The complexity of governing fishing villages in the bagan areas of Selangor, Malaysia

This paper examines the current administrative structure that deals with informal fishing villages in Selangor aiming to identify the governance issues of these communities from the local-, district-, state- and federal-level perspectives. Data collection techniques employed were field observations conducted through site visits, in-depth interviews with the state and local planning officials, and focus group discussions involving chairpersons of the Village Development and Security Committees (VDSC). The analysis reveals a sizable number of entities involved in the governance and management of these fishing communities at all levels and accordingly, concludes by outlining a more strategic administrative structure that could effectively govern informal fishing villages that is applicable to Selangor and beyond

Changing Domesticity of Aedes aegypti in Northern Peninsular Malaysia: Reproductive Consequences and Potential Epidemiological Implications

BACKGROUND: The domestic dengue vector Aedes aegypti mosquitoes breed in indoor containers. However, in northern peninsular Malaysia, they show equal preference for breeding in both indoor and outdoor habitats. To evaluate the epidemiological implications of this peridomestic adaptation, we examined whether Ae. aegypti exhibits decreased survival, gonotrophic activity, and fecundity due to lack of host availability and the changing breeding behavior. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: This yearlong field surveillance identified Ae. aegypti breeding in outdoor containers on an enormous scale. Through a sequence of experiments incorporating outdoors and indoors adapting as well as adapted populations, we observed that indoors provided better environment for the survival of Ae. aegypti and the observed death patterns could be explained on the basis of a difference in body size. The duration of gonotrophic period was much shorter in large-bodied females. Fecundity tended to be greater in indoor acclimated females. We also found increased tendency to multiple feeding in outdoors adapted females, which were smaller in size compared to their outdoors breeding counterparts. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The data presented here suggest that acclimatization of Ae. aegypti to the outdoor environment may not decrease its lifespan or gonotrophic activity but rather increase breeding opportunities (increased number of discarded containers outdoors), the rate of larval development, but small body sizes at emergence. Size is likely to be correlated with disease transmission. In general, small size in Aedes females will favor increased blood-feeding frequency resulting in higher population sizes and disease occurrence

The Quality of Neighbourhood Facilities and Their Effect on Social Trust in Salak Selatan New Village, Kuala Lumpur

This study investigated neighbourhood amenities as socio-spatial settings within which relationships of trust are built through the passage of daily activities. It examined the effect of satisfaction towards neighbourhood facilities on social trust in one of Malaysia's urban villages: Salak South New Village in Kuala Lumpur. Data from 335 survey respondents were analysed using the MANOVA method to determine the influence of neighbourhood facilities satisfaction on social trust. To achieve the aim of this study, five independent variables (IVs) of satisfaction with provided selected neighbourhood facilities were considered: basic utilities, commercial facilities, health facilities, police service and public transport, while two dependent variables (DV) of communal trust and leadership trust were identified that constitute social trust. The findings reveal that satisfaction towards neighbourhood facilities significantly influenced social trust among the respondents. Multivariate analysis showed commercial facilities as the most influential in determining social trust, followed by public transport, health facilities, basic utilities, and finally police service. Therefore, improving neighbourhood facilities and amenities will enhance the satisfaction of residents and accordingly increase social trust. In other words, unmaintained and underdeveloped facilities lessen social trust in a community via resident dissatisfaction. This necessitates engagement of stakeholders including urban planners, local authorities and the residents themselves in the planning process and village development to ensure that the residents will be satisfied with changes for better neighbourhood facilities and social trust is sustained.Abstrak. Makalah ini mempelajari keberadaan fasilitas lingkungan dalam konteks sosio-spasial yang menjadi tempat terbangunnya hubungan kepercayaan melalui perjalanan aktivitas sehari-hari. Makalah ini menguji pengaruh kepuasan terhadap fasilitas lingkungan pada kepercayaan sosial di salah satu desa perkotaan Malaysia - Desa Baru Selatan Salak, di Kuala Lumpur. Data dari 335 responden dianalisis menggunakan metode MANOVA untuk menjelaskan pengaruh kepuasan fasilitas lingkungan terhadap kepercayaan sosial. Untuk mencapai tujuan penelitian ini, ditentukan lima variabel independen (IV) yang dapat mewakili kepuasan terhadap penyediaan fasilitas lingkungan yang dipilih: utilitas dasar, fasilitas komersial, fasilitas kesehatan, layanan polisi dan angkutan umum; sedangkan dua variabel dependen (DV):Kepercayaan komunal dan kepercayaan kepemimpinan diidetifikasi sebagai yang merupakankepercayaan sosial Hasil penelitian mengungkapkan bahwa kepuasan terhadap fasilitas lingkungan berpengaruh secara signifikan terhadap kepercayaan sosial di kalangan responden. Analisis multivariat menunjukkan fasilitas komersial sebagai yang paling berpengaruh dalam menentukan kepercayaan sosial; diikuti oleh angkutan umum, fasilitas kesehatan, utilitas dasar, dan terakhir layanan polisi. Oleh karena itu, peningkatan fasilitas dan amenitas lingkungan akan meningkatkan kepuasan penghuni dan karenanya meningkatkan kepercayaan sosial. Dengan kata lain, fasilitas yang tidak terawat dan terbelakang mengurangi kepercayaan sosial dalam masyarakat melalui ketidakpuasan warga. Hal ini membutuhkan keterlibatan pemangku kepentingan termasuk perencana kota, pemerintah daerah dan warga sendiri dalam proses perencanaan dan pembangunan desa untuk memastikan bahwa penduduk desa puas dengan perubahan untuk fasilitas lingkungan yang lebih baik dan kepercayaan sosial dipertahankan.Kata kunci. Kepercayaan sosial, Kepuasan fasilitas, Kelurahan, Ruang lingkungan, Kuala Lumpur

Development Framework for Agro-Based Industries in Secondary Cities of Sindh Province, Pakistan: SWOT Analysis of Ten-Year Perspective and Medium-Term Development Framework Plans

The study intended to explore planning strategies gaps in ten-year perspective and medium-term development framework plans for agro-based industrial development in secondary cities of Sindh Province, Pakistan. Document review and key informant interviews survey techniques were used for data collection. A total of 30 interviews were conducted from agro-based officials. The SWOT analysis technique was applied for data analysis. The results revealed the weaknesses of high priority for textile and sugar industries, lack of planning strategies for agro-based development in secondary cities, dependency on federal government for development funds and absence of finances to implement plans. The threats were unavailability of strategic agro-based infrastructure facilities in secondary cities, centralized planning system, cross border threats such as the war in Afghanistan and migration of Afghan refugees, weak law and order situation and diversion of development budget for defense activities. The study suggests decentralization of powers and robust planning strategies in the development plans to strengthen secondary cities of Sindh Province economically

A qualitative exploration on the awareness and knowledge of stakeholders towards Urban Heat Island phenomenon in Greater Kuala Lumpur: Critical insights for urban policy implications

Despite its notable role in the exacerbation of urban climate, Urban Heat Island (UHI) was poorly addressed, communicated and integrated into local urban policies of many developing countries. Such scenario often queried the level of UHI understanding amongst the key players who were involved in urban policy formulation. Hence, a qualitative study using Focus Group Discussions (FGD) was designed to investigate the awareness and knowledge level of stakeholders such as policy makers and practitioners in Greater Kuala Lumpur (GKL), an expanding socio-economic hub of a developing tropical country. The findings demonstrated a variable lack of awareness and knowledge about the concept of UHI, its status in GKL as well as organizational engagement in adaptation and mitigation initiatives among the study participants. Essentially, policy makers illustrated a facile awareness and knowledge towards UHI issues whereas practitioners displayed a more robust portfolio of factual understanding regarding the corresponding issues. In line with National Urbanization Policy's (NUP) aspiration to optimize urban developments that provide high quality of life, this study sheds some light on the exigency for UHI awareness creation and capacity building among the policy makers. This study also provides impactful prepositions for the articulation of necessary actions towards evidence-based urban policy formulation in future. © 201