Factors affecting environmental awareness among public in Seremban / Meor Amsyar Najmi Meor Aris and Muhammad Danial Ikmal Abd Rahman

The environment has always been in a state of concern especially after the first Industrial Revolution to this day. The recent flash floods in several states and districts in Malaysia has raised some questions about environmental awareness among the public. Due to that, this question is not a new thing, but it is voiced every time when an environmental incident occurs. Rapid modernization and development in building a better quality of life leads to environmental degradation which contributes to this problematic issue. The study was conducted in Seremban to reveal knowledge, attitudes and government policy and regulations affecting the environmental awareness among the public. The online survey employed a quantitative approach by using questionnaires involving 200 respondents (n=200). This research is intended to examine the level of environmental awareness; the effect of the knowledge of the people, attitude towards environment and government policy and regulations towards environmental awareness; the most significant factor affecting environmental awareness. The research findings indicate that the level of environmental awareness among the public in Seremban is at a satisfactory level. Based on the knowledge of the people, there is a positive influence toward the level of environmental awareness among the public in Seremban. In terms of attitudes towards the environment, there is a positive influence toward the level of environmental awareness among the public in Seremban. For the government policy and regulations, there is also a positive influence toward the level of environmental awareness among the public in Seremban. Among these three factors, the attitude toward the environment has been the most significant factor that can affect environmental awareness among the public in Seremban compared with the knowledge of people and government policy and regulations. Thus, the authorities should focus more towards environmental education and policy in protecting the environment.