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The COVID-19 coronavirus, an infectious disease originating in Wuhan, has become an outbreak worldwide, leading to unprecedented measures restricting social and physical activities in many countries. The subsequent social distancing of COVID-19 has significantly resulted in many psychological consequences. The current study examines the impact of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health symptoms of Selangor State, Malaysia residents. An online survey was conducted through social media platforms targeting residents of Selangor State in Malaysia. A convenience sampling method was led to include 258 respondents in the study. The questionnaire on the symptoms of mental health related to fear of COVID-19 included 13 items developed from the existing studies. The results showed that symptoms of mental health problems related to fear of COVID-19 are negatively associated with the likelihood of social interaction. The overall score of symptoms of mental health related to the fear of COVID-19 showed moderate symptoms of mental problems related to the fear of COVID-19. The factor of age was also associated with higher symptomatology of mental health problems related to fear of COVID-19. Thus, related measures and guidelines must consider the mental well-being of the at-risk person as the pandemic continues. The current study's findings contribute to the knowledge gaps in behavioural health during biological disasters. It also provides a reference for professionals and policymakers to develop programs and measures to handle the psychosocial status of the affected people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pantai Lido of Johor Bahru has a diversity of cultures, beautiful landscapes, and unique nature along its waterfront. This diversity at one time, made Pantai Lido a tourist's option for domestic as well as international visits. After more than fifty decades of being a landscape of magnificent landmark for Johor Bahru, Pantai Lido is now experienced alteration which has resulted in the deterritorialisation of its cultural landscape. This inevitably eroded the identity and symbolism of the place. Thus, the objective of this paper is to explore and investigated the challenges that faced in designing cultural landscape at Pantai Lido, to preserve Pantai Lido from the de-territorialisation of cultural landscape. To achieve the objectives of the paper, a qualitative research method using a case study approach has been conducted in order to investigated the challenges in designing cultural landscape at Pantai Lido, and Pantai Lido was the context for data collection. A total of 12 informants were involved in this study comprising of the local authorities. The data were primarily gathered through focus group discussions (in-depth, semi-structured interviews) participant observations and supported by relevant information from document analysis, and audio-visual materials. It is hoped that the findings of this study can assist the state government and the related parties in developing cultural landscape design strategies framework for the urban waterfront at Pantai Lido, and thus mitigate the de-territorialisation of the cultural landscape areas at the said location. The implications of this study are not only beneficial to assist in the planning of the cultural landscape at Pantai Lido, but can also be applied to other similar regions throughout Malaysia. The objective of this paper is to explore and investigated the challenges that faced in designing cultural landscape at Pantai Lido, to preserve Pantai Lido from the deterritorialisation of cultural landscape. Qualitative Research Method using a case study approach, and to increase understanding of the findings, the primary data has been gathered from Focus Group Discussion (In-depth, semi structured interview), participant observations and supported by relevant information from document analysis, and audio-visual materials. The findings thus presented, this section closes with a list of challenged that faced in designing cultural landscape at Pantai lido-that is based on all of the theme, for the sustenance of symbolism within a cultural landscape at Pantai Lido urban waterfront; these also wor k as a potential cultural landscape design strategy to mitigate the de-territorialisation of cultural landscape areas at the said location. The data information faced in designing the cultural landscape for the urban waterfront: could assist local authorities and related parties to take necessary actions to solve the challenges in designing the cultural landscape for the urban waterfront at Pantai Lido. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the prominent public spaces for the community, Mosque is considered one of the high energy consumption buildings. Many modern mosques are designed and built without respecting the contextual environment, resulting in a non-environmental friendly Mosque. In Malaysia, the operating cost of mosques is majorly relying on public funds, and statistically are high specifically for electricity usage. Due to the use of air conditioners in cooling down the huge prayer hall due to the non-environmental design consideration. Hence, it is crucial to justify sustainable design approaches in mosques to develop environmentally friendly mosques. On the other side, the environmentally friendly mosque design is important as one of the monumental Islamic symbols that shall manifest Islam's values and philosophies towards the benefit of 'Alam' (world). The main objective of this study is to analyze the principles of Islamic methods in attaining the attributes of sustainable mosque design. It systematically reviews the existing publications to discover the concepts, definitions, and issues regarding the sustainable design approaches for Mosque. Based on the conducted reviews, sustainable design strategies for mosques are suggested at the end of this paper. The Mosque can use some renewable technologies to save energy and be concerned about the climate condition for its design. Furthermore, it can also use sustainable materials, use natural ventilation and daylighting to provide good indoor air quality, and be concerned about the social life of Muslim's religious activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urbanization process in the 21st century is no longer suitable for the rehabilitation of existing cities as it is already dense and complex and has very limited development potential. Therefore, the new planned cities or township has become a better option as it is more organized and well-planned. However, the creation of planned cities should be made more rigorous and comprehensive as it involves migration of communities who have to adapt to the physical urban design, the economy and social activities. Thus, the main purpose of this study is to assess the social impact of this new planned city of Malaysia - Putrajaya including the satisfaction level regarding to physical urban design, socio-economic as well as their involvement in decisionmaking process in urban governance towards sustainable living environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an alternative approach to design sustainable furniture beyond functionality and usability needs. In this alternative, emotional and pleasure demands are considered which are referred to as supra-functionality needs. The positive emotional interaction between an end-user and a product can persuade the owner to keep the product for a longer period. Keeping existing products for longer time will help the sustainable design objectives. The important question is what features affect this emotional interaction with the end-user. This study investigates the impact of end-user's gender and income on keeping an existing home sofa for a longer period in case that the product gives them a "Good sense". In this study, three hundred and eighty-eight Malaysian users answered the Likert scale question, which is "I keep my old sofa for longer periods because it gives me a Good sense". "Good sense" presents end-user's supra-functionality needs. The research team used a quantitative approach and two-way analysis of variance to analyse the effect of the end-user's gender and income on keeping a home sofa for longer periods. The results show that there is a significant difference between male, female, and families' household income categories in "keeping the old sofa for Good sense". In all household income categories, men had more agreed with keeping the existing sofa for longer periods except only one income category. A Post-Hoc test shows families with an average household income have more emotional interaction with their sofa. Furniture with supra-functional aspects makes the end-user, especially the men, to keep their existing products for longer time in families with an average income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]