Amid the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2020, educational platforms have been forced to change and adapt from conventional physical learning to virtual learning. Nearly all higher learning institutions worldwide are forced to follow the new educational setting through virtual platforms. Sabah is one of the poorest states in Malaysia with the poorest infrastructure, with the technology and communication facilities in the state remaining inept. With the changes in virtual platforms in all higher education institutions in Malaysia, higher learning institutions in Sabah are expected to follow the lead, despite the state lagging in its development. This has certainly impacted the overall productivity and performance of students in Sabah. Therefore, this study aims to explore the challenges of the implementation of virtual learning among students in Sabah. More specifically, this study seeks to identify vulnerable groups among students based on their geographical location. To achieve the objective of this study, a survey has been conducted on a total of 1,371 students in both private and public higher learning institutions in Sabah. The sample selection for this study was determined using a purposive sampling technique. Based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA), it was found that there are five challenges in virtual learning faced by students in higher learning institutions in Sabah. These are the unconducive learning environment (var(X) = 20.12%), the deterioration of physical health (var(X) = 13.40%), the decline of mental health (var(X) = 12.10%), the limited educational facilities (var(X) = 10.14%) and social isolation (var(X) = 7.47%). The K-Means Clustering analysis found that there are six student clusters in Sabah (Cluster A, B, C, D, E & F), each of which faces different challenges in participating in virtual learning. Based on the assessment of location, almost half of the total number of districts in Sabah are dominated by students from Cluster A (9 districts) and Cluster B (4 districts). More worryingly, both Cluster A and Cluster B are classified as highly vulnerable groups in relation to the implementation of virtual learning. The results of this study can be used by the local authorities and policymakers in Malaysia to improve the implementation of virtual learning in Sabah so that the education system can be more effective and systematic. Additionally, the improvement and empowerment of the learning environment are crucial to ensuring education is accessible and inclusive for all societies, in line with the fourth of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-4).

The World Health Organization has reported numerous fatalities, primarily among urban residents, during El Niño events. This study employed remote sensing technology to investigate the influence of the El Niño Southern Oscillation on temperature. The objective was to analyze the effect of ENSO on temperature across different land cover types using Landsat satellite data. Pre-processing was applied to the satellite data before converting numerical values into surface temperatures. The findings revealed that RS technology effectively captured the impact of varying ENSO intensity levels on surface temperatures. ENSO strength influenced temperature variations in the study areas. During El Niño events, urban areas exhibited higher land surface temperatures compared to vegetation, wetlands, and water bodies, a pattern consistent during La Niña. Specifically, there was a 2.5 °C temperature increase in the urban land cover area during El Niño events between 2016 and 1997. Water bodies, vegetation, and wetlands experienced respective temperature increases of 0.17 °C, 0.17 °C, and +0.7 °C during ONI value 1 events between 2016 and 1997. These findings are crucial for local authorities, providing spatial information on hot spots to enhance vigilance against potential El Niño temperatures.

Tourism able to greatly assist in developing economy as it also contributes to other sectors. One of the most important tools in promoting tourism is tourism map. Tourism mapping is important to provide guidance to tourists in identifying and finding the best tourism spots in the area. However, most tourism maps were not produced using the correct concept and the right tools. The effect of this would lead to lacking of information or misleading to the tourist. This paper discusses, based on literatures, the concepts of creating a tourism map through cartography, and introduces the idea of using GIS technology as one of the methods to produce tourism map effectively and efficiently.

Climate change presents significant problems to Malaysia, impacting its ecology and socio-economic structure through modified precipitation patterns, heightened flooding, coastal erosion, and agricultural susceptibility. This review methodically evaluates the utilization of remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GISs) in comprehending these effects, employing a systematic approach following the PRISMA protocol. Through the examination of peer-reviewed papers from 2010 to 2024, we underscore the progress in remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) technologies and their contribution to improving the spatial analysis of climate change impacts. Our research indicates considerable regional variations in the effects of climate change, highlighting the need for customized adaptation and mitigation efforts. The research Illustrates how advancements In remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GISs) have enhanced forecasting skills and real-time surveillance, offering essential insights into ecosystem susceptibilities and socio-economic threats. This analysis underscores the necessity for cohesive policy strategies that leverage remote sensing and geographic information system insights to tackle the complex difficulties posed by climate change in Malaysia while pushing for additional research on the amalgamation of artificial intelligence and big data analytics to bolster climate resilience.