Khalilah Zakariya

Rapid urbanization continues to raise concerns about environmental quality, and the concept of cultural ecosystem services (CES) is gaining global attention as a means of maintaining human well-being. This narrative review examines the mediating role of relational value between the relationship of perceived environmental spaces and cultural practices in assessing CES. Using structured qualitative screening, three themes were identified: 1) perceived environmental space as provision of CES, 2) cultural practices as expressions of human-nature relationship, and 3) relational value as a mediating mechanism in well-being. This review emphasizes relational value as a mediating mechanism offering a conceptual base for future CES evaluation studies.

The research maps the typology of outdoor playscapes in preschools, with an explicit focus on government and private kindergartens in the Klang Valley. The present study develops a map of the design and quality of outdoor playscapes in government and private kindergartens located in the Klang Valley, exploring how regulatory and economic factors influence the quality of play. Through a secondary resources approach, the research investigates the outdoor spatial layouts, relevant layout plans, and the types of play equipment supplied. The research explores how these design elements influence the functionality and overall character of the playscapes. Results show that most government kindergartens adhere to local authority guidelines, and their outdoor spaces are well-planned to facilitate active play, socialisation, and child development. In contrast, private kindergartens focus more on financial benefits, usually resulting in less thoughtful spatial arrangements and play equipment choices. Investing in outdoor facilities that appeal to children may not be the best practice for child development. The study develops a design framework that ensures well-organised outdoor settings, integrates different play equipment, and facilitates holistic development. It advocates more informed design practices beyond financial considerations, paving the way for public and private institutions to create nurturing, developmentally appropriate outdoor play spaces for young children.

Rural areas in Malaysia are now under pressure due to rapid urban development. As a result, the image and character of rural villages are at a detriment. The study area selected is along the Kuala Selangor to Sabak Bernam route. The objectives of this research are (i) to identify the significant factors influencing rural tourism route attributes using factor analysis, and (ii) to map the criteria and significant factors affecting rural tourism route attributes. The methodology is by using both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected using questionnaires distributed to tourists visiting the study area. The secondary data includes content analysis and reports related to tourism. The analysis was done using descriptive statistics and factor analysis. The results show that only 13 factors significantly contributed to the rural tourism route attributes along the Kuala Selangor to Sabak Bernam route. The results indicated that the main factors contributing to rural tourism routes are language, local food and recreation, agricultural activities, local landmarks, fruit orchards, plantations, livestock and fisherman villages, nature recreation, rural sounds, and nostalgia. Local authorities and stakeholders can utilise these factors to plan the development of rural areas, ensuring that rural resources and their biodiversity are used in a sustainable manner. In addition, a future study could apply a comparative approach with other rural regions in Peninsular Malaysia to widen the perspectives on rural tourism.

Designers are increasingly creating materials from renewable and recycled sources to support a circular economy, aiming to mitigate the adverse effects of linear production and consumption. These materials are considered sustainable alternatives to non-renewable materials, such as fossil fuel-based plastics. While users may be drawn to the sustainability narrative and "biography" of such materials, the highly natural appearance of biomaterials can sometimes evoke unappealing user responses. This study examines how "machine aesthetics"—visible signs of production like graphical embossment and engraving—impact user perceptions of biomaterials. The research explores how surface alterations influence emotional responses and underlying appraisals by comparing reactions to biomaterial samples with a high degree of naturalness against those with embossed and engraved surfaces. Findings reveal that machine aesthetics evoke a sense of order, contributing to favourable responses and minimising other negative evaluations of the material aspects. Although users value biomaterials for their natural origins, structured human-imposed aesthetics satisfy a desire for aesthetic coherence and control. This finding suggests that people appreciate sustainable materials' natural imperfections when presented within a framework of manageability and familiarity.

Integrating biocultural resources into tourism development is vital to promote sustainable practices that benefit the local community and the environment. Biocultural landscape resources include biodiversity and cultural heritage, where natural and cultural attributes are interconnected and can affect the sustainability of one another. Hence, examining biocultural resources as a connected network between nature and culture is integral. This paper investigates the biocultural landscape resources of Sungai Tembus, Seberang Perai, as unique opportunities to leverage the ecological features of the area and the local cultural practices. Through a mixed-method approach, the study gathered on-ground data through semi-structured interviews with local community members to gather their insights and experiences, which were complemented by mapping the resources using Geographic Information System (GIS) and photographic documentation. The result of the study shows that the local community's livelihood and tourism activities depend on biocultural resources. The findings reveal that the cultural heritage is shaped by the ecological features, highlighting the importance of community engagement in conservation efforts and tourism planning.

Perubahan Morfologi Bandar dan Usaha Pemuliharaan Bandar Lama Kecil di Malaysia Kajian Kes: Bandar Chukai (Urban Morphological Transformations and Conservation Initiatives in Small Town in Malaysia Case Study: Chukai Town)

Keywords: Interactive Maps; Heritage; Landscape; Tourism; Website Design

The rural road landscape is crucial in forming rural areas’ landscape character (LC). As a platform for portraying the rural landscape, the rural roads demonstrate the area’s unique natural and cultural characteristics to visitors. However, with the continuous development of rural areas, the rural LC has been severely impacted, thus impacting visitors’ visual experience. In order to preserve and protect the rural landscape, this study aims to assess the visual quality of rural road landscapes based on public preference and heatmap analysis. The results indicated that most of the participants had a higher level of preference for rural landscapes with open horizontal views represented by agricultural areas, such as paddy fields. It was also found that different paddy field characters based on their planting stages can also positively affect the visual quality of rural road landscapes. The study also revealed that rural LCs with roadside settlements, commercial structures, mixed agricultural crops, and vegetation received low preference ratings. These characters negatively impact the visual quality of the rural road landscape. These findings provide significant insight for planners and decision-makers regarding protecting and preserving the essential rural road landscapes for the rural tourism experience.