Sabah merupakan destinasi pelancongan tanah tinggi yang dikenali kerana suhu persekitarannya yang rendah. Namun, situasi telah berubah apabila Kundasang semakin rancak dibangunkan dengan pelbagai jenis guna tanah. Oleh itu, objektif kajian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis impak perubahan guna tanah terhadap pola suhu di Kundasang dari tahun 2012 sehingga tahun 2020. Pelaksanaan kajian ini adalah dengan menggunakan pendekatan gabungan kaedah kuantitatif dan kualitatif. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan sepanjang tempoh sembilan tahun, guna tanah Kundasang telah mengalami perubahan yang besar dan jelas dilihat pada keluasan kawasan hijau yang semakin berkurang. Pengurangan luas kawasan hijau adalah akibat pembukaan kawasan baru untuk aktiviti pertanian, pelancongan dan pembinaan. Hasil analisis kandungan mendapati sektor pertanian dan pelancongan merupakan aktiviti guna tanah yang paling giat dijalankan berbanding pembinaan. Seiring dengan perubahan guna tanah, pola suhu Kundasang juga turut mengalami perubahan. Dapatan temu bual mendapati perubahan pola suhu Kundasang memberi kesan kepada produktiviti pertanian dan aktiviti pelancongan. Hal ini seterusnya, memberi impak kepada penduduk yang menjadikan sektor pertanian dan pelancongan sebagai sumber pendapatan utama.
SECURITY CHALLENGES AND SUSTAINABLE ECO/RURAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: EXAMPLES OF IDANRE HILLS AND OWU FALLS
Eco and rural tourism are keys to sustainable economic development in most developing countries, including Nigeria. In Nigeria, security challenges have threatened eco and rural tourism, impeding economic development. This paper examines the effects of national insecurity on tourism development in Idanre (Idanre Hills) and Owu-Isin (Owu falls) in Nigeria. It identified types of insecurity issues common in the study areas; examined causes of insecurity; determined the effects of insecurity in relation to patronage; and assessed the coping strategies. A total of one hundred residents of the host communities were randomly sampled with copies of the questionnaire, while tourist guides and tourists were interviewed. Tables, frequencies, Chi-square and trend analysis, were employed to analyze the gathered data. Findings revealed the common insecurity challenges in the host communities, including abduction and farmer/herders clashes. Causes include neglect of the people (82.0%) and poverty (74.0%). Effects identified include: giving the country a bad image and low patronage at the tourist sites. Coping strategies include using detective equipment and CCTV camera, education and community policing. It can therefore be concluded that eco and rural tourism hold promise for sustainable development of the host communities if security is guaranteed, and basic social amenities provided especially at Owu falls.
FAKTOR ANALISIS MEMBELI-BELAH BARANGAN MAKANAN DAN KEPERLUAN HARIAN DI PASAR RAYA BESAR
Perniagaan runcit di Malaysia telah menunjukkan banyak perubahan dengan munculnya format perniagaan baharu dan moden seperti pasar raya besar atau hypermarket. Banyak kelebihan yang ditawarkan oleh pasar raya besar kepada pengguna untuk membeli barangan makanan dan keperluan harian. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk mengenal pasti kumpulan faktor yang mempengaruhi pengguna membeli-belah di pasar raya besar di Shah Alam. Seramai 400 orang responden terlibat dalam kajian melalui kaedah persampelan mudah. Data dianalisis menggunakan kaedah statistik deskriptif dan Analisi Faktor digunakan untuk mengenal pasti kumpulan faktor. Hasil kajian mendapati terdapat lima kumpulan faktor yang terdiri daripada 31 item yang mempengaruhi pengguna membeli-belah iaitu barangan dan perkhidmatan, kemudahan, perjalanan, persekitaran dan lain-lain faktor. Kajian ini diharap boleh digunakan oleh pihak pengurusan sama ada pasar raya besar dan juga pesaing untuk merangka strategi perniagaan pada masa hadapan.
PERUBAHAN GARISAN PINGGIR LAUT DAN KESANNYA TERHADAP MORFOLOGI ZON PINGGIR LAUT: SATU KAJIAN DI UTARA NEGERI KELANTAN
Garisan pinggir laut iaitu zon pertemuan di antara daratan dan lautan merupakan kawasan yang sangat dinamik. Pembentukannya adalah terhasil daripada proses tindakbalas secara semula jadi di antara sistem fizikal dan struktur buatan manusia yang dibina di kawasan tersebut. Aktiviti manusia di lembangan sungai juga turut mempengaruhi perubahan garisan pinggir laut memandangkan lembangan sungai amat berhubungkait dengan sistem lautan. Seterusnya menyebabkan berlakunya perubahan terhadap morfologi atau bentuk muka bumi di sepanjang garisan pinggir laut. Berdasarkan peratusan hakisan pinggir laut di Malaysia, Negeri Kelantan merupakan garisan pinggir laut yang paling teruk mengalami proses degradasi. Sehubungan dengan itu, kajian ini dilaksanakan bagi mengkaji perubahan garisan pinggir laut dalam tempoh 64 tahun iaitu dari tahun 1955 hingga 2019 dan kesannya terhadap morfologi di kawasan tersebut. Kajian ini menggunakan perisian GIS (Geographic Information System) dan RS (Remote Sensing). Hasil proses penindanan peta menunjukkan bahawa berlaku tiga jenis perubahan garisan pinggir laut iaitu degradasi, aggradasi dan juga dinamik. Manakala kesannya terhadap morfologi pinggir laut pula adalah wujudnya bentuk muka bumi yang baru serta kemusnahan bentuk muka bumi yang sedia ada di sepanjang garisan pinggir laut.