Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Environment

SEEDS OF DISCORD: THE OMINOUS FUTURE OF THE EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL SECTOR UNDER F2F EU DIRECTIVE AND THE NATURE RESTORATION LAW

Piermauro Catarinella, Suhardi Kram, Alfonso Min — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

In January 2024, a substantial gathering of tractors from diverse European regions converged upon Brussels, staging fervent demonstrations outside the premises of the European Commission and the European Parliament. These protests, persisting to date, are spearheaded by agricultural workers predominantly from medium and small enterprises, urging the European institutions to reconsider the regulations outlined in the Farm to Fork (F2F) directive and the Nature Restoration Law. These regulations are integral components of the European Green Deal, designed to aid the European Union in accomplishing its main objectives: maintaining Earth’s temperature within a 1.5°C threshold, achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, curtailing pesticide usage by 50% by 2030, restoring ecosystems, promoting sustainable food production, and fostering innovation in the industry. Despite these ambitious goals, farmers contend that these rules are unsustainable, as they fail to consider the unique characteristics of various territories and production entities, thereby imposing bureaucratic constraints. Some stakeholders suggest that the regulations might not genuinely prioritize environmental protection; rather, they could be perceived as potentially favouring large multinational corporations. Notably, individual European governments disclaim any responsibility in this domain, as the entire purview falls under the jurisdiction of the Commission and the European Parliament. This research employs a qualitative approach, involving a comprehensive policy analysis of the F2F EU Directive and the Nature Restoration Law, a critical evaluation of political discourse from EU official documents, media scrutiny of contemporary European newspaper articles, and video interviews with protesting farmers. Through this multi-faceted analysis, the study endeavours to asce rtain whether these regulations genuinely align with the EU’s environmental protection objectives or if they are rooted in ideological political choices that could jeopardize the livelihoods of European farmers. The findings underscore that the decisions of European institutions not only threaten the existence of medium and small-scale farmers but also compromise the production of natural and authentic goods traditionally linked to these agricultural practices. Consequently, the European agricultural sector faces the looming threat of extinction within a few years, potentially replaced by industries specializing in synthetic foods manufactured in laboratories.

A REVIEW: HARNESSING THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF GREEN BUILDING MATERIALS ON INDOOR TEMPERATURE

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Implementing environmentally friendly construction materials has emerged as a potential strategy to regulate indoor temperature sustainably. This is in response to the growing concerns on the comfort of interior spaces and the effects of climate change. Sustainable building methods and green building materials capacity to regulate interior temperature are becoming more widely recognized, but their effectiveness and practicality are still unclear. Many studies have explored the thermal characteristics of individual green building materials, but there is a lack of research on how these materials collectively affect indoor temperature control. This article clarifies the beneficial effects of green building materials on indoor temperature regulation by conducting a systematic literature review. This study aims to thoroughly understand how green building materials influence the dynamics of interior temperature by methodically discover, analyse, and synthesize pertinent research data. The methods for harnessing the positive impact of green building materials on indoor temperatures, such as the selection of high-quality green materials, high-performance insulating materials, high thermal mass materials and strategic placement are studied through the literature review. The results of this research do not only enhance comprehension on the influence of green building materials will have on the development of sustainable building design and construction methods in the future, but also provide practical insights for architects, policymakers, and researchers interest in sustaining building design. This study underscores the significance of promoting research and lobbying for legislative support to speed up the use of green building materials and drive the shift towards a more sustainable built environment.

A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF MULTIMODAL ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES FOR ENHANCING CYBER RESILIENCE IN SMART CITIES

Zul-Azri Ibrahim, Saiful Adli Ismail, Fiza Abdul Rahim — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

In recent years, the advancement of smart city technologies has necessitated a rethinking of urban resilience strategies, especially in the face of escalating cyber threats. Enhancing cyber resilience in smart cities is crucial due to their reliance on interconnected digital infrastructures that manage essential services such as transportation, energy, healthcare, and public safety. Cyber attacks on these systems can disrupt services, compromise data, and undermine public trust. This systematic review examines 27 selected articles on the application of multimodal analytical techniques to enhance the cyber resilience of smart cities. By evaluating these studies based on their analytical frameworks, techniques used, and research contexts, the researcher identifies the benefits and challenges of integrating multimodal data such as text, audio, video, and sensor data into urban cyber resilience strategies. The findings reveal that various multimodal strategies, including machine learning, data fusion, and real-time monitoring, significantly contribute to the robustness of smart urban infrastructures against cyber attacks. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the application of multimodal analytics in safeguarding smart city infrastructures, highlighting best practices, technological advancements, and future research directions.

EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND PHYSICAL SETTING IN SCHOOLS: A MINI REVIEW

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is essential in improving the well-being of pupils, as they spend a significant amount of time inside schools than in any other indoor environment except their home. However, many schools face issues related to insufficient ventilation, improper layout design, and opening position which contribute to elevated indoor pollutant levels and potential long-term health effects. These challenges highlight the need for a systematic literature review to critically analyze and synthesize existing studies, providing a comprehensive understanding of how these physical factors of schools impact IAQ parameters such as carbon dioxide and particulate matter. A systematic review was done by analyzing papers from the SCOPUS database. Information on indoor pollution levels and physical settings were extracted from 34 studies. The findings demonstrate the complex relationships between IAQ parameters and different physical factors such as ventilation strategy, window opening, tightness of door and window, floor height, building design, and finishes. By elucidating the complex relationship between IAQ and the physical setting of buildings, this study provides valuable insights for researchers, building designers, and policymakers aiming to enhance the indoor air environment and promote pupils’ health and well-being.

IDENTIFYING OPTIMAL WINDOW-TO-WALL RATIO (WWR) AND WINDOW-TO-FLOOR RATIO (WFR) FOR TYPICAL HIGHER EDUCATIONAL CLASSROOMS TO ADDRESS DEFICIENCIES IN DAYLIGHTING DESIGN

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Daylighting plays a crucial role in creating conducive learning environments in higher education classrooms, enhancing visual comfort, student performance, well-being, and overall satisfaction. However, many educational facilities suffer from poor daylighting design, leading to uneven illumination, glare, and overdependence on artificial lighting. This study addresses these issues by investigating current daylighting conditions, particularly focusing on Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR) and Window-to-Floor Ratio (WFR), which significantly influence natural light distribution. The research aims to assess the effectiveness of existing glazing configurations and propose optimised WWR and WFR values using both field measurements and simulation through Building Information Modelling (BIM) software, specifically Autodesk Revit. Field data from two classrooms equipped with tinted glass were compared to daylight factor (DF) standards from MS1525 (2019) and WFR recommendations of UBBL (1984). Findings reveal that while WWR and WFR exceeded the minimum threshold of 20%, daylight penetration, and uniformity varied, with some areas suffering from insufficient light and glare. This research highlights the need for improved daylighting design, offering evidence-based recommendations to optimize natural light in educational spaces, enhancing comfort and energy efficiency.

SWOT ANALYSIS OF CYBERSECURITY VULNERABILITIES AND STRATEGIES IN RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEM: A CASE STUDY ON EUROPEAN WIND POWER SYSTEM

Nor Nashrah Azmi; Fiza Abdul Rahim, Noor Hafizah Hassan, Nur Azfahani Ahmad — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

As smart cities increasingly incorporate renewable energy systems to achieve sustainability objectives, ensuring strong cyber security measures is crucial. The susceptibility of these infrastructures, such as smart grids and solar panels, to diverse cyber threats poses significant risks to energy supply and data integrity. This paper examines cyber resilience in the context of the renewable energy industry, using a SWOT analysis of a European wind energy case study to assess the sector's cybersecurity posture and identify key vulnerabilities. This paper aims to identify the industry's current cyber defense mechanisms and the critical need to protect energy systems from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats that pose operational and safety risks, particularly in smart city infrastructures. The findings highlight the urgent need to bolster existing cyber defenses, develop comprehensive incident response plans, and foster a culture of collaborative information sharing among stakeholders. In the future, the paper suggests researching emergent technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning for real-time threat detection and adaptive cybersecurity in wind energy systems to strengthen adaptive cyber defensive capabilities and investigating quantum computing for its promise of superior encryption security. By addressing these research gaps, this study provides several recommendations for cyber resilience strategies that may be used to strengthen the cyber resilience of renewable energy systems, ensuring a secure and renewable energy supply for smart cities in the future.

HERITAGE OF WAQF PROPERTIES IN TÜRKIYE: EXPLORING TOUR GUIDES' ROLES IN SPREADING WAQF APPRECIATION AMONG TOURISTS

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

This qualitative research study looks into tour guides' important role in disseminating waqf knowledge to tourists visiting Türkiye. Waqfs, which are embedded in Türkiye’s historical and cultural landscape, represent an important aspect of Islamic heritage dating back to the Ottoman Turkish Empire and include institutions such as mosques, madrasahs, and charitable foundations. Despite its historical significance, waqf property in Türkiye remains the primary attraction for tourists visiting the country. As a result, the purpose of this study is to explore the role of tour guides who lead tours to Türkiye, with a focus on the significance of waqf among tourists. Based on this qualitative research approach, an observation method was used by a Turkish tour guide who led a tour of 30 Malaysian tourist groups from February 28 to March 8, 2024. Observations were made of the tour guide's explanations and speeches when dealing with Malaysian tourists. Thematic analysis was used to find recurring patterns, themes, and narratives in the collected data. The findings revealed that the tourist guide's focus is not on waqf properties specifically. The explanation provided fails to define the role of waqf in shaping the development of Türkiye since the Ottoman Caliphate's reign. In fact, the tourist guide focuses heavily on Turkiye's history after and before the fall of the Ottoman Empire. The study's findings are expected to contribute to the existing literature on the importance of tourism waqf heritage, particularly in Türkiye and other countries around the world, in order to establish waqf as a tourism tool that must be preserved and its role introduced to those who visit countries with waqf assets. Tourism stakeholders, particularly policymakers, should incorporate waqf heritage into tourism narratives and encourage responsible tourism practices in order to respect and preserve waqf cultural heritage in Türkiye and neighbouring countries.

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE USER SATISFACTION WITH CAMPUS SPACES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF DESIGN-BASED AND NON-DESIGN BASED CLASSROOM

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Space management is an effective management of space utilisation aimed at reducing the cost and wastage of spaces. The aim of this study is to improve the space management practices at College of Built Environment (CBE), UiTM, Shah Alam. The finding is hoped to benefit the Space Management Unit, Facilities Management Office who is in charge of the space management for CBE. In order to achieve the research aim, three objectives have been set out. The objectives were to investigate the current practices of space management at CBE’s Building, to identify the space requirement at CBE’s faculty and to identify the level of user satisfaction on space management at CBE’s Building. The methodology adopted was qualitative and quantitative method using literature review, semi-structured interview and questionnaire survey. SPSS version 20 was used to analyse the data. The results revealed that the practices of space management were traditional and not centralise, the types of space required by the faculty includes classroom, computer laboratory, TEC room, workshop (timber laboratory and concrete laboratory), studio, lecture hall and external study area.

TRANSFORMATIVE SPACE DESIGN FOR SEX WORKERS’ COMMUNITY: A CASE STUDY AT LORONG HAJI TAIB 1 AND 2, CHOW KIT, KUALA LUMPUR

Muhammad Haziq Abdul Naser, Nurul Amira Abd Jalil, Mohd Syafiq Azmy — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Sex workers and their marginalised communities are often subjected to spatial marginalisation and stigmatisation. Confined to specific locales due to the nature of their activities, involuntary participants of this community who were forced or coerced into sex work through sex trafficking syndicates are essentially trapped. Stigma and social exclusion attached to sex work can further marginalise the sex workers' community, making it difficult for them to access essential services and support. Although there are many efforts and assistance programmes designed to help this marginalised community, it is essential to comprehend the specific spatial and typology of spaces that can best meet the complex needs and aspirations of sex workers and the community. The research aims to explore the potential role of transformative spaces and the impact of spatial design integration on the psychological needs of sex workers in Lorong Haji Taib 1 and 2, Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur, with a focus on improving their well-being by promoting community empowerment and improved social cohesion. Analysis of data collected from literature review, case study, and unstructured interviews show the intricate interplay between the physical environment and the psychological well-being of sex workers. The findings unveil the nuanced complexities of creating spaces that address immediate needs while empowering and uplifting marginalised communities. Design recommendations for transformative spaces that could support and improve the lives of sex workers were modelled from the needs, behaviour, and daily routine of the sex workers’ community in Lorong Haji Taib 1 and 2.

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT MEMBRANE USE IN MICRO-BACTERICAL VOLTAIC CELL FOR ELECTRICAL ENERGY GENERATION FROM WASTEWATER

Rafidah Selaman, Mohd Faizal Achoi, Mohd Ruzaleh Nurdik, Ajis Lepit — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

The sustainable, green and renewable energy are characteristics of energy source that are highly demanded nowadays. The world energy annual reported that the escalating electricity consumption will surpass energy output. For example, oil, biofuel, hydropower, nuclear and natural gas were projected depleted by 2050. Therefore, another alternative energy source from wastewater and design two columns of reactor was created, using the voltaic cell working principle that is capable to generate voltage. The voltage is one joule of energy per one coulomb unit charge passed. The wastewater contributed to the air pollution and released a bad smell to the surrounding environment. The method employed in this study was the anaerobic digestion (AD) from the fermentation process. Our aim in this study is to vary the type of membrane bridge in micro-bacterial cell, were parafilm, polyvinylidene fluoride-co-polyvinyllimdazole (PVDF-g-PVim) and agar-agar membranes, while the sample used was 100 mL of wastewater as a source for biocatalyst that was fixed with temperature of 35 ^oC fermentation. As a result, the value of voltage was increased from 0.50 V to 1.25 V measured using voltage meter, corresponding to parafilm membrane, agar-agar membrane and PVDF-g-PVim membrane, respectively. By optimizing the membrane bridge type, the voltage of the micro-bacterial cell was enhanced almost three times compared to a conventional membrane. Our findings suggested that the high voltage can be obtained by using a cheap and eco-friendly membrane, and yet the voltage production from micro-bacterial cell can be improved, thus providing another alternative energy source in the future.

DETERMINANT FACTORS FOR KNOWLEDGE SHARING OF OUTSOURCED FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DELIVERABLES IN GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

It was not until 2007 that the government of Malaysia paid additional attention to improving the national assets and facilities through outsourced facilities management (OFM) and maintenance services as part of the overall public delivery system improvement. An effective knowledge management (KM) is needed to guarantee that the quality of public assets is not compromised despite the costly government services, as compared to the private sector. Poor service delivery, lack of communication and weak performance management are among the hitches reported from the OFM team, which are believed to have resulted from the absence of knowledge sharing (KS) activities within the members of the organisation. This paper aims to identify the factors that determine the KS of OFM services in government buildings. Based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), a set of questionnaires has been developed concerning past studies and distributed to OFM personnel through a self-administered online platform. 112 out of 200 responded data set is analysed through SPSS Version 28. The findings from Factor Analysis finalised 30 out of 33 proposed construct items, where training and development, organisation structure and explicit knowledge were eliminated due to low communality value. Thus, from the research, a conceptual framework is suggested that consists of five determinant factors as independent variables, namely self-attitude, nature of knowledge, motivation to share, organisation culture and opportunity to share, while KS towards performance improvement of OFM in government buildings is the dependent variable.

RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY ANALYSIS OF INDOOR AIR QUALITY, CREW STRESS LEVEL AND SELF EFFICACY IN WARSHIP ENVIRONMENT: A PILOT SURVEY

Muhammad Hisham Abdul Halim, Asmat Ismail, Siti Rasidah MD Sakip — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Warship environments present unique challenges to personnel, including concerns about indoor air quality (IAQ). There are physical symptoms and health effects associated with poor IAQ, which affect crew stress levels. Both variables were proportionately influenced by crew self-efficacy. Previous research demonstrates a lack of holistic studies of the relationship between IAQ, self-efficacy, and crew stress levels on board warships. Hence, further studies regarding the instrument’s effectiveness in measuring all variables would be worthwhile. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the reliability and validity of the instrument to measure IAQ, crew stress level, and self-efficacy amongst warship crew by utilizing data collected from a pilot survey using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Reliability and validity of measurement variables using content validity and reliability method. The content validity assessment was carried out by three experts, including the researcher's supervisor and the Director of Malaysia Armed Forces Physiology and Counselling. Consequently, the researcher invited ten personnel with experience serving onboard KD JEBAT to participate in the face validity process. Data were collected from a sample of 52 warship personnel, and reliability analyses were conducted using Cronbach's alpha coefficient to assess the internal consistency of each dimension. Corrected item-total correlations were also examined to evaluate the relationship between individual survey items and their respective constructs. The reliability analysis revealed an internal consistency (acceptable to good levels) within variables which is IAQ, crew stress level, and self-efficacy. However, the stress-triggered dimension exhibited a lower reliability coefficient. Additionally, the corrected item-total correlations provide a significant relationship between items and corresponding constructs in support of the validity of the measurement scales. As a result, all items were accepted and valid to conduct actual survey with the value of Cronbach's alpha for dimension (a) Indoor Air Contaminant Parameter (0.747), (b) Indoor Air Physical Parameter (0.708), (c) Stress Response (0.715), (d) Stress Triggered (0.703), (e) Victorious Experience (0.780), (f) Performance Outcome (0.705). The researcher utilizes the analysis results to design the best questionnaire survey for the actual survey. Future research may enhance the understanding of this domain and contribute to the betterment of warship personnel.

TRANSPORT PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE USING DIFFERENT REPAIR MATERIALS

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

Concrete structures are susceptible to degradation due to external forces and environmental factors, leading to the formation of cracking and spalling. Moreover, the deterioration of concrete, particularly the cover that protects the reinforcing bars, can be attributed to inadequate raw material selection, poor mixture design, and an irregular construction process. These faults reduce the longevity of the structure and result in the structure becoming unserviceable during operation. To successfully address these concerns, it is imperative to promptly undertake concrete repairs to reinstate the safety and functionality of the structures, hence prolonging their operational lifespan. This study aims to ascertain the mechanical characteristics of normal concrete for repair purposes and examine the transport qualities of concrete when applying various repair materials. The inquiry methodology consisted of two distinct phases. The first phase focused on analysing the physical and mechanical properties of concrete. The second phase consisted of investigating the mechanical properties of concrete after being exposed to environmental conditions for 60 days. Three distinct categories of repair materials were chosen, including epoxy, paint, and mortar It has been found that the performance of concrete varies depending on the exposure environment, such as water penetration, carbonation, and chloride immersion, while using different repair materials.

COMPARISON OF MALAYSIA'S BUILDING REGULATIONS REGARDING MEANS OF ESCAPE ROUTES IN STUDENT HOSTELS

Adnin Syaza Jaafar, Yuhainis Abdul Talib, Asmat Ismail, Muhammad Anas Othman — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

A student hostel is an accommodation provided by educational institutions, offering shared living spaces for students. It needs to comply with building standards and safety features. Fire incidents in a student hostel can negatively impact students' futures. Tragic instances, such as the fire at the Madrasah Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah in 2017 and a similar incident in Georgetown, Guyana, highlighted the importance of these safety measures. Due to this, the Twelfth Malaysia Plan mandates measures to address outdated and unsafe buildings, particularly student hostels. Buildings constructed based on outdated standards may not meet current requirements. Therefore, this research aims to identify the design criteria of means of escape and to evaluate the changes in Uniform Building By-Law provisions regarding means of escape. A qualitative approach is used for data collection via evaluating archival documents and expert validation. The building standards compared are the Uniform Building By-Laws 1984 as of 2015 and Uniform Building By-Laws 1984 as of 2022. The collected data is analysed using content analysis that integrates passive and active fire protection by distinguishing the means of escape requirements prescribed in both building regulations. The analysis identified seven design criteria for safe escape routes: travel distance, door, exit, staircase, emergency lighting, communication, power system, signage, and fire-fighting requirements. This research provides valuable insights for designers and policymakers by highlighting regulatory changes such as newly added, removed, substituted, amended, and maintained prescriptive requirements. By shedding light on the motivations behind these changes, this research could impact future updates to building laws.

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MAINTENANCE PRACTICES FOR ASSESSING DEFECTS IN UITM: THE SWOT AND SURVEY RESEARCH APPROACHES

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0200

In Malaysia, the maintenance of public university buildings is crucial in ensuring functionality, safety and security towards the establishment of a conducive learning environment for students and staff. Building maintenance involves a comprehensive process that includes defect identification, severity assessment, and the subsequent recommendation of appropriate solutions. Defects pose a prevalent challenge in Malaysian public university buildings, potentially causing significant damage if not promptly identified and rectified. These issues may arise from various factors, such as poor design, construction errors, and a lack of maintenance. The current approach to developing building maintenance practices for defect assessment in Malaysian public university buildings relies on manual inspections, which are often time-consuming, expensive, and less accurate. This paper aims to discuss the differences between the existing building maintenance practices and the potential of sustainable building maintenance practices for defect assessment in Malaysian public universities through SWOT analysis and questionnaires. This paper will compare current conventional maintenance practices with sustainable maintenance practices to identify prominent defects in Malaysian public universities and investigate common building maintenance practices to address these issues. It will then suggest significant sustainable building maintenance practices to address these defects. A case study and questionnaire were conducted at a public university in Shah Alam, Selangor, focusing on a sustainable maintenance practice for assessing defects at the university. SWOT analysis was applied in order to highlight the strength, weakness, opportunitie, and threat of each maintenance practices for the best application in mitigating the issues of building defects in the university. The results also suggest that by implementing sustainable maintenance practices in the buildings will not only address current defects but also contribute to mitigating potential issues in the future.