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International Journal of Natural Sciences Research 2015 Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 9-20 ISSN(e): 2311-4746 ISSN(p): 2311-7435 DOI: 10.18488/journal.63/2015.3.1/63.1.9.20 © 2015 Contribution/ OriginalityThis study is one of very few studies which have evaluated accessibility and usability in the facilities that used by people with disabilities PwDs in shopping malls. The paper's primary contribution is to provide recommendations to the field of built environment, some extension could be done with this research by detailing the design characteristics and focuses more in every inaccessible public facilities that has the potential to be planned or redeveloped for new shopping mall or existing one to enhance the life quality for PwDs and provide user friendly accessibility within and outside shopping malls.

Learning with nature is a form of psychological therapy for all, including children with disability. Beyond the psychological aspect, access to outdoor green space can also improve social, environmental, developmental, emotional and behavioural, and even medical outcomes. In Malaysia, studies of learning with nature remain scarce due to the Malaysian education system’s focus on indoor learning rather than outdoor learning. This research aimed at determining perceptions towards the application of learning with nature among preschool educators. Qualitative methods were used for data collection, consisting of structured interview and field observation. Four preschools were selected as sample. Results show that learning with nature contributes to the positive development of the children. The approaches used to instil nature awareness include conducive landscape, environmental activities, outdoor class activities, outdoor free play, formal education and recreational programme outside a preschool. These involved both outdoor and indoor spaces and facilities.

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The accessibility of street as a social arena that fulfils the need for people with disabilities (PwDs) is an important consideration in the urban design of an area. With the rising number of PwDs in Malaysia, this aspect of street design is even more critical. This paper evaluates the accessibility level of sidewalk along Jalan Hang Jebat, Melaka to PwDs. On-site access audit simulation was carried out. Actual PwDs were engaged for the simulation. It was found that the sidewalk in inaccessible to PwDs due to presence of barriers and the design of the sidewalk itself. This paper suggest that the minimum requirement of MS1184:2014 must be implemented in the sidewalk design and the concept of 'shared space' can be adopted in the study area.

Malaysia has been experienced with many natural disasters such as flood, landslide, earthquake and drought, which resulted in damaging the properties and causing casualties especially during the biggest flooding affected over 36,128 families was in 2014 at East Coast of Malaysia mainly in Kelantan. Public buildings such as schools, religious buildings, including mosques or community halls, have been used as evacuation centres in Malaysia every year. Many studies identified many evacuees were facing many problems, particularly in terms of physical facilities, such as providing improper assistance in terms of facilities, privacy, and many others. This paper objectives are firstly, to review the requirements of the physical facilities for evacuation centre, secondly to assess the components of the physical facilities for evacuation centre and finally to propose the criteria of physical facilities for evacuation centre. A qualitative approach was adopted, and data were collected through observation, interview and secondary data through literature analysis. Three case studies in Kelantan were chosen based on three categories which are small capacity (Veteriner office, Kuala Krai), medium-capacity (Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Keroh, Kuala Krai) and big capacity (Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Lati, Pasir Mas). The data were analysed to assess the physical facilities provided in the evacuation centre to facilitate the flood victims. The benefit of this research is to give awareness to flood victim for future disaster through technology, management, physical and mental. Thus, evacuation centre is important to create comfortable, privacy and rehabilitated environment to serve the flood victims physically and mentally.

This paper is a review of IBS implementation in Malaysia and Singapore. It investigates the limitations and opportunities in implementation of IBS in Malaysia and Singapore. In Malaysia, Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) defines Industrialised Building System (IBS) as a construction technique in which components are manufactured in a controlled environment (either onsite or offsite), then transported, positioned and installed into a structure with less additional onsite works. Content analysis is the method adopted in this study. Data is collected from books, journal articles, annual reports and newspaper articles. Studies show that IBS contributes many benefits including labour reduction, cleaner and neater sites, easy installation, fast completion, enhancement of quality finished products and flexibility. Construction industries in countries like Singapore and Malaysia have shifted the construction methods from conventional to prefabrication. In Malaysia, Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) is still promoting IBS in the private sector, whereas, government sector has successfully adopted IBS. However, in Singapore, Housing and Development Board (HDB) has implemented prefabrication in its construction industry. IBS has many benefits but with these benefits there are some limitations and hindrances as IBS is not widely adopted. This study highlights the benefits and challenges to overcome for the improvement in the implementation of IBS.