Malaysian Journal of Tropical Geography (MJTG)

FROM PREPAREDNESS TO RESILIENCE: A QUALITATIVE-META-SYNTHESIS ON INTEGRATING GOVERNANCE, MEDIA, AND GEO-SPATIAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR EFFECTIVE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION IN PAKISTAN

Alina Ishrak — 2025-12-31

Floods remain one of the most devastating and recurring climate-induced disasters in Pakistan, exposing the pervasive nature of risks alongside communication, technological, and governance challenges. This study explores how combining risk-informed governance, media, and geospatial technologies can strengthen resilience in flood-prone areas across the country. Using qualitative meta-analysis, it examines institutional frameworks, and the roles of geoscience and media, in shaping disaster preparedness, response, and long-term resilience with reference to the Sendai Framework. It highlights how geospatial technology supports the entire cycle from preparedness to resilience, while media plays a critical role in effective mobilization, communication, and awareness. The discussion situates floods within broader debates on risk knowledge, disaster risk governance, policy implementation mechanisms, fiscal policies for disaster risk reduction, and post-disaster “Build Back Better” initiatives. It emphasizes the importance of both technological and policy evolutions in mitigating escalating flood risks. Case studies of flood events, specifically the 2010 and 2022 floods in Pakistan, highlight uneven access to communication infrastructure, a lack of risk knowledge among communities, and limited capacity-building initiatives for both geospatial and media technologies, challenges that are deepened by existing socio-economic inequalities. By bridging perspectives from geography and media studies, the study argues that the effective integration of risk governance and modern technologies is essential for reducing vulnerabilities. The analysis offers policy frameworks to institutionalize geospatial technologies, strengthen governance mechanisms, and expand digital media infrastructure, all of which are critical to advancing inclusive and optimal flood resilience in Pakistan.

RIVERS AND RIVER ESTUARIES IN SRI LANKA: AN INTERPRETATION

Jinadasa Katupotha — 2025-12-31

Sri Lanka’s river systems are essential to the nation’s geomorphological, ecological, and socio-economic fabric. Despite their significance, the country’s river classification and drainage mapping have long been misrepresented, particularly the misconception that Sri Lanka possesses 103 river basins flowing radially from the Central Highlands. This study addresses this critical research gap by revaluating and redefining Sri Lanka’s true drainage systems, origins, and outflow characteristics through comprehensive geomorphological and hydrological analysis. The primary aim of this research is to provide an accurate interpretation of rivers and river estuaries in Sri Lanka by integrating field investigations, geomorphic mapping, and digital elevation models (DEMs). The specific objectives are to (1) correct long-standing misinterpretations regarding river basin classification and drainage patterns, (2) identify the true number and distribution of rivers that directly discharge into the Indian Ocean, (3) categorize the types of river estuaries based on geomorphological and hydrological parameters, and (4) examine the implications of human interventions, such as dams and diversions, on natural flow regulation and estuarine dynamics. Using SRTM derived DEMs, topographic contour analyses, and field validation across 29 major river outlets, the study reveals that Sri Lanka comprises 94 true river basins, of which only 29 rivers directly discharge into the Indian Ocean. These outlets form five distinct estuarine types: drowned river valleys, bar-built perennial, bar-built seasonal, perennial delta, and seasonal delta estuaries. Contrary to previous literature, only eight of these rivers originate above the 1200 m contour line of the Central Highlands, while the majority emerge below it. The findings underscore the necessity of reinterpreting Sri Lanka’s fluvial and estuarine systems for accurate hydrological assessment, policy formulation, and sustainable water management. Recognizing the spatial and functional diversity of these systems is vital for ecological conservation, flood control, agricultural planning, and the preservation of cultural heritage linked to ancient hydraulic civilizations. This reinterpretation provides a scientifically grounded framework to guide future research and national resource management strategies concerning Sri Lanka’s riverine landscapes.

ANALYSIS OF THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND PHENOMENON IN WEST KALIMANTAN PROVINCE USING GOOGLE EARTH ENGINE

Fahrulaji — 2025-12-31

Urban Heat Islands (UHI) refer to areas where urban temperatures are significantly higher than those in surrounding rural regions. This study utilizes remote sensing data from Google Earth Engine to examine spatiotemporal UHI variations in West Kalimantan Province from 2019 to 2023 by analyzing land surface temperature (LST) and vegetation density. The findings reveal that urban areas, especially Pontianak, experienced higher UHI intensity, with temperature differences ranging from 0.5°C to 2°C compared to more vegetated rural zones. Interior regions with dense vegetation showed lower UHI effects, whereas coastal cities such as Pontianak, Kubu Raya, and Mempawah exhibited UTFVI values above 0.02, indicating moderate to strong clustering of UHI. During the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021), average temperatures decreased by approximately 2°C due to reduced anthropogenic activity, but rebounded in 2022–2023. The province was categorized into four UHI intensity levels: strong (4 regions), moderate (3), weak (2), and non-UHI (5). These results highlight the crucial role of vegetation in mitigating UHI and emphasize the need for sustainable spatial planning that incorporates green infrastructure to enhance urban thermal comfort and resilience.

THE EXTENDED URBANIZATION OF CAMERON HIGHLANDS: AN OPERATIONAL LANDSCAPE PERSPECTIVE

Amel Farhat — 2025-12-31

This study examines the transformation of Cameron Highlands, Malaysia, through the lens of extended urbanization, mobilizing the concepts of “operational landscapes” and “planetary urbanization” (Lefebvre, 1989; Brenner, 2014). It investigates how this former colonial hill station has evolved into a complex agrotourism destination, shaped by urban demands and global economic forces. Using a qualitative multi method approach, including field observations, interviews, and historical analysis, the study examines the working hypothesis that Cameron Highlands functions as an operational landscape that serves urban needs while being reshaped by urban influences, and evaluates this hypothesis through the triangulation of multiple qualitative data sources. The study finds that rapid development and commercialization have significantly altered the region's physical and cultural landscape, undermining its traditional appeal as a rural retreat. Key transformations include the 'plasticization' of the landscape, intensification of urban development, and erosion of the area's distinctive climate and character. These changes reflect broader processes of extended urbanization, where urban logics and practices extend far beyond conventional city boundaries. The research contributes to the theoretical discourse on operational landscapes by applying this framework to hill stations and agrotourism destinations. It also offers practical insights for sustainable development in areas experiencing rapid urbanization, highlighting the need for balanced approaches that consider both economic growth and environmental preservation in evolving operational landscapes.

BENCHMARKING UNDERGRADUATE GEOGRAPHY COURSES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, NIGERIA, AND UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA, MALAYSIA

Awotayo Gbenga Paul — 2025-12-31

Undergraduate courses are pivotal in shaping students' futures, guiding their skills and knowledge. Additionally, it forms an integral part of various assessments of educational quality, ranking methodologies, and accreditation prerequisites across educational frameworks. Thus, this study adopts mixed-method approach to benchmark undergraduate geography courses at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria in Africa and University of Malaya, Malaysia, located in Asia continent help identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement in both departments, offering insights for further development and progress. Analysis of course documents and credit unit distributions reveal differences in core coursework emphasis and program structures. While a strong correlation (r =0.73) exists in course relevance between both universities. The lack of statistical significance (T-Statistics value is 2.62 and P-Value of 0.98) could indicate that other factors are influencing the number of courses offered at both institutions. This might include differences in curriculum design, educational priorities, or regional/geographical influences on the types of courses offered. The study emphasises the significance of benchmarking in geography education for ongoing improvement. It advocates for regular comparisons and comprehensive data analysis to enhance program quality globally.

PENGARUH EL NIÑO-SOUTHERN OSCILLATION (ENSO) TERHADAP CUACA: SATU TINJAUAN LITERATUR SISTEMATIK BERASASKAN PANGKALAN DATA SCOPUS

Mohd Hashiq Hashim — 2025-12-31

Artikel ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti pengaruh fenomena iklim El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) terhadap keadaan cuaca, khususnya suhu dan hujan, melalui kaedah tinjauan literatur sistematik. Persoalan kajian ini dibentuk berdasarkan kerangka PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes) dan seterusnya disokong oleh penggunaan Systematic Searching Strategies (SSS) bagi membentuk kriteria pencarian yang terfokus di pangkalan data Scopus. Sebanyak 174 artikel telah disaring, dan 17 artikel telah dipilih untuk dianalisis menggunakan carta alir PRISMA. Berdasarkan artikel-artikel tersebut, satu jadual sistematik telah dibentuk yang menekankan isu kajian, jurang penyelidikan, metodologi serta dapatan utama. Hasil tinjauan ini menunjukkan bahawa fenomena ENSO mempunyai pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap corak cuaca di pelbagai lokasi, namun sifatnya adalah dinamik dan dipengaruhi oleh pelbagai faktor lain.