Mohamad Rizal Baharum

The performance-risk indicators (PRI) in building performance rating tool for higher education buildings

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a building performance (BP) rating tool concerning the health and safety risk of building users in higher educational buildings (HEB). This paper presents the findings of a preliminary survey, which is the establishment of performance-risk indicators (PRIs) as an initial construct for the development of BP rating tool. The construct items consist of three criteria as the main focus, namely performance element, risk frames and the indicators. Design/methodology/approach – This paper adopts a qualitative approach to achieve the outcome for the preliminary survey. The determinants of the indicators were preliminarily compiled from literature and previous established BP evaluation (BPE) schemes. The initial construct of indicators are then further confirmed through semi-structured interviews involving 18 building operators in Malaysia’s public university buildings. Their views are needed to obtain suitability of the listed indicators for BP rating assessment t...

A review of commercial waste recycling policy in Malaysia

Commercial business sectors have an ethical obligation to act responsibility towards the environment. Although Malaysia has developed a National Solid Waste Management Policy, the prioritisation of options for waste management is from reduction, reuse, recovery, treatment and finally to disposal. However, recycling is the most enforceable of the environmentally sound practices that a business can undertake. The recycling rate in Malaysia is only 11% whereas businesses in most European Union countries such as Germany and the UK appear to achieve much higher levels of recycling, more than 50%. Apparently, there is a gap between the policy framework for sustainable waste management in Malaysia and that of developed countries. This study reviews the solid waste management policy frameworks in both developed countries and developing countries. It is critical to understand Malaysias sustainable development in solid waste management to ensure that responsible disposal of resources that meet the overall sustainability of the business can be attained.