Rustam Khairi Zahari

Post-2004 Tsunami: Preparedness of Malaysian coastal communities

The Indian Ocean tsunami of 26th December 2004 unleashed catastrophe in many nations including coastal communities located along the west-coast of Malaysian Peninsular. The goal of this study is to explore the impact of the tsunami to the preparedness of the affected coastal communities. Data was collected through questionnaire, interviews, documents analysis and field observations. It was found that the 2004 tsunami disaster has left a significant mark on Malaysias and the worlds disaster management landscape but the tragedy has also heightened disaster awareness and steps must be taken to ensure vulnerable communities are well-equipped to face any eventualities.

Muslim Women’s Marriage, Pregnancy, Abortion and Spacing of Children: Evidence from the United States, Iran and Malaysia

Background: This study investigates the decisions on marriage, pregnancy, abortion and spacing of children among Muslim women (MW) residing in the United States, Iran and Malaysia to explore the occurrences as well as socio-demographic characteristics associated with the likelihood of making an independent decision regarding sexual and reproductive health rights. Methods: A total of 1140 MW in Washington, D.C. (the United States), Tehran (Iran) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) participated in this study, and the number of respondents were equally distributed across the three cities. To examine the occurrences of sexual and reproductive rights violation, we report the descriptive statistics from the responses given by MW in these cities. Results: On the decision to solemnize marriage, 84.5 per cent of MW in Malaysia reported that the marriage decision is made jointly with their husbands, but this figure stands at only 30 per cent in Iran and 47.9 per cent in the United States. More than 80 per cent and 72 per cent of MW in Malaysia and Iran, respectively, make decisions on pregnancy, abortion and spacing of children jointly with their husbands. Conclusions: Policymakers should promote jointly made (made by wife and husband together) decisions among Muslims, which accords with Islamic teachings and is considered as good practice among Muslims.

FUTURE DIRECTION OF URBAN PLANNING EDUCATION: THE MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITIES-INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

Rapid urbanization is a common global phenomenon and Malaysia is not an exception with more than 75 percent of its population currently living in urban centres. One way of addressing urbanization challenges is through institutions producing competent urban planners with the industry playing a vital role in the design and implementation of the universities’ curriculums. The objective of this study is to investigate the perceptions and expectations of the industry on urban planning programs of Malaysian universities. The inputs from the industry were collected through a survey involving respondents from government agencies, urban planning practitioners, built environment consultants and property developers. The finding reveals that the subjects covered in the curriculums are suitable in producing marketable and industry-relevant urban planning graduates. Additionally, the syllabi encompass essential planning theories and contemporary concepts, nurture designing abilities and incorporate excellent use of technology with up-to-date software and hardware. However, the respondents opine that the management components, legal matters and communication skills can be further enhanced in order to produce better urban planners who are well-equipped to face real-world challenges. The study concludes that more industry-university cooperation is necessary including embedding industry experts in various learning settings such as input lectures and critique sessions to benefit both the students and the academics. Research collaboration between the institutions and the industry is another golden opportunity that should be explored. A mutual platform is also proposed to encourage more interactions among stakeholders in the urban planning field to enable updating of members on latest development and accomplishments. Furthermore, the industry agrees that an urban planning program which is capable of addressing the current challenges is an exceptional investment not only for the country but the wider region as well.

Transport Policy in the Klang Valley, Malaysia: The Sustainability Agenda

There are many definitions of sustainable transport system, but generally it takes into account the three elements of sustainable development: the economy, the environment and the social well-being when deciding on policy that is affecting transportation activity. This paper examines the urban transport policy and its implications on sustainable transport agenda in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. The research utilizes a combination of primary and secondary data. Interview was employed to gather the primary data, while scholarly works, government documents and archival records are the instruments used for gathering the secondary data. The findings shed light on the implications of transport policy on sustainable transport agenda in the Klang Valley. The main challenge seems to be the lack of holistic measures in tackling transport issues that are in conflict with the objectives of sustainable transport. This main factor stems from a combination of several other issues such as decision-making based on short-term result that are mostly driven by economically viable alternatives, transport policies that are focused on technology and structural improvement and the lack of political will to influence development processes that could bring forward sustainable transport agenda. To achieve sustainability, transport policy in Malaysia, particularly in the Klang Valley, must include the wider systems in which transportation activity is rooted.