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Papers by sharifah dawood

Research paper thumbnail of Bouncing back from the pandemic? A psychosocial analysis of older adults in urban areas of Malaysia

Cogent Arts & Humanities, Jan 5, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Digitalization and Smartification of Urban Services to Enhance Urban Resilience in the Post-Pandemic Era: The Case of the Pilgrimage City of Makkah

Smart Cities

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted human socioeconomic activities, leaving an ever... more The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted human socioeconomic activities, leaving an everlasting impact on urban systems. As a result, there is a growing scholarly focus on exploring how urban planning strategies and tools can help create resilient cities. In Saudi Arabia, the pilgrimage city of Makkah, which has always faced the challenge of managing crowds during the annual pilgrimage, was left deserted due to lockdowns and social distancing measures. To quickly revive socioeconomic and pilgrimage activities in the city, a set of digital tools and communication technologies were deployed to manage crowds and enforce social distancing to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This study examines the role of digitalization and smartification in reviving the city and the importance of context in building urban resilience. This study used desktop research and case study analysis to highlight the transformation to the new normal and the development of future smart technolog...

Research paper thumbnail of Neither special nor diverse

Research paper thumbnail of The Role of Research and Development Related KIBS in Bio-technology Industries of Malaysia

Knowledge intensive business service firms (KIBS) are important trajectory of the modern economie... more Knowledge intensive business service firms (KIBS) are important trajectory of the modern economies, which are critical to the economic growth, innovation and knowledge diffusion. In particular the links between high-tech industries and KIBs have become important growth factor in many regions. In this respect, KIBS such as R & D services have significant impact on the development of modern high-tech industries such as bio-technology, acting as innovator and facilitator for this industry. The innovative process, the mechanisms of knowledge exchange and the respective linkages between sectors are important elements in the current process of firm development, and for countries like Malaysia, knowledge has become a key source of competitiveness where knowledge intensive sectors in production and services have a lead in transforming the economy. Bio-technology is a thriving industry in Malaysia, which valued at RM1.3billlion in 2009, and is expected to grow 22% annually. The paper focuses...

Research paper thumbnail of Comparison of NCEP-CFSR and CMADS for Hydrological Modelling Using SWAT in the Muda River Basin, Malaysia

Water

Identification of reliable alternative climate input data for hydrological modelling is important... more Identification of reliable alternative climate input data for hydrological modelling is important to manage water resources and reduce water-related hazards in ungauged or poorly gauged basins. This study aims to evaluate the capability of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (NCEP-CFSR) and China Meteorological Assimilation Driving Dataset for the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model (CMADS) for simulating streamflow in the Muda River Basin (MRB), Malaysia. The capability was evaluated in two perspectives: (1) the climate aspect—validation of precipitation, maximum and minimum temperatures from 2008 to 2014; and (2) the hydrology aspect—comparison of the accuracy of SWAT modelling by the gauge station, NCEP-CFSR and CMADS products. The results show that CMADS had a better performance than NCEP-CFSR in the climate aspect, especially for the temperature data and daily precipitation detection capability. For the hydrological aspec...

Research paper thumbnail of Pandemik COVID-19 dan keganasan rumah tangga: Suatu tinjauan semasa Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan di Malaysia

Malaysian Journal of Society and Space

Research paper thumbnail of Tahap Kepuasan Pelajar Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Terhadap Perkhidmatan Kemudahan Kesihatan dalam Kampus Induk

Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (MJSSH)

Setiap universiti sememangnya menawarkan perkhidmatan kemudahan kesihatan untuk dimanfaatkan oleh... more Setiap universiti sememangnya menawarkan perkhidmatan kemudahan kesihatan untuk dimanfaatkan oleh setiap warganya di dalam kampus terutama pelajar. Perkhidmatan kemudahan kesihatan yang baik merupakan perkara utama yang perlu dititikberatkan oleh pihak universiti bagi memastikan kelestarian kesihatan pelajar terjamin. Kepuasan pelajar merupakan perkara yang penting untuk menilai kualiti perkhidmatan kemudahan kesihatan yang disediakan oleh universiti. Oleh itu, makalah ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji tahap kepuasan pelajar USM terhadap perkhidmatan kemudahan kesihatan yang ditawarkan di dalam kampus. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah borang kaji selidik sebagai kaedah untuk mengumpul data dengan melibatkan seramai 300 responden pelajar di kampus induk USM yang dipilih secara rawak. Analisis statistik deskriptif digunakan untuk mendapatkan nilai kekerapan dan peratusan. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa pelbagai maklum balas daripada para responden tentang perkhidmatan kemudahan kesihatan yan...

Research paper thumbnail of Cabaran mendapatkan akses kesihatan dalam kalangan komuniti nelayan di Tanjung Dawai, Kedah: Satu tinjauan awal

Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021

Makalah ini bertujuan mengenal pasti cabaran yang dihadapi oleh komuniti nelayan di Tanjung Dawai... more Makalah ini bertujuan mengenal pasti cabaran yang dihadapi oleh komuniti nelayan di Tanjung Dawai dalam mendapatkan akses kesihatan. Kaedah borang kaji selidik digunakan dengan melibatkan seramai 50 responden yang terdiri daripada ketua isi rumah. Data daripada kaji selidik dianalisis secara statistik deskriptif untuk memperoleh nilai frekuensi dan peratusan. Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa sebilangan besar responden mengalami cabaran yang ketara untuk mendapatkan akses kesihatan dari aspek kewangan untuk mendapatkan rawatan, jarak ke hospital/klinik yang jauh dari tempat tinggal, dan tempoh menunggu yang lama untuk mendapatkan rawatan. Kajian ini dirujuk penting kepada pihak berwajib supaya melaksanakan strategi yang proaktif dalam menaiktarafkan aksesibiliti kesihatan kepada komuniti nelayan di Tanjung Dawai supaya mereka dapat memperoleh ekuiti kesihatan dengan sewajarnya.

Research paper thumbnail of To what extent is the lack of education awareness among Kensiu indigenous children in Baling, Kedah? A preliminary study

Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021

The indigenous people, particularly the children, are perpetually challenged with education issue... more The indigenous people, particularly the children, are perpetually challenged with education issues that have been going on for too long. Indigenous children have the capacity to bring changes and progress in their communities. To achieve that, they should be nurtured early on the awareness and importance of education. This paper aims to identify the level of education awareness among indigenous children through behavioural, personal, and environmental factors. A total of 30 respondents consisting of Kensiu indigenous children aged 7 to 12 have participated in the survey conducted in Kampung Lubuk Legong located in Baling district. Descriptive statistical analysis is applied to obtain frequency, percentage, and mean values. Overall, the finding indicates that the level of education awareness among the respondents is moderate, where the behavioural, personal, and environmental factors recorded a mean value of (μ=2.41), (μ=2.96), and (μ=2.24) respectively. This study aspires to urge ho...

Research paper thumbnail of Sustainability, Quality of Life and Challenges in an Emerging City Region of George Town, Malaysia

Journal of Sustainable Development, May 30, 2019

High urbanization in Asia has given rise to the necessity to revisit its planning strategies towa... more High urbanization in Asia has given rise to the necessity to revisit its planning strategies towards the notion of livability and sustainability. This has called upon a need to accommodate the living capacity and ability of cities to provide welfare to their populations. Cities become complex and contradictory spaces if problems with accessibility towards basic necessities, inefficient transportation systems, environmental degradation, urban poverty, social exclusion and collapsing community values are not tackled with scrutiny of the standards needed for the urban quality of life (QoL). This paper aims to describe the urbanisation processes that challenge the livability and sustainability of George Town, the world heritage site of Penang, Malaysia. Using questionnaires and in-depth interviews with respondents, data were collected to explore the quality of life indicators and to assess the extent of urban sustainability and the challenges faced by the local communities. With the notion of an emerging mega urban region, the success of George Town in planning and projecting a sustainable urban development model is a step towards eliminating contemporary urban challenges and to promoting its cultural heritage. In this way forward, the role of the local authorities is crucial to propel George Town towards a livable city status that is culturally preserved.

Research paper thumbnail of Digital Divide and Poverty Eradication in the Rural Region of Northern Peninsular Malaysia

Indonesian Journal of Geography

One of the ways to eliminate poverty is through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs... more One of the ways to eliminate poverty is through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) that is often promoted as central to reviving and sustaining regional communities. In the context of Malaysia, however, the level of communication in urban and rural areas has seen a gap in terms of access to ICTs. Though various initiatives are taken to close the digital gaps, more efforts are needed. This paper intends to explore the extent to which ICTs in rural areas of northern Peninsular Malaysia are able to raise the socio-economic development of the communities. Using questionnaires and in-depth interviews, emphasis is given to analyze the role of ICTs in poverty reduction processes upholding regional developments. It has been observed that solving common causes for the communities’ access and socio-economic growth needs strategic implementation of policies at the central core and pragmatic implementation of actions at the grass root level.

Research paper thumbnail of Cabaran hidup miskin dalam kalangan komuniti nelayan di Tanjung Dawai, Kedah

Malaysian Journal of Society and Space

Kemiskinan sering kali berlaku terutama kepada mereka yang tinggal di kawasan luar bandar meskipu... more Kemiskinan sering kali berlaku terutama kepada mereka yang tinggal di kawasan luar bandar meskipun terdapat pelbagai bantuan yang telah disalurkan oleh pihak kerajaan. Hal ini turut berlaku kepada komuniti nelayan luar bandar yang tinggal di Tanjung Dawai, Kedah. Isu kemiskinan ini secara tidak langsung telah membawa kepada pelbagai cabaran hidup yang kompleks dalam kalangan komuniti nelayan tersebut. Oleh itu, objektif kajian ini adalah untuk meneroka cabaran hidup miskin yang dialami oleh komuniti nelayan di Tanjung Dawai. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah kualitatif melalui temu bual mendalam yang melibatkan seramai 15 informan dalam kalangan ketua isi rumah nelayan yang dipilih secara rawak. Lokasi kajian telah dijalankan di Kampung Nelayan. Data daripada temu bual mendalam telah dianalisis dengan menggunakan analisis kandungan. Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa komuniti nelayan mempunyai lima cabaran hidup miskin iaitu kesukaran menampung perbelanjaan harian, kesukaran melanjutkan pendidikan, kesukaran memiliki aset, keperluan melakukan pekerjaan sampingan dan ancaman gejala sosial. Kajian ini berupaya memberikan gambaran yang lebih jelas agar pihak berkepentingan lebih memahami cabaran hidup miskin yang berlaku dalam kalangan komuniti nelayan, seterusnya dapat merangka strategi yang holistik untuk pembangunan sosioekonomi mereka. Hal ini selari dengan agenda Matlamat Pembangunan Lestari (SDG) yang meletakkan elemen "No poverty" sebagai sasaran pertama yang perlu dilakukan oleh setiap negara bagi mengurangkan kadar kemiskinan dalam kalangan masyarakatnya.

Research paper thumbnail of Urban Kampongs and contesting space in a modernizing Island city of George Town, Penang

Cogent Arts & Humanities

Urban areas including island cities are popularly viewed as "sites of conflicts" or "contested sp... more Urban areas including island cities are popularly viewed as "sites of conflicts" or "contested space" between groups of people with divergent motives in the city. Due to intense globalization and modernization, some places are becoming isolated and gradually disappearing, especially the villages. One of the traditional villages in George Town, Penang that is struggling and challenged against contested urban space is the Dodol Village (Kampong Dodol). This paper intends to address the declining identity of Kampong Dodol. While we must consider the need for spaces of development, an integrated approach towards sustainable urban development with a view on village heritage is crucial and valuable. The study focuses on people's views on sense of place, its heritage value and sustainable livelihood, which influence their opinion on how the village should be preserved. Based on questionnaire survey and face-to-face interview, it discusses the importance of place identity in creating an affect on current experiences living in a village that is gradually deteriorating in favor of a bustling island city. The research summarizes an important contribution towards preservation of village identity in a city as a heritage value that can be sustained for the generations to come.

Research paper thumbnail of Global Urban Development in China: A Case Study of Shanghai in the Context of Globalization

In the context of robust economic transformation and urban restructuring of Chinese cities, Shang... more In the context of robust economic transformation and urban restructuring of Chinese cities, Shanghai has been become the predominant strategic site and frontier in the East Asia region embedded in globalization circumstance. The purpose of this paper is aiming to examine the global urban development of Shanghai with reference to its global city connectivity incorporated into world city network. Basically, the application of interlocking city network model proposed by GaWC research group is able to detect the relative connectivity and rankings of Shanghai in the combination of global scale and national scale. Based upon the comprehensive modelling application, as well as qualitative analysis, we can corroborate that Shanghai has been deemed as leading world city in the Chinese urban hierarchy, this unprecedented urban development and city revival is attributed to global strategy of multinational advanced producer services firms in Shanghai, and global provision of foreign direct inve...

Research paper thumbnail of An Appraisal of Asia-Pacific Cities as Control and Command Centres Embedded in World City Network

Since the globalization trend is proliferating at a staggering rate, world cities have emerged as... more Since the globalization trend is proliferating at a staggering rate, world cities have emerged as the most dominant vanguard incorporated into global economy. Control and command function is one of the robust integral parts of world city formation, which is closely associated with the corporate headquarter status of some dominant multinational companies. Previous research works on this topic tend to concentrate on the Western Europe and North American arenas neglecting the Asia-Pacific region. Hence, the objective of this paper is to explore control and command functions of Asia-Pacific cities with reference to headquarters' locations of multinational companies. The methodology will utilize the Forbes global 2000 dataset from the seminal study of GaWC research group, and apply the control and command center model and the interlocking city network model to discover the control and command index, as well as network connectivity of Asia-Pacific cities. Based upon the empirical study of this research, we could identify the hierarchical structure and spatial structure of Asia-Pacific world cities to emerge as some control and command centers embedded in world city network.

Research paper thumbnail of Locational Decisions in a Creative City: Evidence From Penang's Architectural Firms

Kajian Malaysia, 2017

The importance of location has been revisited and reinstated with the emergence of concepts such ... more The importance of location has been revisited and reinstated with the emergence of concepts such as "creative economies, creative cities". In a creative city, the defining characteristic is the clustering of creative human talent or the "creative class" to drive growth, progress and economic development. In the literature, selected locations in urban areas function as magnets to attract and retain the creative class. This paper examines the case of Penang's construction industry, which is classified as a creative industry. The paper aims to understand the factors that shape the locational decisions of employers in Penang's construction industry. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used to elicit data. Thirty-five architectural firms were surveyed and 16 employers were interviewed. The findings suggest that location is not the main factor that determines where young creative architects prefer to live and work. In fact, Penang is currently facing the critical issue of attracting and retaining young creative architectural talent, as architects prefer monetary gains in larger cities than remaining in Penang. Penang is not perceived as an ideal location for young creative talent to cluster, and this in turn impacts the employers and the industry as a whole. More committed state interventions and a good incentivising system should be in place to reverse the "brain drain" and make Penang an optimal location that attracts the creative class back and drives the construction industry's competitive and creative edge to greater heights.

Research paper thumbnail of Examining Inter-city connections in Southeast Asia based upon interlocking city network model

International Journal of ADVANCED AND APPLIED SCIENCES, 2017

In this paper, we employ an interlocking city network model to analyze the global urban network e... more In this paper, we employ an interlocking city network model to analyze the global urban network epitomized by advanced producer services firms in Southeast Asia. The purpose of this paper is aiming to examine inter-city connections of a wide range of nodes (cities) in this region thereby exploring a sub-network of world city network proposed by Globalization and World cities research network (GaWC) in Southeast Asia. Based upon interlocking network model, we collected relational data of the presence of 30 global advanced producer services firms from six sectors in a roster of Southeast Asian cities. Clearly, a multifarious inter-city connection with service value of cities is embodied in the relational matrix. In this regard, we can specifically measure the connectivity of each city through the office network of global advanced producer services firms, and identify most dominant cities embedded in world city network in Southeast Asia region, as well as hierarchical structures and regional tendencies of these selected cities by interweaving with global scale and local scale.

Research paper thumbnail of How possible is a creative city in Penang? An analysis of architects’ perceptions about creativity and quality of place

Creative Industries Journal, 2016

ABSTRACT The emergence of the creative cities/creative economies notion has re-visited the role o... more ABSTRACT The emergence of the creative cities/creative economies notion has re-visited the role of place and given this concept a new lease of life. Widely contested though, urban policy-makers in both developed and developing countries alike are planning and transforming their cities to become a Creative City. A Creative City harnesses on both its culture and economic prowess found in its urban locale as well as the creativity of the people who choose to live in them. This paper examines the possibility of the island-state of Penang to be a Creative City by looking specifically at the architecture industry, which is a sub-sector within the creative industry realm. The paper discusses the findings based on a survey and several interviews of 35 architectural firms in Penang. As suggested in the findings, Penang is still not ready in terms of talent, amenities and leadership to steer the city on its path to be a Creative City. More pertinently, this paper highlights the need to push and uplift the city's creativity level from currently ‘medium’ to a higher level to withstand global competition for talent and capital.

Research paper thumbnail of World Cities Formation in China: A Comparative Study of Five Pre-Eminent Cities

Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 2016

The unprecedented economic transformation in contemporary world economy and China society embedde... more The unprecedented economic transformation in contemporary world economy and China society embedded in the globalization circumstances has brought about robust challenging for restructuring its metropolises. The purpose of this paper is aiming to select some pioneering metropolises for examining the extent to which they can be developed as world cites in China and incorporated into the national and global scale. Since there are immense amount of big cities with distinctive functions and hierarchies within China urban territory, in this essay, we conduct the principle component analysis using SPSS for ranking the China big cities based on each city's salient competitive advantage, thereby detecting the five underlying world cities for comparative analysis. In this case, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Shenzhen and Guangzhou are identified as the pre-eminent world cities in China through some dominant parameters, which encompass the economic, political, infrastructural, urban, social and cultural specifications of the world cities. Through the specific comparative analysis of world cities in China, we can typologically find that Beijing should be considered as the political world city in terms of its tremendous political dominance, whereas Shanghai tends to be deemed as the financial and economic world city with regards to its huge quantity of multinational companies' (MNCs) regional headquarters and financial firms. As the dominant vanguards of China open door policy, Guangzhou and Shenzhen are best characterized as trading world cities. Taking together with Guangzhou and Shenzhen, Chongqing is simultaneously and actively pertaining to the second tier of world cities in China.

Research paper thumbnail of Creative Cities Research in Penang, Malaysia: A Review of Conceptual and Methodological Framework

PLANNING MALAYSIA JOURNAL, 2015

Creative City Orientations Culture-Centric Econo-Centric Creative city values Central values = ar... more Creative City Orientations Culture-Centric Econo-Centric Creative city values Central values = arts, culture, community well-being, access and inclusion Central values = urban economic sustainability and well-being through creative initiatives/industries Definition of creative city Place of diverse and inclusive arts and culture Place of economic innovation, creative talent and creative industries

Research paper thumbnail of Bouncing back from the pandemic? A psychosocial analysis of older adults in urban areas of Malaysia

Cogent Arts & Humanities, Jan 5, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Digitalization and Smartification of Urban Services to Enhance Urban Resilience in the Post-Pandemic Era: The Case of the Pilgrimage City of Makkah

Smart Cities

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted human socioeconomic activities, leaving an ever... more The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted human socioeconomic activities, leaving an everlasting impact on urban systems. As a result, there is a growing scholarly focus on exploring how urban planning strategies and tools can help create resilient cities. In Saudi Arabia, the pilgrimage city of Makkah, which has always faced the challenge of managing crowds during the annual pilgrimage, was left deserted due to lockdowns and social distancing measures. To quickly revive socioeconomic and pilgrimage activities in the city, a set of digital tools and communication technologies were deployed to manage crowds and enforce social distancing to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This study examines the role of digitalization and smartification in reviving the city and the importance of context in building urban resilience. This study used desktop research and case study analysis to highlight the transformation to the new normal and the development of future smart technolog...

Research paper thumbnail of Neither special nor diverse

Research paper thumbnail of The Role of Research and Development Related KIBS in Bio-technology Industries of Malaysia

Knowledge intensive business service firms (KIBS) are important trajectory of the modern economie... more Knowledge intensive business service firms (KIBS) are important trajectory of the modern economies, which are critical to the economic growth, innovation and knowledge diffusion. In particular the links between high-tech industries and KIBs have become important growth factor in many regions. In this respect, KIBS such as R & D services have significant impact on the development of modern high-tech industries such as bio-technology, acting as innovator and facilitator for this industry. The innovative process, the mechanisms of knowledge exchange and the respective linkages between sectors are important elements in the current process of firm development, and for countries like Malaysia, knowledge has become a key source of competitiveness where knowledge intensive sectors in production and services have a lead in transforming the economy. Bio-technology is a thriving industry in Malaysia, which valued at RM1.3billlion in 2009, and is expected to grow 22% annually. The paper focuses...

Research paper thumbnail of Comparison of NCEP-CFSR and CMADS for Hydrological Modelling Using SWAT in the Muda River Basin, Malaysia

Water

Identification of reliable alternative climate input data for hydrological modelling is important... more Identification of reliable alternative climate input data for hydrological modelling is important to manage water resources and reduce water-related hazards in ungauged or poorly gauged basins. This study aims to evaluate the capability of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (NCEP-CFSR) and China Meteorological Assimilation Driving Dataset for the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model (CMADS) for simulating streamflow in the Muda River Basin (MRB), Malaysia. The capability was evaluated in two perspectives: (1) the climate aspect—validation of precipitation, maximum and minimum temperatures from 2008 to 2014; and (2) the hydrology aspect—comparison of the accuracy of SWAT modelling by the gauge station, NCEP-CFSR and CMADS products. The results show that CMADS had a better performance than NCEP-CFSR in the climate aspect, especially for the temperature data and daily precipitation detection capability. For the hydrological aspec...

Research paper thumbnail of Pandemik COVID-19 dan keganasan rumah tangga: Suatu tinjauan semasa Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan di Malaysia

Malaysian Journal of Society and Space

Research paper thumbnail of Tahap Kepuasan Pelajar Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Terhadap Perkhidmatan Kemudahan Kesihatan dalam Kampus Induk

Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (MJSSH)

Setiap universiti sememangnya menawarkan perkhidmatan kemudahan kesihatan untuk dimanfaatkan oleh... more Setiap universiti sememangnya menawarkan perkhidmatan kemudahan kesihatan untuk dimanfaatkan oleh setiap warganya di dalam kampus terutama pelajar. Perkhidmatan kemudahan kesihatan yang baik merupakan perkara utama yang perlu dititikberatkan oleh pihak universiti bagi memastikan kelestarian kesihatan pelajar terjamin. Kepuasan pelajar merupakan perkara yang penting untuk menilai kualiti perkhidmatan kemudahan kesihatan yang disediakan oleh universiti. Oleh itu, makalah ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji tahap kepuasan pelajar USM terhadap perkhidmatan kemudahan kesihatan yang ditawarkan di dalam kampus. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah borang kaji selidik sebagai kaedah untuk mengumpul data dengan melibatkan seramai 300 responden pelajar di kampus induk USM yang dipilih secara rawak. Analisis statistik deskriptif digunakan untuk mendapatkan nilai kekerapan dan peratusan. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa pelbagai maklum balas daripada para responden tentang perkhidmatan kemudahan kesihatan yan...

Research paper thumbnail of Cabaran mendapatkan akses kesihatan dalam kalangan komuniti nelayan di Tanjung Dawai, Kedah: Satu tinjauan awal

Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021

Makalah ini bertujuan mengenal pasti cabaran yang dihadapi oleh komuniti nelayan di Tanjung Dawai... more Makalah ini bertujuan mengenal pasti cabaran yang dihadapi oleh komuniti nelayan di Tanjung Dawai dalam mendapatkan akses kesihatan. Kaedah borang kaji selidik digunakan dengan melibatkan seramai 50 responden yang terdiri daripada ketua isi rumah. Data daripada kaji selidik dianalisis secara statistik deskriptif untuk memperoleh nilai frekuensi dan peratusan. Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa sebilangan besar responden mengalami cabaran yang ketara untuk mendapatkan akses kesihatan dari aspek kewangan untuk mendapatkan rawatan, jarak ke hospital/klinik yang jauh dari tempat tinggal, dan tempoh menunggu yang lama untuk mendapatkan rawatan. Kajian ini dirujuk penting kepada pihak berwajib supaya melaksanakan strategi yang proaktif dalam menaiktarafkan aksesibiliti kesihatan kepada komuniti nelayan di Tanjung Dawai supaya mereka dapat memperoleh ekuiti kesihatan dengan sewajarnya.

Research paper thumbnail of To what extent is the lack of education awareness among Kensiu indigenous children in Baling, Kedah? A preliminary study

Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021

The indigenous people, particularly the children, are perpetually challenged with education issue... more The indigenous people, particularly the children, are perpetually challenged with education issues that have been going on for too long. Indigenous children have the capacity to bring changes and progress in their communities. To achieve that, they should be nurtured early on the awareness and importance of education. This paper aims to identify the level of education awareness among indigenous children through behavioural, personal, and environmental factors. A total of 30 respondents consisting of Kensiu indigenous children aged 7 to 12 have participated in the survey conducted in Kampung Lubuk Legong located in Baling district. Descriptive statistical analysis is applied to obtain frequency, percentage, and mean values. Overall, the finding indicates that the level of education awareness among the respondents is moderate, where the behavioural, personal, and environmental factors recorded a mean value of (μ=2.41), (μ=2.96), and (μ=2.24) respectively. This study aspires to urge ho...

Research paper thumbnail of Sustainability, Quality of Life and Challenges in an Emerging City Region of George Town, Malaysia

Journal of Sustainable Development, May 30, 2019

High urbanization in Asia has given rise to the necessity to revisit its planning strategies towa... more High urbanization in Asia has given rise to the necessity to revisit its planning strategies towards the notion of livability and sustainability. This has called upon a need to accommodate the living capacity and ability of cities to provide welfare to their populations. Cities become complex and contradictory spaces if problems with accessibility towards basic necessities, inefficient transportation systems, environmental degradation, urban poverty, social exclusion and collapsing community values are not tackled with scrutiny of the standards needed for the urban quality of life (QoL). This paper aims to describe the urbanisation processes that challenge the livability and sustainability of George Town, the world heritage site of Penang, Malaysia. Using questionnaires and in-depth interviews with respondents, data were collected to explore the quality of life indicators and to assess the extent of urban sustainability and the challenges faced by the local communities. With the notion of an emerging mega urban region, the success of George Town in planning and projecting a sustainable urban development model is a step towards eliminating contemporary urban challenges and to promoting its cultural heritage. In this way forward, the role of the local authorities is crucial to propel George Town towards a livable city status that is culturally preserved.

Research paper thumbnail of Digital Divide and Poverty Eradication in the Rural Region of Northern Peninsular Malaysia

Indonesian Journal of Geography

One of the ways to eliminate poverty is through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs... more One of the ways to eliminate poverty is through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) that is often promoted as central to reviving and sustaining regional communities. In the context of Malaysia, however, the level of communication in urban and rural areas has seen a gap in terms of access to ICTs. Though various initiatives are taken to close the digital gaps, more efforts are needed. This paper intends to explore the extent to which ICTs in rural areas of northern Peninsular Malaysia are able to raise the socio-economic development of the communities. Using questionnaires and in-depth interviews, emphasis is given to analyze the role of ICTs in poverty reduction processes upholding regional developments. It has been observed that solving common causes for the communities’ access and socio-economic growth needs strategic implementation of policies at the central core and pragmatic implementation of actions at the grass root level.

Research paper thumbnail of Cabaran hidup miskin dalam kalangan komuniti nelayan di Tanjung Dawai, Kedah

Malaysian Journal of Society and Space

Kemiskinan sering kali berlaku terutama kepada mereka yang tinggal di kawasan luar bandar meskipu... more Kemiskinan sering kali berlaku terutama kepada mereka yang tinggal di kawasan luar bandar meskipun terdapat pelbagai bantuan yang telah disalurkan oleh pihak kerajaan. Hal ini turut berlaku kepada komuniti nelayan luar bandar yang tinggal di Tanjung Dawai, Kedah. Isu kemiskinan ini secara tidak langsung telah membawa kepada pelbagai cabaran hidup yang kompleks dalam kalangan komuniti nelayan tersebut. Oleh itu, objektif kajian ini adalah untuk meneroka cabaran hidup miskin yang dialami oleh komuniti nelayan di Tanjung Dawai. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah kualitatif melalui temu bual mendalam yang melibatkan seramai 15 informan dalam kalangan ketua isi rumah nelayan yang dipilih secara rawak. Lokasi kajian telah dijalankan di Kampung Nelayan. Data daripada temu bual mendalam telah dianalisis dengan menggunakan analisis kandungan. Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa komuniti nelayan mempunyai lima cabaran hidup miskin iaitu kesukaran menampung perbelanjaan harian, kesukaran melanjutkan pendidikan, kesukaran memiliki aset, keperluan melakukan pekerjaan sampingan dan ancaman gejala sosial. Kajian ini berupaya memberikan gambaran yang lebih jelas agar pihak berkepentingan lebih memahami cabaran hidup miskin yang berlaku dalam kalangan komuniti nelayan, seterusnya dapat merangka strategi yang holistik untuk pembangunan sosioekonomi mereka. Hal ini selari dengan agenda Matlamat Pembangunan Lestari (SDG) yang meletakkan elemen "No poverty" sebagai sasaran pertama yang perlu dilakukan oleh setiap negara bagi mengurangkan kadar kemiskinan dalam kalangan masyarakatnya.

Research paper thumbnail of Urban Kampongs and contesting space in a modernizing Island city of George Town, Penang

Cogent Arts & Humanities

Urban areas including island cities are popularly viewed as "sites of conflicts" or "contested sp... more Urban areas including island cities are popularly viewed as "sites of conflicts" or "contested space" between groups of people with divergent motives in the city. Due to intense globalization and modernization, some places are becoming isolated and gradually disappearing, especially the villages. One of the traditional villages in George Town, Penang that is struggling and challenged against contested urban space is the Dodol Village (Kampong Dodol). This paper intends to address the declining identity of Kampong Dodol. While we must consider the need for spaces of development, an integrated approach towards sustainable urban development with a view on village heritage is crucial and valuable. The study focuses on people's views on sense of place, its heritage value and sustainable livelihood, which influence their opinion on how the village should be preserved. Based on questionnaire survey and face-to-face interview, it discusses the importance of place identity in creating an affect on current experiences living in a village that is gradually deteriorating in favor of a bustling island city. The research summarizes an important contribution towards preservation of village identity in a city as a heritage value that can be sustained for the generations to come.

Research paper thumbnail of Global Urban Development in China: A Case Study of Shanghai in the Context of Globalization

In the context of robust economic transformation and urban restructuring of Chinese cities, Shang... more In the context of robust economic transformation and urban restructuring of Chinese cities, Shanghai has been become the predominant strategic site and frontier in the East Asia region embedded in globalization circumstance. The purpose of this paper is aiming to examine the global urban development of Shanghai with reference to its global city connectivity incorporated into world city network. Basically, the application of interlocking city network model proposed by GaWC research group is able to detect the relative connectivity and rankings of Shanghai in the combination of global scale and national scale. Based upon the comprehensive modelling application, as well as qualitative analysis, we can corroborate that Shanghai has been deemed as leading world city in the Chinese urban hierarchy, this unprecedented urban development and city revival is attributed to global strategy of multinational advanced producer services firms in Shanghai, and global provision of foreign direct inve...

Research paper thumbnail of An Appraisal of Asia-Pacific Cities as Control and Command Centres Embedded in World City Network

Since the globalization trend is proliferating at a staggering rate, world cities have emerged as... more Since the globalization trend is proliferating at a staggering rate, world cities have emerged as the most dominant vanguard incorporated into global economy. Control and command function is one of the robust integral parts of world city formation, which is closely associated with the corporate headquarter status of some dominant multinational companies. Previous research works on this topic tend to concentrate on the Western Europe and North American arenas neglecting the Asia-Pacific region. Hence, the objective of this paper is to explore control and command functions of Asia-Pacific cities with reference to headquarters' locations of multinational companies. The methodology will utilize the Forbes global 2000 dataset from the seminal study of GaWC research group, and apply the control and command center model and the interlocking city network model to discover the control and command index, as well as network connectivity of Asia-Pacific cities. Based upon the empirical study of this research, we could identify the hierarchical structure and spatial structure of Asia-Pacific world cities to emerge as some control and command centers embedded in world city network.

Research paper thumbnail of Locational Decisions in a Creative City: Evidence From Penang's Architectural Firms

Kajian Malaysia, 2017

The importance of location has been revisited and reinstated with the emergence of concepts such ... more The importance of location has been revisited and reinstated with the emergence of concepts such as "creative economies, creative cities". In a creative city, the defining characteristic is the clustering of creative human talent or the "creative class" to drive growth, progress and economic development. In the literature, selected locations in urban areas function as magnets to attract and retain the creative class. This paper examines the case of Penang's construction industry, which is classified as a creative industry. The paper aims to understand the factors that shape the locational decisions of employers in Penang's construction industry. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used to elicit data. Thirty-five architectural firms were surveyed and 16 employers were interviewed. The findings suggest that location is not the main factor that determines where young creative architects prefer to live and work. In fact, Penang is currently facing the critical issue of attracting and retaining young creative architectural talent, as architects prefer monetary gains in larger cities than remaining in Penang. Penang is not perceived as an ideal location for young creative talent to cluster, and this in turn impacts the employers and the industry as a whole. More committed state interventions and a good incentivising system should be in place to reverse the "brain drain" and make Penang an optimal location that attracts the creative class back and drives the construction industry's competitive and creative edge to greater heights.

Research paper thumbnail of Examining Inter-city connections in Southeast Asia based upon interlocking city network model

International Journal of ADVANCED AND APPLIED SCIENCES, 2017

In this paper, we employ an interlocking city network model to analyze the global urban network e... more In this paper, we employ an interlocking city network model to analyze the global urban network epitomized by advanced producer services firms in Southeast Asia. The purpose of this paper is aiming to examine inter-city connections of a wide range of nodes (cities) in this region thereby exploring a sub-network of world city network proposed by Globalization and World cities research network (GaWC) in Southeast Asia. Based upon interlocking network model, we collected relational data of the presence of 30 global advanced producer services firms from six sectors in a roster of Southeast Asian cities. Clearly, a multifarious inter-city connection with service value of cities is embodied in the relational matrix. In this regard, we can specifically measure the connectivity of each city through the office network of global advanced producer services firms, and identify most dominant cities embedded in world city network in Southeast Asia region, as well as hierarchical structures and regional tendencies of these selected cities by interweaving with global scale and local scale.

Research paper thumbnail of How possible is a creative city in Penang? An analysis of architects’ perceptions about creativity and quality of place

Creative Industries Journal, 2016

ABSTRACT The emergence of the creative cities/creative economies notion has re-visited the role o... more ABSTRACT The emergence of the creative cities/creative economies notion has re-visited the role of place and given this concept a new lease of life. Widely contested though, urban policy-makers in both developed and developing countries alike are planning and transforming their cities to become a Creative City. A Creative City harnesses on both its culture and economic prowess found in its urban locale as well as the creativity of the people who choose to live in them. This paper examines the possibility of the island-state of Penang to be a Creative City by looking specifically at the architecture industry, which is a sub-sector within the creative industry realm. The paper discusses the findings based on a survey and several interviews of 35 architectural firms in Penang. As suggested in the findings, Penang is still not ready in terms of talent, amenities and leadership to steer the city on its path to be a Creative City. More pertinently, this paper highlights the need to push and uplift the city's creativity level from currently ‘medium’ to a higher level to withstand global competition for talent and capital.

Research paper thumbnail of World Cities Formation in China: A Comparative Study of Five Pre-Eminent Cities

Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 2016

The unprecedented economic transformation in contemporary world economy and China society embedde... more The unprecedented economic transformation in contemporary world economy and China society embedded in the globalization circumstances has brought about robust challenging for restructuring its metropolises. The purpose of this paper is aiming to select some pioneering metropolises for examining the extent to which they can be developed as world cites in China and incorporated into the national and global scale. Since there are immense amount of big cities with distinctive functions and hierarchies within China urban territory, in this essay, we conduct the principle component analysis using SPSS for ranking the China big cities based on each city's salient competitive advantage, thereby detecting the five underlying world cities for comparative analysis. In this case, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Shenzhen and Guangzhou are identified as the pre-eminent world cities in China through some dominant parameters, which encompass the economic, political, infrastructural, urban, social and cultural specifications of the world cities. Through the specific comparative analysis of world cities in China, we can typologically find that Beijing should be considered as the political world city in terms of its tremendous political dominance, whereas Shanghai tends to be deemed as the financial and economic world city with regards to its huge quantity of multinational companies' (MNCs) regional headquarters and financial firms. As the dominant vanguards of China open door policy, Guangzhou and Shenzhen are best characterized as trading world cities. Taking together with Guangzhou and Shenzhen, Chongqing is simultaneously and actively pertaining to the second tier of world cities in China.

Research paper thumbnail of Creative Cities Research in Penang, Malaysia: A Review of Conceptual and Methodological Framework

PLANNING MALAYSIA JOURNAL, 2015

Creative City Orientations Culture-Centric Econo-Centric Creative city values Central values = ar... more Creative City Orientations Culture-Centric Econo-Centric Creative city values Central values = arts, culture, community well-being, access and inclusion Central values = urban economic sustainability and well-being through creative initiatives/industries Definition of creative city Place of diverse and inclusive arts and culture Place of economic innovation, creative talent and creative industries