Search

This paper will discuss the findings of a study that has been conducted to explore the challenges of women with physical disabilities (OKU) in entrepreneurship. The scope of the exploration involves the start-up phase of the business which requires the informant to tell the experience of facing initial challenges in the business. The study was designed using a fully qualitative approach with data collection using the Focus Group Discussion method. The study location involves four Malaysian zones, namely the North, East, Central and South zones. A total of 34 physically disabled women who are traders were selected to be interviewed. The selection of informants was made purposefully by choosing the recipients of the Malaysian Social Welfare Department's launch grant. The thematic analysis carried out shows that there are three main challenges faced by informants during the phase of starting a business, namely: i- lack of access to information, ii- implications of physical disability and iii- dual role challenges. The results of the study give implications to stakeholders' efforts to improve the achievement of empowering women with physical disabilities in starting a business. In addition, this paper also discusses the scientific justification for the proposal for the construction of the Economic Empowerment Model (Entrepreneurship) for Physically Disabled Women as an output of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nation-state is a sovereign state with the people have an awareness that they have something in common. There is something in common that can be seen among those who live together in the same nationstate territory based on language, customs and old traditions that are shared. In short, a nation-state is a state entity that is free from any world concept of empire. In Malaysia, the basis of nation-state building has existed since the reign of the Malay king, while the British administrative system during the colonial period had introduced Malaya to the concept of a modern nation-state. Thus, this study aims to highlight the history of the nation-state formation in Malaysia and the challenges in order to achieve the goal. This is a qualitative academic history article and the writing used the document analysis method. In addition to that, the Social Science analysis methods are also used to give a more extensive and broad writing analysis. The results of the study found that the nation-state building in the country is an ongoing process. The process has been formed through the traditional nation-state concept that existed before the British colonial era, thus the process keep developed during the colonial period and continued after the independence based on the development of as a sovereign nation-state. Until the post-independence era, the policies that the government tried to highlight continued to empower the nation-state concept to form a nation-of-intent in the country that became the objective of all independent countries. This paper is expected to give such a broad overview of the history and challenges faced by the country in its efforts to form a nation-of-intent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurs are often faced with challenges and obstacles in managing a business. Therefore, entrepreneurs must plan, manage, and implement business strategies efficiently and effectively. The Covid-19 pandemic has gravely wounded Malaysia’s economy. Small and medium enterprises (SME’s) are experiencing challenging times that led to income decline during the Movement Control Order (PKP) period implementation by the government, which resulted in business closures. This paper will discuss the challenges and issues faced by entrepreneurs during the period of PKP implemented by the government. Qualitative data collection methods were conducted through online and face to face interviews with ten (10) entrepreneurs in the state of Kedah. Additionally, data was collected using faceto-face interviews exploring the difficulties faced by entrepreneurs during this period of time. The narrative showcases that many small and medium enterprises (SME’s) are facing challenges and difficulties caused by the destruction of the Covid-19 wave. There are five main challenges and difficulties faced by small entrepreneurs during this period of time. These challenges and difficulties are categorized into five main categories which are marketing, management, production, product, and financial. Therefore, small and medium entrepreneurs’ capability in managing their businesses during a tough time depends on their resilience, especially in marketing and financial management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This concept paper focuses on the challenges in healthcare volunteers by exploring the issues faced by Malaysia while conducting relief missions. This will help them to support and develop role plans to increase their preparedness in the field. This paper will explore the challenges faced by healthcare volunteers and their response to the COVID-19 crisis. The challenges of healthcare volunteers have tremendous increased when COVID-19 hit the world. The role of healthcare volunteers is undeniably important in the field and often said to be the backbone in humanitarian assistance especially to the government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). However, the development of healthcare volunteering activities is still insufficient and at an unsatisfactory level. There are cases which the volunteers still lack of experience, training and preparation when dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue can be seen clearly when the Malaysian government, through the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) urged for more healthcare volunteers to come forward to assist MOH against the COVID-19 pandemic issue. Healthcare volunteers tend to have the great potential to provide important and substantial support to governments and NGOs. This is hoped to be an inspiration to healthcare volunteers to help against the COVID-19 pandemic and to the social's well-being psychological and development of the community. In this concept paper, the author will explore the challenges in order to increase the preparedness of volunteers and their effectiveness in providing assistance to the community in the COVID-19 pandemic situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teachers are an important political socialization agent in assisting the process of fostering ethnic unity among students. At primary school level, teachers act as influential political socialization agents in nurturing awareness of students at their early age on the importance of ethnic unity especially in the context of a multi-ethnic society in Malaysia. However, the process of fostering ethnic unity in Malaysia generally, and at the primary school level in particular, is still faced with various challenges and obstacles. Hence, this paper discusses the barriers to the role of teachers as effective political socialization agents from the aspect of school administration practices in shaping ethnic unity at the primary school level. The data collection process for this study was carried out through focus group discussions method involving 16 Malay, Chinese and Indian teachers from National School (SK), The Chinese National Type School (SJKC) and Tamil (SJKT) in Petaling district, Selangor. The results found that there are three factors of administrative practices that hinder teachers in playing a role as agents of ethnic unity that can affect the process of fostering the values of unity in a school. First, teacher separation system throught double-session schooling system; second, grouping of teachers in teacher's office by subject; and thirdly, the focus more on syllabus than other aspects such as ethnic unity in school. This study found that these three factors contribute to the existence of ethnic gaps among teachers, but also at the same time become an obstacle to the role of teachers as effective agents of ethnic unity in schools. Hence, the school should pay attention to this issue and raise awareness of all school members on the importance of ethnic unity in the institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Employees have great responsibility towards their country and society. They were expected to contribute their resources and expertise to advance the nation and to be the example in society, to behave well, to obey the laws and regulations. In the context of marriage, Article 16, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (resolution 34/180 of 18 December 1979) provides that (a) Women is given the same right to marry(Article 16 (a));) The same right to choose freely a spouse and to enter into marriage only with their free and full consent (Article 16 (b)); and have (c) The same rights and responsibilities during marriage and divorce. Therefore every married spouses have a right to enjoy a happy family life and free from any harassment that can threaten his or her family. Infidelity to the layman is a dishonest misconduct in a family life. The study uses legal qualitative research methodology and analyzes descriptively based on data obtained from literary sources in the field of family, gender and legal research. In this write-up, the focus of the discussions are within Indonesia legal context. The act of infidelity is interpreted in the Criminal Law (KUHP) as a moral offense that violates public security. This paper examines among others; (a) Anti-harassment for Infidelity issues and its definitional perspectives in Indonesia (b) Various existing anti-harassment for infidelity legal provisions and regulation, and its application to civil servant, (c)problems faced in enforcing the relevant law and regulations and, finally, (d) to suggest ways to resolve harassment because of infidelity at workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tablighi Jamaat is a significant missionary movement towards disseminating of Islamic teaching in Malaysia. Participation of some Malay Muslim in Tablighi Jamaat in the 1970s demonstrated that Muslims were more concerned about Islam prior to that period. Hence, this paper discusses the background and challenges faced by the Tablighi Jamaat in the 1970s-1990s. Interviews were conducted with members and former members of Tabligh revealing that Islam adopted by Tabligh is relevant for Muslims in Malaysia as a manifestation of the life that is more concerned with religious values. The strength of Tablighi Jamaat in implementing the Islamic mission caused both the government and Malay society to raise issues challenging their credibility based on reports published by civil agencies and local newspapers. This study appraises the defensive response by Tablighi Jamaat to resolve the allegations placed upon them as their strategy in perpetuating their preaching mission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult children's support and financial assistance is crucial to the survival of the elderly. In this regard, civil officials must also shoulder the burden of care their elderly parents. However, they have encountered a number of difficulties in providing the sustenance to the elderly parents. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the difficulties faced by civil servants in providing sustenance to their elderly parents. Nine Malay and Muslim civil officials in grades 11 to 52 served as informants for this study, which employed a purposive sampling methodology. In-depth interviews, observations, and field notes are used to collect data. The study was conducted across multiple ministries and departments with nine informants who were government servants. According to the study's findings, there are two challenges faced by civil servants in providing sustenance for elderly parents, namely economic challenges (cost of children's education, cost livelihood and family financial planning) and social challenges (health problems, parental and family expectations and partner constraints). The conclusion of this study shows that every challenge faced has been met by civil servants, but more comprehensive intervention measures need to be refined in terms of policy, implementation and long-term assistance and support to avoid any conflict that may affect the productivity of civil servants in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kampung Mambong in Kuala Krai, Kelantan was the only place in Peninsular Malaysia that had been involved in the making of traditional earthenware cooking stove. However, its history and manufacturing perspectives have never been studied in detail in prior studies. The present study was conducted to unravel the history, manufacturing tradition and challenges faced by the potters at Kampung Mambong in preserving the production of earthenware cooking stove. This study was carried out using the qualitative method involving ethnography fieldwork and a library survey. The findings of the study showed that the production of traditional earthenware cooking stove or locally known as Tuku was inherited by Che Bunga and her ancestors at Kampung Mambong since the 1850s. Like other potteries at Kampung Mambong, Tuku is made using traditional methods without incorporating modern techniques. In the 1930s, however, the manufacturing of Tuku began to dwindle, and its entire production halted by the end of the 1940s. The lack of experts and interest among the younger generations to learn and continue the making of Tuku are two main reasons why the production diminished in the 1930s and 1940s. Apart from that, the invasion of the Japanese military in Sungai Galas in the early 1940s had indirectly caused the production to cease. Overall, this study has successfully contributed new insights into the history, manufacturing tradition and factors that caused extinction to the production of Tuku at Kampung Mambong in the late 1940s. Therefore, essential proactive steps need to be taken to revive the manufacturing of Tuku because it is one of the unique heritage crafts of the Malay potters in Sungai Galas, Kelantan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the challenges faced by Chinese traders who involved in the food production sector during the period of 1900-2000. Issues such as the 1929 economic recession and the abolition of Penang's free port status left a profound impact on the Chinese food production sector in Butterworth. This situation was exacerbated by the introduction of additional taxes and the Hartal incident in Penang in 1947. 0ne of the main problems is the extend to which each of the challenges has affected the Chinese food production sector in Butterworth. This study applies the method of historical interpretation by analyzing the primary and secondary sources available in the library, Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Penang State Branch Archives, Penang State Information Department and the Companies Commission of Malaysia Penang State Branch. The results of the study found that Chinese traders who worked in the food production sector have faced various challenges in line with changes in current political issues and internal problems. However, Chinese traders who run small-scale food production businesses are not affected by the current political situation. All the issues that occurred before and after independence were not a stumbling block for them to continue their business. Even the various political issues that occurred during the period did not leave a big impact on the small-scale Chinese food production business because the capital used to run the business was low. Therefore, this study is particularly important to understand the political issues and challenges that occurred as well as the impact on Chinese business during that period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School co-operatives in Malaysia have been using computerized accounting software named SEKKOP123 - a system which has reached about the age of ten years. Recently the issue of the less-than-successful use of the software have been raised. To address this issue, this study aims to answer the following questions: What were the challenges arising from the implementation of accounting software in school co-operatives? How did the parties responsible for its use help to address those challenges? In general the qualitative methodology was employed, using case studies and interviews. A set of interview questions were prepared and interviews were conducted on selected software users and stakeholders from schools co-operatives. A total of 10 officers were interviewed, comprising of co-operative school treasurers, officers at SEKKOP Unit and an auditor at Malaysian Co-operative Commission. The results showed that the aspects of the model used by DeLone and McLean such as system quality, information quality and service quality have direct impact on the level of usage of the software. Two additional aspects; environmental and individual aspects, were also found to have effect on software application. In this study, aspect of individuals is highly related with other aspects, showing the existence of a dynamic relationship between them. Practical implication from the study is the stress on the importance for stakeholders to plan for mechanisms that would address the conflict of teachers' core responsibilities and their cooperative management tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment process of ASEAN Community has been long criticized by many scholars as too elitist and lacks serious efforts from policy makers to obtain public opinion to the regionalism initiatives. This article discusses the perception among public in Inodnesia, Malaysia and Singapore on nine issues challenging the establishment of ASEAN Community both in the internal condition of the ASEAN member states and also between the ten countries of ASEAN. Among the challenges are disparity in education quality; lack of economic competitiveness, heavy dependency on developed countries; economic disparity; differences in legal and political systems; limited mastery and creation of technology; poverty in the region; internal conflicts and terrorism; and ethnic and religious diversity in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]