Azimah Abd Rahman

Background: Floods and landslides frequently affect the same catchment systems, yet they are usually assessed in isolation, which limits the ability of local authorities to identify areas exposed to their combined spatial influence. An integrated multi-hazard assessment is therefore needed to provide a more comprehensive understanding of spatial hazard susceptibility. This study develops an integrated flood–landslide multi-hazard susceptibility map for the Langat Catchment, Selangor, Malaysia, focusing on three districts: Hulu Langat, Sepang, and Kuala Langat. A geographical information system (GIS)-based frequency ratio (FR) method was applied to generate the individual flood and landslide susceptibility maps, using conditioning factors that comprised elevation, slope, curvature, aspect, rainfall, distance to river, distance to road, soil, geology, fault line, land use, and the topographic wetness index (TWI). Unlike separate single-hazard assessments, the proposed approach integrates the two susceptibility surfaces within a common 10 m spatial framework using hazard-frequency moderation factors adapted to the Malaysian disaster context. Results: Flood susceptibility is concentrated in the lower catchment areas of Sepang and Kuala Langat, where 28.8% of the area is classified as high and 9.7% as very high susceptibility. Landslide susceptibility is concentrated in the hilly upstream terrain of Hulu Langat, where 15.5% of the area falls within the very high susceptibility class. In the integrated multi-hazard map, 31.8% of the area is classified as moderate, 11.5% as high, and 30.9% as very high susceptibility. Validation using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) yielded an AUC of 0.803 and overall classification accuracy of 63.3%, indicating good predictive performance. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that the integrated framework captures the contrasting spatial dominance of flooding in the lower catchment and of landslide susceptibility in the upper catchment. The resulting multi-hazard map provides a transparent spatial decision-support tool for land-use planning, mitigation prioritization, infrastructure protection, and emergency preparedness in tropical catchments exposed to multiple geohazards.

Urban poverty in Malaysia remains a critical challenge that demands comprehensive and inclusive solutions. This study proposes a responsive urban poverty framework, classifying individuals into two main groups: the working age group (20 – 59 years) and the post-working age group (60 years and above). Drawing on data from 334 heads of households (HoHs) in the B40 income group residing in the people’s housing project in Kerinchi, Kuala Lumpur, the study evaluates strategies to enhance the well-being and competitiveness of the urban poor. A quantitative approach was employed, with data collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software. Findings indicate an average monthly income of RM 2,589 among B40 HoHs, with marked improvements in well-being for those adopting targeted intervention strategies. The proposed framework incorporates targeted and actionable measures to increase household income and resilience in both short and long-term scenarios. This study underscores the importance of understanding the multifaceted dimensions of urban poverty, implementing effective strategies, and developing practical frameworks to improve economic stability and quality of life of urban B40 households. The findings provide valuable guidance for policymakers, urban planners, and social development stakeholders in formulating strategies that address the economic challenges faced by B40 households in urban Malaysia.

Kes demam denggi di Pulau Pinang menunjukkan peningkatan mendadak dari tahun 2021 hingga 2023, dengan jumlah kes tertinggi direkodkan pada tahun 2023. Kajian ini menggunakan teknologi Sistem Maklumat Geografi (GIS) untuk menganalisis taburan ruang kes demam denggi dan mengenal pasti kawasan titik panas (hotspot) utama. GIS membolehkan pemetaan taburan kes dijalankan secara sistematik serta membantu mengenal pasti faktor persekitaran dan demografi yang menyumbang kepada penyebaran penyakit. Analisis statistik seperti korelasi Pearson digunakan bagi mengkaji hubungan antara pembolehubah persekitaran seperti suhu, taburan hujan, dan kepadatan penduduk terhadap bilangan kes. Hasil dapatan menunjukkan Seberang Perai Tengah mengalami peningkatan kes paling ketara, iaitu daripada 549 kes pada tahun 2022 kepada 3,100 kes pada tahun 2023. Sebaliknya, Seberang Perai Selatan mencatatkan jumlah kes yang lebih rendah dan stabil, antara 62 hingga 232 kes. Taburan kes menunjukkan bahawa taburan hujan mempunyai hubungan yang sangat kuat (r=0.965) dan signifikan secara statistik terhadap peningkatan kes, manakala suhu dan kepadatan penduduk menunjukkan pengaruh yang berbeza mengikut tahun. Analisis hotspot mengesahkan kepekatan kes di kawasan yang lebih urban dan padat. Kajian ini memberi panduan penting kepada pihak berkuasa kesihatan dalam merangka strategi pencegahan yang lebih terarah dan berkesan melalui pemantauan persekitaran, kawalan vektor yang bersasar serta penggunaan data GIS.

HRMARS is well established journal publisher based in Pakistan. It is publishing prominent journals in social sciences since 2011.

HRMARS is well established journal publisher based in Pakistan. It is publishing prominent journals in social sciences since 2011.

This study identifies firefly population areas along the Sepetang River using Geographic Information System (GIS) buffer analysis. The focus is on Pteroptyx tener, which thrives in mangrove ecosystems, especially around Sonneratia caseolaris (Berembang trees). Field data were collected over six months from ten stations along the river to analyze firefly abundance concerning surrounding land use and vegetation types. Buffer zones of 50, 100, and 150 meters were applied to assess the impact of environmental factors and human activities on firefly populations. The results revealed that Station 6 had the highest firefly concentration, attributed to its dense Berembang tree cover. These findings emphasize the significance of mangrove conservation for sustaining firefly habitats. This research highlights the effective use of GIS in ecological conservation and underscores the need for protective buffer zones to mitigate the impacts of urbanization on firefly populations.

This study focuses on the Pteroptyx tener species in the Sepetang River, Malaysia, aiming to evaluate the firefly’s abundance and explore its correlation with various biotic and abiotic parameters. The study was conducted over six months, from November 2021 to April 2022, utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS) software to apply hotspot mapping and Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) analysis to elucidate the spatial distribution of firefly populations. A total of 111,615 individuals were recorded, with a particular focus on this firefly species’ presence on their display trees. Hotspot analysis showed that Station 6, located at the mouth of a river with dense mangroves, hosted 55,723 fireflies (50.01%). In contrast, Stations 9 and 10, near ponds and shrimp settlements, recorded 517–723 fireflies (0.65% and 0.46%). Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) unveiled a statistically significant positive correlation (r = 0.88, p < 0.05) between wind speed and the abundance of firefly populations within the Sepetang River. However, no statistically significant correlation (p > 0.05) was found between firefly abundance and various other abiotic parameters, including relative humidity (RH), air temperature, tide level, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), salinity, total dissolved solids (TDS), and water clarity. Thus, the results revealed the preference for fireflies due to the availability of vegetation, wind speed and minimal disturbance in this area. In conclusion, this study’s information significantly adds to our understanding of these interesting insects and their complicated relationships in nature. It underscores the importance of preserving their habitats and ecosystems.

HRMARS is well established journal publisher based in Pakistan. It is publishing prominent journals in social sciences since 2011.

Artikel tinjauan ini memuatkan ulasan yang merujuk kajian terdahulu berkenaan perkembangan aktiviti ekopelancongan kelip-kelip di Malaysia. Ekopelancongan kelip-kelip menjadikan elemen serangga sebagai produk untuk menarik minat para pelancong untuk melihat keindahan alam semulajadi serangga yang sudah mula diperkenalkan sejak tahun 1980-an lagi. Ekopelancongan kelip-kelip ini bukan sahaja unik namun memberi manfaat daripada aspek ekonomi dan sosial kepada komuniti setempat. Kajian terdahulu yang menunjukkan ekopelancongan kelip-kelip memberi manfaat positif kepada komuniti setempat melalui penyediakan peluang pekerjaan, pendapatan sampingan komuniti, menyumbang kepada kesejahteraan sosial, dan mewujudkan peluang perniagaan. Artikel ini akan menyorot kajian terdahulu berkaitan kesan aktiviti ekopelancongan kelip-kelip seluruh semenanjung Malaysia terhadap komuniti setempat. Artikel ini mengulas sokongan komuniti yang diberikan melalui penglibatan secara langsung dan tidak langsung dalam aktiviti ekopelancongan kelip-kelip melalui penyediaan perkhidmatan untuk pengunjung dan memberi kerjasama dalam usaha mengekalkan persekitaran semulajadi paya bakau yang merupakan habitat bagi spesis serangga ini bagi memastikan ekopelancongan ini dapat diteruskan untuk jangka masa panjang. Hasil ulasan dan tinjauan dalam artikel ini sesuai dijadikan rujukan dan panduan bagi pengkaji yang menjalankan kajian berkaitan perkembangan aktiviti ekopelancongan kelip-kelip di Semenanjung Malaysia secara menyeluruh.