Noradila Rusli

Urban public spaces contribute to sustainable urban development by supporting social interaction, cultural identity, pedestrian experience, environmental comfort and commercial vitality. However, limited comparative evidence explains how user satisfaction differs between public spaces shaped by contrasting spatial identities. This study compares Melaka Jonker Street (MJS), a heritage-oriented commercial public space, and Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur (BBKL), a contemporary commercial public space, to examine how selected urban space attributes shape user satisfaction and sustainability interpretation. A quantitative comparative survey involving 542 respondents was analysed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach’s alpha, the Mann–Whitney U test, the Relative Importance Index (RII), comparative gap analysis, the User Satisfaction Balance Score (USBS) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The findings show that, within the shared attributes examined, MJS recorded stronger satisfaction patterns than BBKL, with the largest satisfaction gaps observed in accessibility, light sculpture, waterscape lighting and green elements. Satisfaction in MJS was mainly shaped by heritage identity, historical buildings, street art walls, water elements and accessibility, reflecting a cultural–environmental sustainability pattern. In contrast, satisfaction in BBKL was more closely associated with activity intensity, media architecture and contemporary visual experience, reflecting a socio-economic-commercial sustainability pattern. These results provide context-specific evidence that sustainable public space performance is shaped by the relationship between urban space attributes, spatial identity and everyday user experience. The findings contribute to urban design and public space research by integrating user satisfaction with sustainability interpretation and by providing context-sensitive planning and design implications for heritage-oriented and contemporary commercial public spaces in Malaysia.

As demands for data storage and processing grow, selecting suitable sites for these centers has become increasingly important. This study aims to identify criteria for such selection and proposes using Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) analysis. A comprehensive literature review with content analysis was conducted to determine key criteria from previous data center site selection studies. These criteria, nine in total, were categorized into those based on physical and social factors. The study conducted an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) after the questionnaire interviews with experts, revealing the high weights compared to others, which are infrastructure and utilities (0.14), disaster avoidance (0.13), and telecom network availability (0.13). Subsequently, weighted overlay analysis was conducted through the raster calculator in ArcGIS to produce the final map of suitable data center locations. The findings indicate that areas most suitable for data centers are predominantly in the northern part of the administrative area of Iskandar Puteri City Council (IPCC), including Pulai Utama, Sri Skudai, Taman Universiti, Lima Kedai, Perling, and Nusa Cemerlang Industrial Park. This research highlights the importance of these criteria in selecting data center sites. Additionally, the suitability map provides valuable guidance for authorities and stakeholders, helping to streamline the site selection process and plan future developments. In conclusion, this study offers recommendations based on the identified criteria for future data center investments or developments in Iskandar Puteri.

In urban settings, public spaces are vital for improving quality of life and deserve scholarly and professional attention. Identifying key pedestrian commercial streets is essential for sustainable urban planning in Malaysian cities. In Malaysia, the disregard for townscape quality has contributed to the erosion of character and identity in many cities. To tackle these issues, it is essential to analyse pedestrian zone patterns, identify obstacles to sustainable townscape development, and establish policies that encourage pedestrian-friendly designs. This study explores the predominant types of pedestrian commercial streets in Malaysia's historical and non-historical areas, focusing on their unique characteristics and challenges. This exploration helps in understanding the specific needs and potential improvements required for these zones to enhance a sustainable urban environment. This study explores Malaysia's pedestrian zones to understand their unique characteristics and challenges. The qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) method is employed in this research. Five (5) diverse sites: Sungai Segget Johor Bahru, Melaka Jonker Street, Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh Street Art, and Penang Street Art are conducted. This study identifies and compares different types of pedestrian zones in Malaysia’s historical and non-historical areas. Historical areas like Melaka, Ipoh and Penang are predominantly represented in semi-mall spaces concept, balancing heritage preservation with modern urban functionality. In contrast, non-historical areas like Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur can implement more flexible and modern urban design. Full mall spaces like Sungai Segget prioritise pedestrian safety and cultural activities, while transit mall spaces like Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur integrate transit routes with pedestrian walkways, promoting sustainable mobility and economic vitality. The study provides valuable insights into the design and functionality of pedestrian zones in different urban contexts, contributing to a deeper understanding of urban design practices, especially in historical and non-historical contexts. The findings can inform the policymakers to emphasize the balance between historical and non-historical areas. This study suggests further exploring innovative urban design strategies that can be applied to both historical and non-historical areas to enhance pedestrian experiences.

Oases in arid regions are critical ecosystems, providing essential ecological, agricultural, and socio-economic functions. However, urbanization and climate change increasingly threaten their sustainability. This study examines land cover (LULC) and land surface temperature (LST) dynamics in four representative North African oases: Tolga (Algeria), Nefta (Tunisia), Ghadames (Libya), and Siwa (Egypt) over the period 2000–2023, using Landsat satellite imagery. A three-step analysis was employed: calculation of NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), NDBI (Normalized Difference Built-up Index), and LST, followed by supervised land cover classification and statistical tests to examine the relationships between the studied variables. The results reveal substantial reductions in bare soil (e.g., 48.10% in Siwa) and notable urban expansion (e.g., 136.01% in Siwa and 48.46% in Ghadames). Vegetation exhibited varied trends, with a slight decline in Tolga (0.26%) and a significant increase in Siwa (+27.17%). LST trends strongly correlated with land cover changes, demonstrating increased temperatures in urbanized areas and moderated temperatures in vegetated zones. Notably, this study highlights that traditional urban designs integrated with dense palm groves significantly mitigate thermal stress, achieving lower LST compared to modern urban expansions characterized by sparse, heat-absorbing surfaces. In contrast, areas dominated by fragmented vegetation or seasonal crops exhibited reduced cooling capacity, underscoring the critical role of vegetation type, spatial arrangement, and urban morphology in regulating oasis microclimates. Preserving palm groves, which are increasingly vulnerable to heat-driven pests, diseases and the introduction of exotic species grown for profit, together with a revival of the traditional compact urban fabric that provides shade and has been empirically confirmed by other oasis studies to moderate the microclimate more effectively than recent low-density extensions, will maintain the crucial synergy between buildings and vegetation, enhance the cooling capacity of these settlements, and safeguard their tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

The literature often discusses natural amenities in the context of tourism and recreation. Still, it gives less attention to their importance in choosing a place to live, which is crucial for enhancing the quality of life. This study aims to prioritise the natural amenities in Penang that attract residents. The research considers the perspectives of experienced real estate agents with extensive local property knowledge. Using a quantitative method, the study filtered about 60 questionnaires to determine the Relative Importance Index (RII) of natural amenities from the real estate agent's perspective, as it heavily influences condominium selection in Penang. The results show that the beach or sea is the most preferred natural amenity for a condominium in Penang, followed by lakes, natural forests, mountains or hills, and rivers. Additionally, the study utilises inter-correlation analysis to understand the strengths and directions of each preference and comprehend the relationship between them. The practical implications of these findings are significant for policymakers, offering valuable insights for creating sustainable development guidelines and policies to ensure a balance of fulfilling urban needs and maintaining environmental quality. For individuals interested in sustainable living and urban development in Penang, these findings provide a roadmap for making residential choices that align with market preference and contribute to the overall sustainability of the region.

Mental health is the leading cause of mortality, with the number of cases expected to increase by around 10 per cent by 2030 in the global context. In Malaysia, the prevalence of mental health disorders among Malaysian adults 16 years old and older increased by 29.2 per cent in 2015 from 10.7% in 1996. This study explored the relationship between urban density and mental health in five major Malaysian cities: Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Melaka Tengah, Penang, and Ipoh. This study used comparative analysis and correlation analysis to compare several data according to urban density, such as the urban population’s highest density per kilometre square and open space ratio by state. The mental health measurement by the suicide cases by state and five cities area. The results of this study suggested evidence of urban density living with mental health due to factors of environmental overcrowding and the limitation of space. This study showed that the level of urban density could influence the level of mental health among the communities. Suicide cases are related to mental health, implying a connection between the occurrence of suicide cases and the overall state of well-being among individuals. Suicide is a complex and multifaced issue influenced by various factors, including mental health, social, economic, and environmental factors.

In a cultural landscape where discussions about sexual harassment are often considered taboo, this study leverages social media as a platform for the anonymous sharing of experiences related to sexual harassment in Asia. By focusing on Kuala Lumpur, we applied grid-based data mining to analyze the spatial distribution of tweets related to sexual harassment, revealing significant distribution patterns. Moreover, this study utilized two advanced sentiment analysis methods: the Natural Language Toolkit (NLTK) and Azure Machine Learning (AML), to evaluate the polarity of sentiments expressed in these tweets. The findings demonstrate a notable variance in sentiment analysis results between NLTK and AML, with NLTK classifying a majority of tweets as neutral (63.7%), while AML identified a predominant positive sentiment (70%). This discrepancy highlights the complexities of sentiment analysis and the importance of selecting appropriate tools for specific research contexts. In examining the spatial distribution, it becomes apparent that tweets collected through the identified keywords are dispersed within the boundaries of Kuala Lumpur. However, there is a notable concentration in specific areas, particularly evident in the hotspot encompassing Taman Desa and Pantai Dalam. Understanding the sentiment's location enables us to delve deeper into the pronounced cluster of tweets, examining potential correlations with surrounding social and moral issues. This insight empowers us to address the issue through various means, including the implementation of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design and fostering community-based initiatives.