Sains Malaysiana 50(3)(2021): 869-878

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2021-5003-27

Analisis Status Alam Sekitar semasa Tempoh Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan Akibat Pandemik COVID-19 di Malaysia

(Analysis of Environmental Status during the Movement Control Order Period due to COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia)

JEFFREY LAWRENCE D'SILVA*, HALIZA ABDUL RAHMAN & DZUHAILMI DAHALAN

Institute for Social Science Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Received: 2 May 2020/Accepted: 21 August 2020

ABSTRAK

Alam sekitar adalah antara agenda utama ke arah mencapai pembangunan mampan dalam sesebuah negara. Sungguhpun isu ini penting, namun bilangan kajian yang berkaitan dengan status alam sekitar mengikut pandangan masyarakat masih berkurangan dalam konteks Malaysia. Untuk mengatasi masalah ini, matlamat utama kajian ini adalah untuk mengkaji status alam sekitar khasnya semasa tempoh perintah kawalan pergerakan akibat pandemik COVID-19 dan mengenal pasti faktor yang boleh mempengaruhi status alam sekitar di Malaysia. Kajian ini berbentuk kuantitatif dengan pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui survei dalam talian dengan jumlah responden seramai 507. Hasil kajian menunjukkan status alam sekitar bertambah baik semasa tempoh perintah kawalan pergerakan akibat pandemik COVID-19 disebabkan penggunaan bahan api fosil dan bilangan kenderaan di jalan raya telah berkurangan. Sementara itu, perkara yang perlu diberi perhatian adalah mengenai keadaan sungai dan pengurusan sisa klinikal oleh Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan. Kajian ini mencadangkan tiga perkara yang boleh dilaksanakan untuk kelestarian alam sekitar iaitu untuk meneliti bidang keutamaan ekonomi negara, menggalakkan penggunaan pengangkutan awam dan pengurusan sisa klinikal yang lebih cekap.

Kata kunci: COVID-19; masyarakat; perintah kawalan pergerakan; status alam sekitar

ABSTRACT

The environment is one of the main agenda towards achieving sustainable development in a country. Although this issue is important, the number of studies related to environmental status based on public opinion is still lacking in the Malaysian context. To address this issue, the main aim of this study was to investigate the environmental status especially during the movement control order period due to COVID-19 pandemic and identify factors that may affect environmental status in Malaysia. This is a quantitative study and the data were collected through online survey and the number of respondents was 507. The findings showed that the environmental status improved during the movement control order period due to COVID-19 pandemic since the usage of fossil fuel and the number of vehicles on the road decreased. Meanwhile, more attention should be placed on the condition of the rivers, and the management of clinical waste by the Local Authority. The study proposes three things that can be done for environmental sustainability, namely, to examine areas of national economic priorities, promote usage of public transport, and more efficient clinical waste management.

Keywords: Community; COVID-19; environmental status; movement control order

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*Corresponding author; email: jld@upm.edu.my