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This paper will present five flash flood cases in Johor and two hailstorms from Kuala Lumpur and Melaka reported during lightning activities to determine the relationship between lightning flash rate and rainfall that occurred from 2013 to 2017. The flash floods were observed based on lightning data obtained from Tenaga Nasional Berhad Research Sdn. Bhd. (TNBR) and rainfall data from the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID). On the other hand, storm-producing hails were observed based on the lightning flash rate using electromagnetic field measurements and weather radar for their reflectivity value and cloud structure. The detection of a lightning flash, especially the negative narrow bipolar event (−NBE) and positive cloud-to-ground (+CG), could be a possible indicator of a deeper convective storm that could lead to the production of hails. In the 24-h observation of selected days when a flash flood occurred, lightning strikes correlation with rainfall had r-values ranging from 0.6 to 0.9, where the lightning data may enhance flood forecasting accuracy when combined with rainfall. Meanwhile, during the first hailstorms in Kuala Lumpur, the highest −NBEs flash rate detected during the hails appeared where 16 −NBEs were detected in a span of 5 min with reflectivity value between 53 and 55 dBz and cloud top height of 20 km. During the second hailstorms in Melaka, more + CG flashes rather than −NBE were detected during the appearance of the hail, with 64 +CG flashes and five −NBEs with reflectivity values between 60 and 66 dBz and cloud top height of 18.8 km. Based on the high convective strength, cloud top height, and presence of hailstones, −NBE and +CG flash could be possible indicators of storm severity, especially in Malaysia. • Relationship between lightning events and the severity of convective thunderstorms • The severity of the thunderstorm may not be visible at its earlier stage until the damages occurred • In Malaysia, a severe thunderstorm is not frequently studied as in temperate regions because this phenomenon is unusually formally reported • Investigating the relationship between the occurrence of severe convection with a lightning detection system, the severity of convective thunderstorms may be detected earlier with the pronounced lightning activities and selected flashes trend • Hailstorms and heavy rainfall lead to flash floods are one of the outcomes of the severity of these thunderstorms [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a forecasting study of municipal solid waste generation (MSWG) rate and potential of its recyclable components in Kuala Lumpur (KL), the capital city of Malaysia. The generation rates and composition of solid wastes of various classes such as street cleansing, landscape and garden, industrial and constructional, institutional, residential and commercial are analyzed. The past and present trends are studied and extrapolated for the coming years using Microsoft office 2003 Excel spreadsheet assuming a linear behavior. The study shows that increased solid waste generation of KL is alarming. For instance, the amount of daily residential SWG is found to be about 1.62kg/capita; with the national average at 0.8–0.9kg/capita and is expected to be increasing linearly, reaching to 2.23kg/capita by 2024. This figure seems reasonable for an urban developing area like KL city. It is also found that, food (organic) waste is the major recyclable component followed by mix paper and mix plastics. Along with estimated population growth and their business activities, it has been observed that the city is still lacking in terms of efficient waste treatment technology, sufficient fund, public awareness, maintaining the established norms of industrial waste treatment etc. Hence it is recommended that the concerned authority (DBKL) shall view this issue seriously. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The average amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in Malaysia is 0.5–0.8 kg/person/day and has increased to 1.7 kg/person/day in major cities. This paper highlights the MSW characteristics for the city of Kuala Lumpur. Currently, the waste management approach being employed is landfill, but due to rapid development and lack of space for new landfills, big cities in Malaysia are switching to incineration. A simple evaluation was conducted to establish the amount of energy that would be recovered based on the characteristics of the MSW if it were to be incinerated. From the characterization exercise, the main components of the Malaysian MSW were found to be food, paper and plastic, which made up almost 80% of the waste by weight. The average moisture content of the MSW was about 55%, making incineration a challenging task. The calorific value of the Malaysian MSW ranged between 1500 and 2600 kcal/kg. However, the energy potential from an incineration plant operating based on 1500 ton of MSW/day with an average calorific value of 2200 kcal/kg is assessed to be at 640 kW/day. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: High housing prices in Greater Kuala Lumpur have made it difficult for potential first-time homebuyers to own a house. As a result, affordable housing schemes were introduced recently to assist potential homeowners. The Malaysian government has launched many kinds of public low-cost housing schemes; however, many housing projects resulting from these schemes have turned into slums that do not provide a wholesome environment for families. To avoid building more slums and to provide more benefits for young buyers, the goal of this paper is to determine the correct housing attributes required for first-time homebuyers in the urban area. Three hundred questionnaires were distributed to young Malaysians in Greater Kuala Lumpur (KL), and 265 questionnaires were returned. The responses to the questionnaire revealed that accessibility and neighborhood environment play a role in the decision to own. It can also be observed that ecologically friendly homes that embrace sustainability are important considerations for prospective homebuyers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to exploit the potential application of an evidential belief function model to landslide susceptibility mapping at Kuala Lumpur city and surrounding areas using geographic information system (GIS). At first, a landslide inventory map was prepared using aerial photographs, high resolution satellite images and field survey. A total 220 landslides were mapped and an inventory map was prepared. Then the landslide inventory was randomly split into a testing dataset 70% (153 landslides) and remaining 30% (67 landslides) data was used for validation purpose. Fourteen landslide conditioning factors such as slope, aspect, curvature, altitude, surface roughness, lithology, distance from faults, ndvi (normalized difference vegetation index), land cover, distance from drainage, distance from road, spi (stream power index), soil type, precipitation, were used as thematic layers in the analysis. The Dempster–Shafer theory of evidence model was applied to prepare the landslide susceptibility maps. The validation of the resultant susceptibility maps were performed using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC). The validation results show that the area under the curve for the evidential belief function (the belief map) model is 0.82 (82%) with prediction accuracy 0.75 (75%). The results of this study indicated that the EBF model can be effectively used in preparation of landslide susceptibility maps. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper provides an assessment of residential satisfaction of newly designed public low-cost housing dwellers of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with forty-five variables grouped into five components – dwelling unit features, dwelling unit support services, public facilities, social environment and neighbourhood facilities. Findings from the study indicate that the residents are moderately satisfied with dwelling unit support services, followed by public and neighbourhood facilities than dwelling unit features and social environment, which have higher percentage of respondents with low level of satisfaction. Residential satisfaction index has high positive correlations with dwelling unit features, social environment, support services and public facilities, and low positive correlation with neighbourhood facilities. Socio-economic attributes of the residents such as age, family size, working wives, previous residence are negatively correlated with residential satisfaction, whereas residents'' race, employment type, floor level and length of residency are positively correlated with residential satisfaction. A Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) model has been estimated for the study and the model provides 76% explanations to determine residential satisfaction with ten predictor variables. The high beta coefficients of the model suggest that residential satisfaction of public low-cost housing can be enhanced through improving the management of security control, perimeter roads, cleanliness of garbage house and garbage collection, by the Local authority (KLCH). Moderate beta coefficient values of the model suggest that improvement of housing design is necessary to enhance residents'' satisfaction with the predictor variables such as dry area, bedroom-1, dinning space, socket points and bedroom-3. From socio-economic analysis, it was found that the size of existing low-cost unit does not satisfy the needs of 29.4% inhabitants with large (6+) families and high bedroom occupancy rates (2.5). Furthermore, the location of future low-cost housing estates should also consider their closeness to the shopping centres. Public agencies for low-cost housing should pay proper attention to the management of support and public facilities to enhance residential satisfaction of the inhabitants and also adopt a policy to build different sizes of units to cater the needs of residents with large families in order to enhance quality of life of the low-income urban community in the country. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]