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Many nations across the globe have incorporated carbon neutrality into their national agendas to see a more sustainable world. The basic sustainable journey is to find the equilibrium between the people, the environment and the economy. By conceptualizing inclusive carbon-neutral electrification, countries may achieve their aspiration at both the macro and micro levels. Macro national energy transition policies emphasized centralized technological shifts for grid systems and in many cases neglected rural communities. Some argued that Borneo's disparity in socioeconomic status was due to a lack of electrification. Hence, this paper explored the decentralized community-based electrification potential through a micro hydropower initiative. Such technologies encourage watershed management and are closely related to the Tagal communities' heritage. The paper explored the complex problem with the multihelix approach to examine each actor's aspirations and concerns. Actors underwent a series of interviews based on five key aspects of sustainable rural electrification. By integrating multicriteria analysis (MCA), the qualitative research data were analyzed to find gaps for implementation. The findings supported the introduction of a new actor to best foster inclusive watershed management through micro hydropower electrification in Sabah, Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on reliable indices, suitable bio-indicators, taxonomic level, frequency of measurements, and replications on benthic macroinvertebrates remains scarce in Malaysia. In addition, no review study was conducted using bibliometric analysis related to this discipline. Thus, this review aimed at gap and bibliometric analysis of publications on benthic macroinvertebrates as potential biological indicators. Sixty-six relevant scientific research papers from 2011 to 2022 were selected from the different databases. Then, descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed to assess the most reliable potential bio-indicators for river assessment and monitoring. Visualized statistics regarding bibliographic coupling analysis of authors, journal proceedings, and organizations were analyzed. The findings revealed that publications on invertebrates had no significant relationship in the last ten years (r = 0.241; p > 0.05). Most publications on macroinvertebrates in Malaysian rivers were found in the Scopus database (53.57%). Therefore, research articles must be published in journals included in the Journal Citation Report (JCR) to improve their quality further. Besides, benthic macroinvertebrates are commonly identified only up to the family level (47%) due to incomplete tropical benthic macroinvertebrates identification keys. As such, using environmental DNA methods with the power of next-generation sequencing has come in handy in bio-indicator species identification. Among the potential bio-indicators found in Malaysian rivers are Chironomidae (9.11%), Baetidae (8.87%), and Hydropsychidae (8.62%). Based on the approaches utilized in analyzing benthic macroinvertebrates as bio-indicators, in-depth research such as bioassay and toxicology tests is necessary to realize the potential bio-indicators fully. Many studies focused on recreational rivers in Peninsular Malaysia. Therefore, research studies would be expanded to urban rivers and rivers in Sabah and Sarawak. Also, to overcome the limitation of the single biotic index, developing a multimetric index to evaluate the water quality by selecting many river basins is essential. Bibliographic analysis showed that the Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, made the greatest total link strength. The Serangga Journal published the highest number of research articles. Finally, utilizing advanced technologies is recommended to address Malaysia's lack of potential bio-indicator studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to critically analyse the representation of Syrian asylum seekers in the Turkish print media. Taking into consideration their circulation numbers, ownership and political stance, five national newspapers were examined (Hürriyet, Posta, Sabah, Sözcü and Zaman). The data covers all news reports, columns and op-eds relating to Syrian asylum seekers, published between 15 March 2011 and 31 December 2015. Based on this time sample, the representation of Syrian asylum seekers in the Turkish press was first analysed by content analysis and then by employing critical discourse analysis, drawing on the discourse-historical approach of the Vienna School. The article aims to reveal the most common discursive strategies of representing Syrian asylum seekers in the Turkish press. The overall data suggest that Turkish newspapers instrumentalized Syrian asylum seekers while positioning their editorial stance in political affairs. According to the findings, the Turkish print media most commonly represent Syrian asylum seekers with the words 'Mülteci' (refugee) at 53.81 per cent and 'Sığınmacı' (asylum seeker) at 37.44 per cent. When the labels are considered, it was seen that the Turkish press refers to ethnic identities more than religious or sectarian characteristics. Evaluating all of the quantitative and qualitative data, the article suggests that the pro-government titles deomonstrate more friendly coverage for Syrian asylum seekers. Among the papers in the sample, Sözcü disassociates itself with a clear anti-Syrian approach. Other papers have a mostly positive tone, especially if the issue is assessed in a humanitarian aspect. However, the overall positive tone should not be evaluated without the reality of 'political parallelism' in the Turkish media atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Komburongo is a ritual tool used by the Kadazan Dusun people in Sabah, Malaysia. Besides the komburongo rhizome, these tools feature various decorations, including wooden fruits, animal fangs, animal horns, beads, shells, small bells, coins, fabric or red thread, and small bottles. This paper examines the aesthetic values of the komburongo ritual tool and how its decorative materials relate to the beliefs of the Kadazan Dusun. The central research question is whether the decorative materials of the komburongo ritual tool are believed to possess mystical powers. This fieldbased study gathered qualitative data through in-depth and focus group interviews with knowledgeable informants from Kadazan Dusun vernacular settlements in Membakut, Tuaran, Kota Belud, Ranau, Kota Marudu, and Pitas in Sabah. Additional data came from observing different komburongo ritual tools and reviewing related secondary published materials. The analysis revealed that while some decorative materials are believed to have mystical powers, others do not. In addition to enhancing the tool as a visually appealing art piece based on the makers' creativity, some materials are rooted in Kadazan Dusun beliefs that they possess spiritual power, thereby augmenting the mystical significance of the komburongo ritual tool. Conversely, other materials serve solely to beautify the tool. This study underscores the importance of decorations both as a visual art form and in reflecting the ancestral beliefs of the Kadazan Dusun. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bahasa Kadazandusun or BKD is the sole indigenous language offered in schools in Sabah, initially under the Pupils' Own Language (POL) program based on the Education Act 1966. Different reactions towards BKD come from various concerned stakeholders i.e., ethnic societies, cultural bodies, and political organizations within the Kadazan and Dusun Orang Asal communities that make up almost 30% of the population of Sabah. Views on BKD range from critical and hardline positions to support and tolerance. Differing opinions can be read in the media due to the press statements by organizations or individuals reported in the news. However, one group whose opinions are rarely heard within the debates is the Orang Asal parents whose children are BKD learners at schools. This paper extracts findings from a larger study conducted to investigate the views and perspectives of stakeholders on the teaching and learning of the Kadazandusun language. In particular, this paper discusses relevant extracts from focus group discussions specifically with parents (n = 294) from five districts (Tambunan, Keningau, Kudat, Kota Marudu, and Tuaran). The study found that Orang Asal parents who are non-Kadazan or non-Dusun speakers are supportive of the BKD's position and role as the sole indigenous language option taught in the national education system while recognizing that they want their indigenous languages to be transmitted to their younger generation, the parents also strongly encourage for inclusion of other ethnic languages in the system, formally or informally. This study found that the acceptance and tolerance shown by the parents, though themselves not speakers of Kadazandusun, are consistent with the sense of community present within indigenous communities in Sabah. The support given by non-Kadazandusun speakers to the standard language points to existing social harmony in a multicultural and multilingual society in Sabah. This paper also discusses at length the history behind the establishment of BKD and language standardization ideology within indigenous communities' context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The historical similarities between Malaysia and Indonesia, apparent in geographical proximity and social-cultural dimensions, significantly influence perspectives and discourse on their bilateral relations. Despite frequent assertions of shared kinship and racial ties, relations between Malaysia and Indonesia are consistently characterised by rivalry, marked by numerous disagreements and challenges. This paper posits that conflict is a minor element in the broader discourse of relations, emphasising the importance of cooperation due to the complex interdependence between these two countries. Using Sabah as a case study, this paper highlights the significance of interdependence between Malaysia and Indonesia, delving into pivotal issues that shape the dynamics of their bilateral relationship. It focuses on several issues such as the population and kinship ties, the reliance of the Sabah economic sector on the Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI), consumer goods and everyday necessities, interdependence in the security sector, and finally haze and environmental pollutions to outline the dynamics of interdependence between Sabah (Malaysia) and Indonesia. All facets describing these relations are emphasised since they demonstrate that these two countries are interdependent and share common interests in nearly all sectors. This paper contends that despite facing various contentious issues and problems, the interdependence that occurs contributes to a harmonious relationship and is able to avoid conflict between the two countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After World War II, Japan became a major recipient of foreign aid from the USA. As Japan's economy improved in the 1960s, it played a significant role as a global aid donor in world politics through its Official Development Assistance (ODA). This commitment continued into the 1990s when Japan, as one of the leading proponents of the concept of human security, began providing humanitarian aid to more countries across the globe. To better understand the notion of human security in international politics, this paper examines Japan's endorsement of the concept in its foreign policy strategy. This paper provides an overview and critical assessment of Japan's Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP) in the state of Sabah in East Malaysia from 2000 to 2021. This paper argues that different contexts and circumstances in the state of Sabah require further study, especially for understanding Japan's focus and concern in the area of basic human security needs, as enshrined in the GGP philosophy. Despite Japan's GGP objective as part of its foreign policy to promote human development, the execution of its foreign aid in Sabah does have issues. This paper concludes that the implementation of Japan's GGP necessitates greater inclusion, particularly for other vulnerable groups and underdeveloped areas in Sabah. Despite Japan's GGP objective as part of its foreign policy to promote human development, the execution of its foreign aid in Sabah does have issues. This paper concludes that the implementation of Japan's GGP necessitates greater inclusion, particularly for other vulnerable groups and underdeveloped areas in Sabah. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The colonialist-created administration in North Borneo is a reality that has altered the native people's mindset and way of life while also providing them with much-needed exposure to the value of education. This paper attempts to explain the changes that occurred to and within the Brunei Malay community in the advent of modern education from 1881 to 1963 and how continued opportunities and exposure by colonialists have finally persuaded their minds to accept Western-style formal education. The objective of this writing is to analyse their educational involvement in colonial education through three time periods, namely the administration of the British North Borneo Company (BNBC), the Japanese Occupation, and the British Colonial Administration. This study used the methodology of historical studies by conducting analysis on primary sources such as C.O. 874/235, C.O. 874/242, NBCA 73 Native Chief's Advisory Council Meetings, the British North Borneo Administration Report, the British North Borneo Annual Report, and interviews with five informants among the Brunei Malay community who were involved in colonial education. The study also found that the transition of Brunei's Malay society to modern education occurred slowly compared to other ethnic groups. This happened because the colonists were selective in their efforts to provide early education opportunities to the locals, making education accessible only to aristocrats who had influence and were interested in serving the colonists. As a result, the Brunei Malay community has had trouble competing with other more educated ethnic groups, especially in maintaining their influence, role, and position after the independence of Sabah. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Destination image influences tourist motivation and destination choice which is experiencing challenges in the age of the Internet. User Generated Content on the internet provides alternatives to the projected official image of a destination. This paper presents the research design of an adapted Q-Methodology study to understand the online destination image of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo from the perspective of different generations of potential tourists from China. Q-Methodology is a systematic method to extract participants’ subjective perceptions and is referred to as a bridge between qualitative and quantitative research traditions. Current literature is replete with destination attributes rooted in Western perspectives, but the Asian perspective remains understudied. The QMethodology process is explained including the generation of a concourse from two image sources to denote both perceived images and projected images of Sabah to understand the attributes of its online destination image. The concourse consisted of 266 photographs generated from the most popular travelogue website in China www.mafengwo.cn where images are posted and shared by tourists themselves, and also from ‘Signature Attractions’ listed on the Sabah Tourism Board website. Next, the Q-set is derived from the concourse, a P-set is recruited to conduct the Q-sort, a ranking order of the Q-set of 33 images. A purposive sample of 24 participants or P-set will be selected (potential outbound tourists in China) consisting of six persons from four different generations: post-1950s/post-1960s, post-1970s, post-1980s, and post-1990s. Each P-set will conduct a Q-sort of the Q-set (images) to produce the key attributes for Sabah’s online destination image rooted in the perceptions of four different generational groups. As a final step to enhance the credibility of findings, the P-set will participate in a focus group discussion. This paper only delineates the research design for data collection in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable tourism policies in rural destinations are often complex. Governments strive to ensure that the objectives of sustainable tourism are met through various strata of agencies. As a result, institutional fragmentation has become the undesirable outcome of this approach. The policy Delphi technique was employed in this study to align decision-making divergence between local, state and federal governments for sustainable tourism aspirations in Sabah, Malaysia. The results reveal vastly divergent perspectives from actors representing the triple-tier governmental system. The findings indicate that the curtailment of the policy cycle is due to knowledge gaps coupled with on-site complexities. The paper suggests that the administration of policies could be based on a system that allows timely rectification, indicating the need for a dynamic policy cycle for multi-stage amendments when on-site complexities are identified. The perspective of this paper is that of the policy-analyst, proposing an analytical network policy process that allows timely rectification of policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The land surface of Malaysia mostly constitutes forest cover. For decades, forest fires have been one of the nation's most concerning environmental issues. With the advent of machine learning, many studies have been conducted to resolve forest fire issues. However, the findings and results have been very case-specific. Most experiments have focused on particular regions with independent methodology settings, which has hindered the ability of others to reproduce works. Another major challenge is lack of benchmark datasets in this domain, which has made benchmark comparisons almost impossible to conduct. To our best knowledge, no comprehensive review and analysis have been performed to streamline the research direction for forest fires in Malaysia. Hence, this paper was aimed to review all works aimed to combat forest fire issues in Malaysia from 1989 to 2021. With the proliferation of publicly accessible satellite data in recent years, a new direction of utilising big data platforms has been postulated. The merit of this approach is that the methodology and experiments can be reproduced. Thus, it is strongly believed that the findings and analysis shown in this paper will be useful as a baseline to propagate research in this domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores the meaning, motivation, and extent of Responsible Tourism Practices (RTPs) at Lower Kinabatangan; a premier ecotourism destination in Malaysia. Data were collected through 3 focus group interview sessions with 36 respondents consisting of tour operators, lodgers and homestay operators. Findings reveal that RTP is encapsulated in the sustainable tourism concept and related to the three sustainable pillars (environment, economic and social); and reflect less on responsible act and behaviour. Key themes that emerged include protection, conservation, and preservation; sustainability by minimising negative impacts on the environment, economy, and society; respecting rules and safety measures; creating jobs for locals and increasing awareness on local food, culture, and community; provision of quality tourism services; using solar power as an alternative energy source and educating staff. RTP strongly emphasises on the environment (including nature, and wildlife) and the sustainability of natural resources. Additionally, RT practices reduce negative impacts on the environment through conservation, preservation and protection. The social aspects of RT include collaboration with Sabah Wildlife Department, community support, control, and guidelines. Greater consideration is given to the environmental aspect, compared to the economic and social aspects; ethics, integrity, governance, and responsible behaviour are also not encompassed in RT. The paper provides an insightful understanding of the meaning and practices of RT from the perspective of tourism players and serves as useful baseline information to develop a manual for RTP. Further, the findings contribute to responsible tourism literature. The paper also suggests guiding principles for Economic, Social and Environmental Responsibility to make Lower Kinabatangan an ecotourism destination where wildlife and local people can co-exist with sustainable tourism businesses. Sound guidelines for RT are essential to ensure the sustainable development and growth of Lower Kinabatangan. Finally, more research and intervention programs are recommended to enhance RTPs for a balanced development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless transmissions at more than 10GHz can experience signal fading caused by the presence of hydrometeor particles in the atmosphere. Among these hydrometeors, rain is the largest contributor to the fading mechanism. Rain fade can be predicted or calculated using rain rate measurements. With climate change affecting the world due to the rise of carbon dioxide in the air, it is expected to affect the distribution of rainfall, which ultimately affects rain fade. This paper investigates the effects of climate change on rain rate distribution in Malaysia. Ten years of Hydro-Estimator data containing rainfall rates in Peninsular Malaysia and the Sabah and Sarawak region from 2011 to 2020 were collected and analyzed. Using the linear regression method, a small increment of rain rate distribution at 0.01% annual probability was detected for all regions, indicating a climate change effect on the rain rate distribution. For Peninsular Malaysia, the rate was 0.2356mm/hr per year while for the Sabah and Sarawak region, it was 0.4046mm/hr per year. An increase in the rain rate would increase the rain fade, causing signal losses and distortions in high-frequency wireless communication signals. The evaluation of climate change effects on the rain rate and rain fade distributions can help in developing a long-term prediction of the signal performance in 5G systems and high-frequency radio link frequencies due to hydrometeors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to study the roles and challenges of Tamu as a medium of cultural identity preservation among Sabah ethnic groups in the era of industrial revolution 4.0 by focusing on the commercialisation of Kadazandusun's traditional foods tuhau and bambangan. Thus, the objectives of this paper are to examine the existing and future functions of Tamu as well as to study the impact of industrial revolution 4.0 and the advancement of information technology on the role of Tamu in the commercialisation of traditional foods and preservation of cultural identity among Kadazandusun people. Both qualitative and quantitative data are gathered through participant observation, interviews, and surveys. The respondents and informants consist of Kadazandusun traditional foods retailers and consumers at various Tamus in Sabah. The findings show that the role of Tamu institution is still pertinent in commercialising traditional foods and preserving the cultural identity of the Kadazandusun people, particularly in the rural areas. At certain localities, such as those adjacent to the city and tourist attractions, Tamu still plays an essential role in commercialising traditional foods, even though some retailers have already utilised various types of social media to promote and expand their sales, specifically those who are operating as part-timers. Media and internet accessibility has been identified as contributing factors towards the change in the marketing approach. Other contributing factors include time and budget constraints and business location. Hence, Tamu is still relevant and significant in the context of commercialising traditional foods and preserving cultural identity among the Kadazandusun people in Sabah in the era of the digital revolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide some insights on current industry internship practices and the perceptions of students during their internship experience. This paper also highlights some issues pertaining to internship from the students' and the industry's perspective Design/methodology/approach: The paper utilises qualitative research methodology using in-depth interviews. Findings: The sources of conflict arising between the two parties need to be addressed carefully so as to create a win–win situation. The paper offers some suggestions for higher education institutions as to how to establish better guidelines for student internships as well as for industry operators.. Originality/value: Internship, industrial training, practical training or work-integrated learning refers to the involvement of students, institutions and colleges of higher learning in the industry. Internship provides an opportunity for students to experience first-hand, a work-related learning process. Given this, the involvement of industry in accepting students onto well-designed internship programmes is very much needed, so as to ensure the completion of a balanced period of study for a career in hospitality and tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cases of COVID-19 in Malaysia recorded a significant spike after the Sabah State Election, which was held on 26 September 2020. This paper aims to examine news reporting strategies before, during, and after the Sabah Election Day in Malaysia. Related articles from two online local newspapers (one mainstream and one alternative) are compiled into a corpus for this purpose and compared against each other. Using the corpus-assisted discourse approach, #LancsBox6.0 was used to compare statistically significant keywords and their collocates to analyse differences in the way the election was portrayed in both media channels. Findings revealed that both newspapers described news in relation to the number of COVID-19 cases in proximity to reporting of the state election. Arguably, reporting of events is (slightly) different and therefore has repercussions on the way news is represented in mainstream and alternative media. For example, although both online sources reported the significance of the Sabah state election to the rise in COVID-19 cases in Malaysia, The Star used more explicit referencing (e.g., is from Sabah; cases in Sabah) and had a more speculative type of reporting as some of the collocations were found to be from politicians' verbatim that indicated their weak arguments while Malaysiakini provided reports that proved the elections to have had a spill-over effect on the total number of COVID-19 cases in Malaysia. Collocation networks also proved to show differences in the way words are used in language and discourse and can be further explored in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Producing effective and high-quality academic writing, such as argumentative writing, requires more than regular writing ability; it demands analytical writing that can increase argumentation skills and promote higher cognitive skills. This study was conducted to address a problem that exists within the Malaysian education setting where English-as-a-second language (ESL) learners face difficulties in presenting and expanding their ideas and viewpoints convincingly, lack of knowledge of the subject matter and inadequate language competence. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the effect of analytic text-based writing strategies on the students' argumentative performance, proposing a conceptual framework that integrates the approach of text-based instruction and the writing model by Hyland (2003) that emphasises the genre approach of teaching writing. Utilising a mixed-method sequential explanatory research design, the current research employed a quasi-experiment with a convenient sampling to collect the quantitative data from two groups of Form-Six students at a public school in Sabah, Malaysia. The experimental group received a 12-week intervention programme, while the control group continued with their regular classroom practices. A pre-test and a post-test were conducted for both groups before and after the intervention, followed by a semi-structured interview that was carried out with a focus group to elicit students' responses about their learning experiences. The paired-sample t-test indicated that the student's writing performance significantly improved from the pre-test (30.27) to the post-test (40.27) with a large effect size (.77). On the other hand, four themes were derived from the students' responses as the following: an efficient way of distinguishing important information, an effective way of organising ideas, useful guide for argumentative essay and enriching students' knowledge. This research recommends more comprehensive explorations of text-based analytic writing to expose its' dynamic effect on students' writing advancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discussions in relation to the historical sphere in the North Borneo and Malay domain are still lacking without dealing with the aspect of piracy. In contrast to the piracy in the west, the history of piracy in this region is not only instigated by the economic and political purposes of the rulers, but also overshadowed by the sociocultural influences of the rulers, nobles, and society at that time. The Iranun, Balangingi, Bajau and Dayak Laut tribes have made a name for themselves in the history of piracy in North Borneo and the islands of Southeast Asia when they emerged as sea pirates as well as slave head-hunters who struck terror into the western sailors, traders, and administrators that they are deemed as pirates as well as criminals by the British in Malaya and North Borneo, the Spaniards in the Philippines, and the Dutch in Indonesia. In short, this paper aims to deal with the history of piracy in Tungku, North Borneo, a place that used to be the last base and centre of piracy and slave hunting activities during the Sultanate of Sulu era before it has ceased to operate during the time of the British North Borneo Company ruling North Borneo in their era administration (BNBC). This article is qualitative and historically themed. Materials and research resources were obtained from the National Archives of Malaysia, National Archives of Sabah, Sabah State Public Library and others This article towards the reconstruction of the history of piracy in North Borneo from the domain of Malay history, besides solely looking at the western perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the significance of a seismic hazard curve plot as a dynamic parameter in estimating earthquake-resistant structures. Various cases of structural damages in Malaysia are due to underestimating earthquake loadings since mostly buildings were designed without seismic loads. Sabah is classified as having low to moderate seismic activity due to a few active fault lines. Background point, area, and line sources are the three tectonic features that have impacted Sabah. Data on earthquakes from 1900 to 2021 have been collected by a number of earthquake data centers. The seismicity is based on a list of historical seismicities in the area, which stretches from latitudes 4 °S to 8 °N and longitudes 115 °E to 120 °E. The goal of this research is to develop a seismic hazard curve based on a conventional probabilistic seismic hazard analysis being examined for the maximum peak ground acceleration at 10% probability of exceedance as published in MSEN1998-1:2015. This study extended to 5% and 2% probability of exceedance combined with the seismic hazard curve by using Ranau as a case study. To calculate the expected ground motion recurrence, such as peak ground acceleration at the site, earthquake recurrence models were combined with selected ground motion models. A logic tree structure was used to combine simple quantities such as maximum magnitudes and the chosen ground motion models to describe epistemic uncertainty. The result demonstrates that peak ground acceleration values at the bedrock were estimated to be 0.16, 0.21, and 0.28 g of the total seismic hazard curve at 10%, 5%, and 2% PE in a 50-year return period, respectively. The seismic hazard study at a Ranau site basically depends on the seismicity of a region and the consequences of failure in the past. Thus, the results can be used as a basis for benchmarking design or evaluation decisions and for designing remedial measures for Sabah constructions to minimize structural failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants containing medicinal and therapeutical properties have been utilized by societies around the world as their primary healthcare needs. Numbers of plants with pharmacological/medicinal benefits such as anticancer, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and antiviral have been evaluated in research studies concerning the crude plant extracts and their phytochemical constituents. However, the traditional knowledge in Sabah, Malaysia is still under-documented despite the fact that it is the home for many different species of flora. Owing to the great biodiversity of different species of the medicinal plants in Sabah, a wide range of phytochemical compounds could be investigated and determined based on the traditional practices of the ethnicities there. The present review paper attempts to discuss the applications of these plants in Sabah in terms of Traditional and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (T&CAM) practices by five ethnicities namely, Kadazan/Dusun, Bajau, Murut, Lundayeh, and Rungus along with its advancements in scientific research to understand its effectiveness in treating intended illness or injuries with proper acknowledgement of the involved communities. Additionally, the economic aspects regarding the regulations and recognitions of medicinal plants and T&CAM practices in Malaysia will also be briefly discussed as natural products have now turned into a key issue in industrialized and developing nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

History records that intermarriage between Datu from the Sulu Island with Idahan women has occurred since the 17th century. The result of intermarriage between the two had given birth to heirs known as Kedatuan-Idahan. This paper discusses the history of Kedatuan and intermarriage in Sabah, which contributed to the strengthening of Islamic identity among the people of the east coast of Sabah. This study involves data collection using qualitative methods based on textual content analysis and in-depth interviews with selected key informants in several villages of the Idahan community in Lahad Datu. The study results show that the intermarriage between a Datu from the Sulu Island and an Idahan woman has produced an heir with a kinship relationship with the Sulu sultanate. This kinship relationship strengthens the dominance of the bird's nest economic activity, which is in high demand from Chinese traders. The findings of the study also show that carrying the title of Datu and Dayang at the base of the heir's name to the Kedatuan further strengthens the Islamic identity among the people of the east coast of Sabah. The study also found that the Kedatuan-Idahan intermarriage impacted the Idahan community's political position in the Darvel Bay area and contributed to the early settlement of the Muslim community on the east coast of Sabah. The role of Kedatuan also explains the importance of their position as Muslim religious leaders in the Lahad Datu district and their involvement in the Cobbold Commission until the formation of Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful buy-in and support for management of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) should acknowledge the existing cultural ecosystem services and their connections to the well-being of local communities to gain positive perceptions. It is necessary to engage local stakeholders, especially among the youths, to explore governance complexities of MPAs and how to better understand cultural ecosystem services. Thus, this qualitative study investigated the perceptions of youths on cultural ecosystem services using a visual method, namely photovoice, as part of the participatory research in a newly established MPA of Tun Mustapha Park, Sabah. Three themes were identified in the process, namely social, economic, and environment. The engagement demonstrated the value of using the participatory approach, which yielded important insights of youths as a part of the community, which included the need for additional livelihood means post-establishment of MPA and issues of degradation of the marine environment. This paper contributed to the MPA governance literature specifically on the empirical youth perception which has been underrepresented as well as the employment of visual participatory methods to encourage better expression among the youths towards their living environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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While timber harvesting has plateaued, repeat-logging and conversion into plantations (especially oil palm) are still active in the tropics. The associated hydrological impacts especially pertaining to enhanced runoff, flood, and erosion have been well-studied, but little attention has been given to water resource availability in the humid tropics. In the light of the increasing climate extremes, this paper compared baseflow values and baseflow recession constants (K) between headwater catchments of five differing land-uses in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, namely primary forest (PF), old growth/virgin jungle reserve (VJR), twice-logged forest with 22 years regeneration (LF2), multiple-logged forest with 8 years regeneration (LF3), and oil palm plantation (OP). Hydrological and meteorological sensors and dataloggers were established in each catchment. Daily discharge was used for computing K via four estimation methods. Catchment ranks in terms of decreasing K were VJR (0.97841), LF3 (0.96692), LF2 (0.90347), PF (0.83886), and OP (0.86756). Catchment ranks in terms of decreasing annual baseflow were PF (1877 mm), LF3 (1265 mm), LF2 (812 mm), VJR (753 mm), and OP (367 mm), corresponding to 68%, 55%, 51%, 42%, and 38% of annual streamflow, respectively. Despite the low K, PF had the highest baseflow magnitude. OP had the fastest baseflow recession and lowest baseflow magnitude. Baseflow persistence decreased with increasing degree of disturbance. K showed strong association to catchment stem density instead of basal area. For dynamic catchments in this study, the Kb3 estimator is recommended based on its lowest combination of coefficient of variation (CoV) and root mean squared error (RMSE) of prediction. For wetter catchments with even shorter recession events, the Kb4 estimator may be considered. Regarding climate change, logging and oil palm agriculture should only be conducted after considering water resource availability. Forests (even degraded ones) should be conserved as much as possible in the headwaters for sustainable water resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review of biostratigraphic and lithofacies data is used to show that there is no major unconformity in the stratigraphic record of north Sarawak or southwest Sabah near the end of the Early Miocene (approximately 17-15 Ma). The existence of such an unconformity has been cited in many papers in the past decade and used as a data point in the construction of regional geological hypotheses. Exploration well and outcrop data identifies two major unconformities in SW Sabah (the base and top of Stage III; BMU and DRU; roughly 24 and 13-12 Ma), and in offshore west Sarawak a third unconformity (MMU c. 16 Ma) which fades in effect towards onshore Sarawak. In recent years the names of these distinct unconformities have become conflated as workers had overlooked the origins and definitions of these features. This history is reviewed here in order to clarify future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses Wandao. Lanhua. Zuolunqiang (彎⼑·蘭花·左輪 槍 Machete, Orchid, Revolver) (1983), an early novella by Taiwan-based Sinophone Malaysian (Sarawak) writer Chang Kuei-hsing (張貴興 Zhang Guixing). A widely read and one of the most respected Sinophone authors, since the 1990s Chang has been known for writing both short and long fiction centred on the trope of the Bornean rainforest, often processing it by means of personal and literary memories. However, through a close reading of the novella, I demonstrate that such a trope was already present in his early writings, albeit in an unprocessed way, being the rainforest a crude environment as well as a shared site of interethnic mis/communication between ethnic Chinese and Malays. Additionally, the novella is Chang Kuei-hsing's only work of fiction that directly addresses the issue of national identity, thus urging us to examine the 'Sinophone Malaysian writer' label he has unproblematically been given, especially considering that the term 'Malaysian' most often refers to West Malaysia and marginalises the Bornean states of Sarawak and Sabah. The paper, therefore, seeks to promote a deeper understanding of the multiple factors that should be taken into account when investigating and categorising Sinophone literature by authors who are (or once were) Malaysians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the existence of the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) in Sabah and its achievements in the General Elections (GE) from 1986 to 2018. Thus, the historical research design is used by examining newspapers, election reports and interviews. Respondents chosen for the interview are individuals who have been directly involved in early political movements of PAS to provide a new narrative of Sabah political landscape. The results showed that the existence of PAS in Sabah and its achievements in election results were inconsistent and showed a decrease despite a slight overall national increment during the 2008 and 2013 general elections. During these elections, UMNO (United Malays National Organisation) and PKR (The People's Justice Party) showed vertical increment, whereas PAS has shown horizontal and unchanged election results. The lack of political dynamism and direction as well as poor reconciliation with other dominant political parties at the state or national level were two of major issues surrounding PAS that made it difficult to win the election. It is hoped that this paper will guide political leaders from Malaysian Peninsula who wish to extend their party to Sabah as well as setting the party's direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sabah Ficus Germplasm Centre (SFGC) is a programme that collects and propagates the genetic diversity of native Ficus species of Borneo. The facility is situated in Tabin Wildlife Reserve, Sabah and is a resource worthy of description and explanation. The background leading to its establishment sheds light on the kinds of thinking needed nowadays in nature conservation programmes. The development and current management of SFGC are described in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community-based ecotourism in developing countries is often regarded as a rural community development tool, and its value in Malaysia has been acknowledged by the Malaysian government. This paper presents the case one of the pioneer ecotourism destinations in Sabah, called Bilit village, and its role as the catalyst to rural community development. Using qualitative research methods, this article explored the empowerment indicators gained by the local community from the economic, socio-cultural and environmental aspects, through its active participation in community-based ecotourism. The study discovered that community-based ecotourism helped improve the local community and afforded them an alternative livelihood in their rural destination. However, the sustainability of community-based ecotourism projects in rural destinations is still questionable if the relevant stakeholders fail to consider the community's vision and aspirations. Finally, the study extends an empowerment framework with the novel concept of 'socio-cultural empowerment'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of e-BANGI Journal is the property of e-BANGI Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of e-BANGI Journal is the property of e-BANGI Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of e-BANGI Journal is the property of e-BANGI Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of e-BANGI Journal is the property of e-BANGI Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Within a housing estate, neighbourhood public open spaces (NPOS) are typically governed and managed under the state property regime. However, issues of NPOS overexploitation, mismanagement, and underinvestment persist, which consequently compromise community neighbourhood sustainability. Underpinned by Lin Ostrom's self-organising-and-governing collective action as a third alternative to addressing the neighbourhood commons issues, this paper examines the applicability and feasibility of the modified Ostrom eight design principles (DPs) to the institutionalsocial- physical system of local public open spaces (POS) and showcases how the current local state-owned common-pool-resource (CPR) can potentially be shifted to a polycentric common property club good NPOS. The residential Country Lease (CL) NPOS and Native Title (NT) NPOS of two districts, namely Kota Kinabalu and Penampang in Sabah, Malaysia, were chosen. The local institutional-social-NPOS performance is validated and assessed, using a systematic coding system that expresses the extent of absence and presence of DPs. The modified DPs are valid in curbing the existing local NPOS dilemmas as the former may minimise the enforcement costs and perverse incentives (opportunism) of the social-NPOS system, and they are likely to be feasibly adapted into the local NPOS system since the spatial and institutional attributes of some NPOS (especially CL NPOS) highly resemble and adhere to the modified DPs. This study provides awareness and insights to policymakers that the integrated, adaptive selfgoverning and organising collective action system is a potential solution, creating a liveable, resilient and sustainable community neighbourhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tropical Life Sciences Research is the property of Universiti Sains Malaysia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Gumushane Universty Electronic Journal of the Faculty of Communication / Gümüshane Üniversitesi Iletisim Fakültesi Elektronik Dergisi is the property of Gumushane Universitesi Iletisim Fakultesi Elektronik Dergisi (e-GIFDER) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In Sabah, Malaysia, Indigenous communities continue to demand greater visibility and representation from the government. Citing the lack of political will, indigenes struggle to maintain their indigeneity and heritage, especially when it is so closely tied to place and possession, affecting their livelihoods and cultural practices. This becomes more precarious for Indigenous maritime communities, whose affinity with the sea is viewed by the Malaysian state as dangerous and inhospitable because of the sea’s fluid and motile nature. Set against the 2018 general elections and after, this paper unpacks narratives of survival, heritage and identity of Indigenous maritime residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous knowledge is a set of principles, skills, practices, rituals, and customs developed by a particular race, inherited from generation to generation. Indigenous knowledge offers a unique and holistic understanding towards every aspect of life. In biodiversity conservation, integrating indigenous knowledge has become a trend. In many studies, indigenous knowledge has been proven to present a more human ecological approach to manage biodiversity loss. This paper aims to explore the practice of indigenous knowledge by looking at three components of indigenous knowledge system viz. agriculture, traditional medicine, and river management. A preliminary study was conducted in Kota Belud. Data was collected through a focus group discussion through purposively sampled informants consisting of Bajau, Dusun, and Iranun. The findings of the study revealed that the indigenous peoples in Kota Belud still practiced their knowledge. This study also emerges some issues related to indigenous knowledge mainly in knowledge degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduced a novel method of landslide activity mapping using vegetation anomalies indicators (VAIs) obtained from high resolution remotely sensed data. The study area was located in a tectonically active area of Kundasang, Sabah, Malaysia. High resolution remotely sensed data were used to assist manual landslide inventory process and production on VAIs. The inventory process identified 33, 139, and 31 of active, dormant, and relict landslides, respectively. Landslide inventory map were randomly divided into two groups for training (70%) and validation (30%) datasets. Overall, 7 group of VAIs were derived including (i) tree height irregularities; (ii) tree canopy gap; (iii) density of different layer of vegetation; (iv) vegetation type distribution; (v) vegetation indices (VIs); (vi) root strength index (RSI); and (vii) distribution of water-loving trees. The VAIs were used as the feature layer input of the classification process with landslide activity as the target results. The landslide activity of the study area was classified using support vector machine (SVM) approach. SVM parameter optimization was applied by using Grid Search (GS) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) techniques. The results showed that the overall accuracy of the validation dataset is between 61.4–86%, and kappa is between 0.335–0.769 for deep-seated translational landslide. SVM RBF-GS with 0.5m spatial resolution produced highest overall accuracy and kappa values. Also, the overall accuracy of the validation dataset for shallow translational is between 49.8–71.3%, and kappa is between 0.243–0.563 where SVM RBF-GS with 0.5m resolution recorded the best result. In conclusion, this study provides a novel framework in utilizing high resolution remote sensing to support labour intensive process of landslide inventory. The nature-based vegetation anomalies indicators have been proved to be reliable for landslide activity identification in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this rapidly changing and evolving of digital world, it is undeniable that technology plays a vital role in the teaching and learning process. In fact, the social scientists suggest that there is a benefit of using Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the teaching and learning. This includes the prospect of making the learning and teaching process more engaging and connected to real life. They even argued that the English language instructors, particularly the English language instructors at the Higher Learning Intuitions (HLIs) are required to integrate technologies or to be more specific the ICT in teaching and learning process for such reason. Nevertheless, getting English language instructors to use ICT in teaching and learning activities will not be possible unless they understand and see the necessity of it in such activity. Thus, understanding English language instructors’ attitude, motivation and perception towards the importance of ICT and specifically the Web 2.0 tools in teaching and learning process become inevitable. Hence, this paper analyses the attitude, motivation and perception of English language instructors at the HLIs in Sabah, Malaysia towards the importance of using ICT and specifically the Web 2.0 tools in their teaching and learning activities. The study which this paper is based has employed the mixed method approach, approach that allows for the combination of both qualitative and quantitative components of data collection. In this rapidly changing and evolving of digital world, it is undeniable that technology plays a vital role in the teaching and learning process. In fact, the social scientists suggest that there is a benefit of using Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the teaching and learning. This includes the prospect of making the learning and teaching process more engaging and connected to real life. They even argued that the English language instructors, particularly the English language instructors at the Higher Learning Intuitions (HLIs) are required to integrate technologies or to be more specific the ICT in teaching and learning process for such reason. Nevertheless, getting English language instructors to use ICT in teaching and learning activities will not be possible unless they understand and see the necessity of it in such activity. Thus, understanding English language instructors’ attitude, motivation and perception towards the importance of ICT and specifically the Web 2.0 tools in teaching and learning process become inevitable. Hence, this paper analyses the attitude, motivation and perception of English language instructors at the HLIs in Sabah, Malaysia towards the importance of using ICT and specifically the Web 2.0 tools in their teaching and learning activities. The study which this paper is based has employed the mixed method approach, approach that allows for the combination of both qualitative and quantitative components of data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that peat soil is highly compressible. A constituent of peat soil from Klias, Sabah covering a wide range of index properties of fiber contents, specific gravity, organic contents and moisture contents were subjected to one-dimensional consolidation tests. This paper presents the engineering properties and compressibility behavior of sapric type of tropical peat soil. In this role, the high compressibility of Klias peat stands out as a most significant engineering property. With this intention, the purpose of this paper is to provide a simple and analytical means for predicting the consolidation settlement of sapric peat deposit under loading. The rate of primary compression, after a certain time. Increases with the logarithm of time. Loading applied from low stress to high stresses started from 2, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 and 200 kPa resulting in high compression index, Cc and ratio, C'c. The Klias peat soil represented sapric type of tropical peat with organic content is 98.43% and lower fiber content which is about 18% of the specimen. Compressibility index Cc, Coefficient of consolidation Cv, and Compression index, Cc, was identified as a crucial component of parameters in determination of settlements behaviour of peat soil. The coefficient of consolidation, Cv, was determined within the range of 1.264 to 12.911 cm2/min and requires special considerations in laboratory testing procedures and interpretation of results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the case of efforts by the Trans-American Paper Company to comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in its business operations in Sabah, Malaysia. It takes note of the firm's history and its struggle to cope with global economic and natural resource factors as well as the adoption of environmental sustainability in their mission statement. Options are presented in regard to the high cost of electricity and the feasibility of building a cogeneration power plant.

Oil spills are one of the environmental pollutions that commonly occur along coastal areas. Tar-balls are one of the products that come from the oil spill pollution. In this study, tar-ball pollution was monitored at 10 points along the coastline of Marintaman Beach in Sipitang, Sabah, Malaysia. This research determined the physical characteristics, composition, and concentration of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in tar-balls. The total number of tarballs collected was 227 (n=227). The tar-balls were observed in various shapes and the sizes were recorded in the range of 0.1 cm to 6.9 cm. The composition and concentration of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the outer and inner layer of tar-balls were determined. The results showed that the main Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) compounds were found in inner layers of the tar-balls with benzo (g, h, i) perylene (72.26 mg/kg), flourene (59.87 mg/kg), dibenzo (a, h) anthracene (44.48 mg/kg), indeno (1,2,3-c, d) pyrene (78.18 mg/kg), and benzo (e) fluoranthene (45.70 mg/kg), respectively. Further research was done with the bioaugmentation study of locally isolated beneficial microorganisms (LIBeM) consortium for treatment of tar-balls in an Aerated Static Pile (ASP) bioreactor system. The results showed that, after 84 days of treatment, this consortium, consisting of C. tropicalis-RETL-Cr1, C. violaceum- MAB-Cr1, and P. aeruginosa-BAS-Cr1, was able to degrade total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) by 84% as compared to natural attenuation (19%). The microbial population of this consortium during the biodegradation study is also discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the popular missional consensuses in the context of migration is seeing migrants as "moving targets" for evangelism. There is an urge to respond differently realising that migrants are not merely workers for economic welfare but persons created in the image of God. To reconstruct a model of mission that is embedded in the complex reality of migration, this paper will look into the details of three narratives of Indonesian and Filipino migrants who live and attend a Charismatic church in Sabah, Malaysia. It will give insights into the process of othering and discover the quality of compassion in their lives. Based on their experiences, I argue mission as a compassionate presence provides a sound theological basis for churches to respond to the continuous othering of migrants. It invites us to rethink evangelism, not solely as winning souls for Christ, but to embody Christ by being present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Sabah, the megalithic heritage-based tourism products are less popular than natural-based tourism products. This paper aims to reveal a prospect of megalithic heritage-based archeotourism products found in Long Pasia. The existence of megalithic sites in Long Pasia is the heritage of the Lundayeh people. Yet the condition of these sites is derelict and requires serious attention from various parties for conservation and preservation purposes. Since 2005, several megalithic sites have been studied and documented by researchers and students of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) in collaboration with the National Heritage Department, Kuala Lumpur. The study was based on field survey methods, and site documentation on selected sites. The results of the study found that megalithic sites in Long Pasia have potential for archeotourism purposes. This study is important as a knowledge reference on the existence of megalithic heritage sites in Long Pasia, and a guide for the purpose of developing archeotourism in Long Pasia [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discussed the strategies in gathering mangrove molluscs of the prehistoric societies in Sabah by observing the gathering activity of mangrove molluscs among the Bajau people in Tuaran, Sabah. Participant observations and interviews that were conducted with the Bajau fishermen in Kampung Tambalang Laut Laya-Laya revealed that the strategies applied to gather molluscs in mangrove swamps are based on tides. Despite having one main species targeted, which is mud clams (Geloina expansa), other molluscan species coincidentally found are also gathered as supplements. Through comparison with the species of molluscs found in archaeological sites in Sabah, it can be interpreted that the strategies applied by the Bajau people in Tuaran to gather mangrove molluscs were possibly more or less applied by the prehistoric societies in Sabah. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the rural poverty eradication efforts undertaken by the Sabah state government by way of various agricultural-based solutions. The discussion examines local attitudes, behaviour and acceptance towards the contract farming system as a tool for agricultural commercialisation and the improvement efforts targeted at effecting changes in rural society structures and uplifting the rural standard of living. Sabah's administrative history, its rural and agricultural sector economic development, and the social structures of rural society are deliberated upon extensively since these elements are found to be intricately interwoven in the incidence of rural poverty and the acceptance or willingness by rural communities to participate in poverty eradication programmes such as contract farming. Based on document reviews, participation in contract farming programmes is found to be static (neither increasing or declining) with the exception of rubber planting and paddy production which showed significant increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sabah 2020 State Legislative Assembly (DUN) General Election (GE) was held following the declaration of the dissolution of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly by the Yang Dipertua Negeri Sabah at the request of the Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal. He acted in this way because of the endless political game in Sabah by the opposition party in the state which managed to gather a number of Sabah state assemblymen with a simple majority to shift support to the former Chief Minister, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Musa Aman to be appointed as the new Chief Minister. Although the former Chief Minister brought the case of the dissolution of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly to court but in the end the GE of Sabah State Legislative Assembly was still held. This Sabah State Legislative Assembly GE is seen as a test to see the influence of WARISAN-PKR and the Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the situation of the Covic-19 epidemic. The purpose of writing this article to analyze the political influence of ethnic parties based on the Sabah 2020 GE. Based on the analysis of Sabah 2020 GE results data and analysis of secondary sources such as journal articles and conference papers, the findings show that voters support political parties in the GE of Sabah State Legislative Assembly is based on sentiment leadership partisan ethnic namely UMNO (BN) and PN (BERSATU) led by Malays support in the majority ethnic Sabah Malays and Brunei Malay by UMNO and BERSATU leadership and Rungus-Kadazan-Dusun-Murut by STAR and PBS Kadazan-Dusun ethnic leadership while WARISANPKR support in the majority ethnic Bajau by WARISAN Bajau leader and Chinese in urban by Chinese ethnic leaders from DAP and PKR allied with WARISAN. The implication from the writing of this article is that ethnic-based party politics continues to gain the trust of voters as voters are more confident and trust their own ethnic leaders to fight for their destiny in the long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the ownership of traditional medicine knowledge by drawing empirical data on the experience of the indigenous communities in Mentawai, Indonesia, and Sabah, Malaysia. For a long time, the acquisition of traditional medicine knowledge and the treatment of patients has been deemed the result of cultural heritage handed down from generation to generation. However, the complexity of the knowledge acquisition process and the skill displayed by the healer or kerei prove that traditional medicine knowledge qualifies as intellectual property. An appropriate protection strategy is identified based on the traditional knowledge ownership map in indigenous communities. This study reveals that not every traditional medicine knowledge and practices are "common properties". Therefore, the study suggests that traditional medicine knowledge, like any other intellectual properties, must be protected through intellectual property rights not only to protect the cultural and economic rights of indigenous people but also to protect the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

English Language Learners' or ELLs reading comprehension of a text is affected by many factors. One of which is vocabulary knowledge. Several studies have shown that there is a direct link between vocabulary and reading comprehension. Although in the present study, students' comprehension, personal response and critical reading abilities were assessed, only the critical reading component is reported in this paper. While sizable studies have examined students' comprehension skills, little is known about the critical reading ability of secondary students, an important factor in students' college academic success. The purpose of the current study was threefold: (a) to investigate ELL secondary students' vocabulary level, (b) to gauge their critical academic reading ability, and (c) to determine the relationship between these two variables. Eighty-five participants from a public school in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah participated in the study. Receptive vocabulary test and an academic critical reading test were administered. Results showed that the vocabulary size of the students was associated with their critical academic abilities. The findings have pedagogical implications for educators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]