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.

Variation orders are a frequent occurrence in the construction phase of Malaysian building projects. Increased construction time and costs are inevitable when variation orders appear. The aim of the current research is to identify the effectiveness of a "cost and time model" in controlling variation orders during the construction of residential projects in Malaysia. The model was derived from a literature review, which also examined how case studies and data have been utilised to identify the causes and effects of variation orders. These were analysed using multiple linear regression analysis. Three independent variables were identified as significant positive causes, while two dependent variables were determined to be the effects of a variation order. The independent variables signify the owner’s changes to the scope of work, construction materials and procedures, as well as their modifications to the specifications. The cost and duration of the project is the dependent variables. The model developed was found to be suitable in practice and the authors propose its application in the early stages of residential construction projects to control the occurrence of variation orders in such projects in Malaysia.

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.

The possibility is the uncertainty of the probability of the occurrence of an activity or event that can have a positive or negative effect is a risk. Risks to construction projects can result in losses in terms of cost and time for the construction projects involved. The impact of this risk involves the performance and loss of an organization such as housing developers, contractors or losses to certain individuals such as home buyers. The COVID-19 pandemic that has hit around the world has also had a negative impact on construction projects in Malaysia. The effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic have indirectly caused housing construction projects to be abandoned and also not to be completed within the stipulated time as in the contract. This results in the buyers not being able to occupy their homes according to the time period that has been signed in the sale and purchase agreement with the developer. This research aims to look at the risks in the management of abandoned housing projects in Malaysia and the existing risk management guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic era in Malaysia. The scope of this study is based on a literature review, current news of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a document-based review of project management guidelines and project risk management guidelines that have been issued by government departments. This study identifies two main types of risks in the management of housing construction projects, namely from the internal and external aspects. Internal risk involves five matters relating to clients, consultants, main contractors, subcontractors and distributors of building materials. Meanwhile, risks from external aspects involve the physical, economic, political, legal and site context. Risk management strategies are used for housing construction projects for risk management to prevent the occurrence of abandoned housing projects such as retain, reduce, relocate and avoid. A review of the literature found that risk management is important for determining, evaluating and prioritizing risks by monitoring, controlling, and using proper resource management in the current economic situation in order to reduce the likelihood of adverse events and maximize project achievement. In addition, this study concludes that risk management is necessary in addressing the problem of abandoned projects during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The traditional village is one of the urban design typologies where its survival depends on its success in attracting people. The number of people visiting an area can be considered as one of the factors used in assessing the overall success of a place. However, due to rapid urbanisation, the unique character of traditional villages in urban areas or cities can be seen as outdated or considered as not worth preserving. Thus, this paper aims to identify the buildings within a village that can create a character for the area, and which act as important physical elements that contribute towards the success of a traditional village in an urban setting. This case study was conducted in Kampong Bharu, Kuala Lumpur, and a mixedmethod approach was used involving personal observations, in-depth interviews, and questionnaires with 330 respondents. The result revealed that buildings, as a physical element, play an essential role in attracting people to Kampong Bharu. Thus, this element should be considered for preservation in any regeneration programme targeted at existing traditional villages which are located in urban settings.