Research Highlights Despite of many historical records from Portuguese about the physical of Melaka Malay City, its existence is still doubtful since there is no clear physical evidence that can be used as basis support to its existence. However, to prove that the city was existed, various physical and scientific evidence are required to prove its existence. Thus, this study aims to identify historical evidence that mentioned its existence which based on the first painting of A’Famosa (Malacca Fort City during Portuguese era). The study proposed three hypothesis and results indicated there is a postivie outcome to prove that the Melaka Malay City existed on and around Bukit Melaka (or St Paul Hill now) based on historical records and sketches found.   Research Objectives This paper attempts to uncover and reveal the historical evidence of Melaka Malay (Fort) City before the city was destroyed and rebuilt according to Portuguese terms. This paper was created to identify the differences between designs and layout plans between the Malacca Malay (Fort) City and the world-renowned Fort A’Famosa, thus comparing the hypothesis arguments about the existence of Melaka City. Indeed, there is a clear distinction between the design, layout, character and philosophy of the Malay and Portuguese cities. The scope focuses only on the site of the physical building (which is believed to be historical evidence) of the city at the Melaka River’s estuary where important and significant buildings during Melaka Malay empire was constructed – the palace, mosque, administration buildings, harbors, and different kind of settlements. There is a great probability of continuing this study into the use of satellite technology in determining and identifying the Melaka Malay City with more precise and accurate details. The implication of this study can be a catalyst for continuous and deeper research on the original site of the Melaka Malay City as to prove the validity of its existences.   Methodology In an effort to discuss the existence of this Melaka Malay City, various aspects and methods were conducted to find the most suitable matches and comparisons that almost accurately describe their design then prove its existence. The remains and plans of Melaka City today since the British era will be the basis of its existence. Hence, the study of historical records and sketches of the Melaka City from the Dutch government and subsequently the Portuguese will be made to seek physical evidence of the earliest design of Melaka City. Later, the historical records of the city from Malay Archipelago, Chinese, Portuguese and Dutch sources will be depicted in city design. As a reinforcement, the philosophy of urban design in the Malay World is highlighted as well as presenting the comparison between the other Malay Kingdoms and the Melaka Malay City.   Results The foundations of the Malay cities basically were designed in square or rectangular shape, no matter how far the city was set up (Abdul Halim Nasir, 1990). This is in line with the philosophy in the Malay world that associated with a simple yet sufficient form of compassion that covers the various aspects of the Malay community's facilities and their living that are synonymous with modular systems (Yusoff Hashim, 2010). The first Fort A'Famosa built by the Portuguese was rectangular (G.W.Irwin, 2006). Its position was below the foot of Bukit Melaka and along the estuary of the Melaka River which is also near the bridge stretching the mouth of the Melaka River (Portuguese Documents of Malacca, 11: 6 de Goes, para 11). The city of A'Famosa in the painting has a relatively six-tower on the corner of the city near the bridge. Whereas city fort or bastion on three other city corners are two-storey building. A’Famosa was built on the site of the Great Mosque of Melaka (Portuguese Documents of Malacca, 11: 6 de Goes, the 25th) which features a rectangular shape as the custom of mosques designs in the Malay Archipelago realm at that time, then the A'Famosa was originally built in rectangular over the ruins (or damage) of the Great Mosque Malacca after the success of Portuguese colonization.   Findings The research showed that the design of Melaka City or A'Famosa City was in square or rectangular shape as it was built on the ruins of the Great Mosque of Melaka. The rectangular fort design was synonym with the design of other Malay forts or cities as it was a fundamental design tradition in the Malay world from fourth century until the later centuries after the collapse of Melaka empire either in Malay clusters. This coincides with the urban philosophy and design of the Malay and Islamic city that breed in the Malay Archipelago region at that time.

Narrow roads between rows of buildings used as public paths or commonly known as back-lane; the streets neglected by most of people. The unfavorable lane in residential area indeed had existed thousand years ago since the world urbanization. This paper traces the evolution of back lane design particularly in terrace houses in Malaysia, the largest housing type built since colonization and Post World War of more than 40 years ago. The first part provides an overview on the global development tracking back from the Prehistory to Post Modernism. Secondly, it assesses six aspects of evolution through observations approach carried out in two states, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. Critical review is made focusing on the two major elements, back lane physical design and its function with cross reference to literature research and current global issues. Variations of back lane have been discovered particularly in road width, drain condition, pavement material, landscaping, infrastructure and safety elemts.

Purpose -Building inspection is one of the key components of building maintenance. The primary purpose of performing a building inspection is to evaluate the building's condition. Without inspection, it is difficult to determine a built asset's current condition, so failure to inspect can contribute to the asset's future failure. Traditionally, a longhand survey description has been widely used for property condition reports. Surveys that employ ratings instead of descriptions are gaining wide acceptance in the industry because they cater to the need for a quantitative approach. These kinds of surveys are also in keeping with the new RICS HomeBuyer Report 2009. This paper aims to describe an assessment method. Design/methodology/approach -The paper proposes a new assessment method, derived from the current rating systems, for assessing the building's condition and rating the seriousness of each defect identified. These two assessment criteria are then multiplied to find the building's score, which is called the condition survey protocol (CSP) 1 matrix. The matrix is assessed by means of a case study. Findings -Instead of a longhand description of a building's defects, the matrix requires concise explanations about the defects identified, thus saving on-site time during a building inspection. The full score is used to give the building an overall rating: good, fair or dilapidated. The overall findings reflect the reliability of the CSP1 matrix. Practical implications -The matrix needs to be tested on more and larger buildings to further assess its reliability. Originality/value -The paper focuses on the CSPI Matrix, a reliable and practical assessment method for building inspections performed under reasonable property conditions.

Research Highlights   The Melaka Malay Sultanate Empire is often referred as a glorious empire of various administrative, economic, and physical aspects. The Melaka Malay City in the context of this paper refers to Bandar Melaka during the reign of the Melaka Malay Sultanate, which was originally from Bukit Melaka which houses Melaka Palace to the surrounding area. Based on research, mapping of the Melaka city can be divided into three hierarchy with clear separation morphology. The first hierarchy is the Melaka harbor extending from the coast to the settlement and the city of Melaka. The second hierarchy is the administrative area of Melaka, the mosque as a center of knowledge and da'wah, bridges that connects area and as economic activities’ space for traders and residents of Melaka. The third hierarchy is the area deeper into Melaka forest that had orchard houses of Melaka’s residents, agricultural area and settlements of most Melaka residents.   ________________________________________________________________   Research Objectives   The purpose of this study is to examine and interpret the picture of the Melaka City based on the sources of Portuguese sketches and paintings which are believed as trustworthy and valid sources. This paper aims to unravel the historical records of the Portuguese in order to locate and map the Melaka municipal plan before the collapse of the Melaka Malay empire into the hands of the Portuguese. Criteria of a Malay city (Husin Mutalib, 1993) and the Islamic Township in the context of the Malay Archipelago (Tajuddin Rasdi, 2003) are the municipal definitions used in internal argument when extracting and interpreting historical records into the map of the Melaka Malay municipal plan. All significant historical records will be discussed to map Melaka’s city plan in terms of environmental, physical, socio-cultural and other related aspects. The implications of this study can be a catalyst for continuous and deeper research to know about Melaka City’s physical background and skyline during the era of the Malay Sultanate. Conclusively, the Melaka Malay City before the Portuguese’s conquest was likely to be a physical civilization and should be examined and explicitly evidenced in rebuilding the Melaka Malay civilization that had long been established.     Methodology   The method focused in this paper is through debates on sketches and drawings obtained. Then contrasted and combined with historical records relating to Melaka City or events related to the sketches and paintings. In the process of reviewing and interpreting the paperwork, various aspects and methods are used to find the most suitable matches and comparisons that accurately or almost accurately reflect the Melaka municipality. Portuguese portraits and paintings obtained from diverse sources are analyzed according to historical and architectural methods. Later, historical records of Melaka and the townships from Malay and archipelago sources, Portuguese and Dutch were the backbone of Melaka municipalities. As a reinforcement, this municipal study was revamped back to the past maps and the latest satellite maps to illustrate Melaka's area and the past with the current Melaka map (Izani, M., Bridges, A., & Razak, A., 2009).     Results   The evidence and illustration of the Melaka City (Kota Melaka) presented in this paper corresponds to the main features of a Malay and Islamic township’s concept (Tajuddin Rasdi, 2003). First, the Melaka City has walls and gates entering the city area as a defense fortress. Secondly, the location of the city center of Melaka, the administrative office, palace and mosque are in a complex and become the center of the whole city and the township. Third, the market and business area are located along the main road, on the bridge, beach and roads. Fourth, there is a separation between public areas and private areas (settlement/houses). The study also shows that the urban plan of Melaka city is not a planned city plan since the reign of the first Sultan of Melaka, but is a city that grows organically according to the current and growing needs of the Malay Empire Melaka (Yusoff Hashim, 2012). It starts at the beach and Bukit Melaka, then expanded to Kampung Upeh Village, Kampung Leleh Village, Sabak, Bertam and then extending to the foot of Mount Ledang. The development and layout features of this Melaka City are in line with its function as an entrepot city which have various facilities for administrative, commercial and economic activities, daily activities and settlement of diverse groups (Pintado. M. J. (2012).           Findings   The Melaka city's gross urban planning during Melaka Malay Sultanate era is too complicated to be presented in detail. Although only based on historical records, the municipal gross plan is seen to match and resemble the picture of paintings and sketches described in most historical records. The development, distribution of population based on historical records, and the number of activities carried out during the reign of the Melaka Malay Sultanate could be the basis of the argument to the depiction of the Melaka city (Kota Melaka) municipal plan. Indeed, further studies with scientific methods should be done in order to get more accurate details.