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One method for disposing of old, damaged, or misprinted Qur’an pages is to burn them. Recently, there have been cases of al-Quran mushaf disposal management that do not comply with the maqasid of al-Quran text disposal as stipulated in established guidelines. Furthermore, the number of damaged al-Quran manuscripts is growing, making the collection site increasingly limited in capacity. To save money and space, it was discovered that some institutions in charge of disposal have delegated this task to unauthorized parties, such as non-Muslim parties, which disposed of al-Quran text at paper mills. Therefore, this article discusses the perspectives and evaluations of religious scholars on the methods used by Malaysian institutions to dispose of al-Quran text. Document analysis and interviews with the State Muftis of Selangor, Kelantan and Terengganu were used to collect data. It was done through semi-structured interviews and descriptive analysis. According to findings, the Malaysian government has implemented several methods. One method used is to burn it to ashes, bury it, and then wash it into the sea. Many authorised institutions carry out disposal in accordance with the established guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization will cause various land use changes and the vast occupation of green spaces, a critical factor in the deterioration of biodiversity in urbanized areas. Some species of wildlife are endangered due to habitat shrunk and fragmentation. However, Malaysia's current biodiversity protection range is still limited. The Ecological Network (EN) refers to a framework of ecological components, which can be obtained by geographical and technical approaches to support more ecological diversity ranges. Furthermore, little research has been found on EN in Malaysia and the impact of land use change on EN. Therefore, the Selangor region is selected as the study area. This paper quantifies land use change and measures the extent of land use change to obtain the EN's change. The result has shown that forestland has decreased, explored by people for housing and agriculture from 2000 to 2020. The EN has a trend of fragmentation. Overall, this study's results imply that the land use change led to EN's worsened performance from 2000 to 2020 in the study area. This paper hopes that this research could help supply information on conserving biodiversity in future development and urban sustainable planning in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The invention of street vendors in urban public places help in creating a living cultural enclave despite the robustness of street activities. This paper aims to explore the potentials of street vending as a place making tool in creating a dynamic public area. By choosing Bandar Tasik Puteri as a case study, this paper investigates how street vendors may help to create and improve the livelihood in a public place. The mixed method approach through site observation and questionnaire survey were adopted to capture tangible and intangible aspect of the study area. Findings of the study reveals that Bandar Tasik Puteri has a great potential for street vendor activities as it will improve quality of life of local community, foster social interactions and create dynamic public space within the area. However, several challenges need to be resolved beforehand, including limited space and regulatory issues. The paper highlights the importance of a supportive legislative framework and a collaborative approach among stakeholders to enable the long-term growth of street vending as a means of improving public spaces and boosting public participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Malaysia, home-based businesses emerge as one of the most enticing paths for entrepreneurial endeavors. This paper attempts to identify the barriers faced by urban women from the B40 demographic in the Selangor, Malaysia. A group of 25 participants in a one-day pastry-making workshop was conveniently chosen to partake in this study. A post-event survey was conducted to gain deeper insights into the hurdles these participants faced in their efforts to establish home-based pastry businesses. Only two participants managed to launch their pastry businesses following the workshop. The barriers highlighted by most participants revolved around initial capital to initiate their home-based businesses, a shortage of suitable equipment and utensils, and the unsuitability of their homes for running food-related business activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide some empirical findings on the predicaments of lawyers' anti-money laundering (AML) compliance in Malaysia and the rationales for such predicaments. Design/methodology/approach: This paper adopts a qualitative research in which the primary data are obtained from seven case studies involving legal firms within the Klang Valley, Selangor, Malaysia, which is triangulated with the data from the Central Bank and the Malaysian Bar Council. Findings: The authors contend that despite the vulnerability of their profession to money laundering, the level of awareness of the AML obligations amongst Malaysian legal practitioners is rather minimal. Also, the imposition of obligations upon them in policing their clients and regulating money laundering is not only onerous but also contrary to the ethics of their profession. Originality/value: This paper fills the gap in providing the empirical evidence on lawyers' compliance to their statutory AML obligations in Malaysia. Also, this paper could be a useful source of information for practitioners, academicians and students. It could also be a beneficial guide for policymakers for any possible future amendments to the law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of fires in tropical peatlands poses significant threats to their ecosystems. An Internet of Things (IoT) system was developed to measure and collect fire risk factors in the Raja Musa Forest Reserve (RMFR) in Selangor, Malaysia, to address this issue. In this paper, neural networks with different layers were employed to predict peatland forests' Fire Weather Index (FWI). The neural network models used two sets of input parameters, consisting of four and nine fire factors. The predicted FWI values were compared with actual values obtained from the Malaysian meteorological department. The findings revealed that the five-layer neural network outperformed others in both the four-input and nine-input models. Specifically, the nine-input neural network achieved a mean square error (MSE) of 1.116 and a correlation of 0.890, surpassing the performance of the four-input neural network with the MSE of 1.537 and the correlation of 0.852. These results hold significant research and practical implications for precise peatland fire prevention, control, and the formulation of preventive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peatland refers to the peat soil and wetland biological environment growing on the surface. However, unexpected fires in peatlands frequently have brought severe greenhouse gas emissions and transboundary haze to Southeast Asia. To alleviate this issue, this paper first establishes an Internet of Things (IoT) system for peatland monitoring and management in the Raja Musa Forest Reserve (RMFR) in Selangor, Malaysia, and proposes a more efficient and low-complexity model for calculating the Duff Moisture Code (DMC) in peatland forests using groundwater level (GWL) and relative humidity. The feasibility of the IoT system is verified by comparing its data with those published by Malaysian Meteorological Department (METMalaysia). The proposed Linear_DMC Model and Linear_Mixed_DMC Model are compared with the Canadian Fire Weather Index (FWI) model, and their performance is evaluated using IoT measurement data and actual values published by METMalaysia. The results show that the correlation between the measured data of the IoT system and the data from METMalaysia within the same duration is larger than 0.84, with a mean square error (MSE) of 2.56, and a correlation of 0.91 can be achieved between calculated DMC using the proposed model and actual values. This finding is of great significance for predicting peatland forest fires in the field and providing the basis for fire prevention and decision making to improve disaster prevention and reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental conditions of a lake are influenced by its type and various environmental forces such as water temperature, nutrients content, and longitude and latitude to which it is exposed. Due to population growth and development limits, former mining lakes are being converted to more lucrative land uses like those of recreational zones, agriculture, and livestock. The fungus Ganoderma lucidum has the potential to be utilised as a substitute or to perform synergistic bacteria-coupled functions in efficient contaminated lake water treatment. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the water quality and water quality index (WQI) of an ex-mining lake named Main Lake in the Paya Indah Wetland, Selangor. Furthermore, the current work simulates the use of a Malaysian fungus in decolourising the contaminated ex-mining lake by the BioDeF system in a 300 mL jar inoculated with 10% (v/v) of pre-grown Ganoderma lucidum pellets for 48 h. According to the results, the lake water is low in pH (5.49 ± 0.1 on average), of a highly intense dark brownish colour (average reading of 874.67 ± 3.7 TCU), and high in iron (Fe) content (3.2422 ± 0.2533 mg/L). The water quality index of the lake was between 54.59 and 57.44, with an average value of 56.45; thus, the water was categorized as Class III, i.e., under-polluted water, according to the Malaysian Department of Environment Water Quality Index (DOE-WQI, DOE 2020). The batch bioreactor BioDeF system significantly reduced more than 90% of the water's colour. The utilization of Ganoderma lucidum as an adsorbent material offers a variety of advantages, as it is easily available and cultivated, and it is not toxic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the factors of smallholders' persistence in the rural area of Malaysia based on a case study of rice farming community in Parit 6 (East) village in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. Information for this paper are derived from in-depth interviews with key informants and series of field observation conducted in July and August 2017. The findings from the fieldwork highlights four major factors for smallholders' persistence which are strongly associated with strong and influential internal and external support systems including; (1) strong engagement and supports from various government agencies which include systematic distribution of subsidy and development grants, and development of irrigation infrastructure, (2) legality of land ownership, (3) farmers' ability in utilizing capital to expand local economic and improve quality of life and, (4) diversification of economic activities through farming and non-farming projects. The paper could offer valuable insights particularly in understanding some of the underlying factors for smallholders' persistence and sustainability particularly in the case of rice farming community in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to develop a measurement of spiritual poverty for an urban residents based on the spiritual concept and practice of purifying of the self (Tazkiyah Al-Nafs). This follows the process of cleansing of the self, where the nature of bad practices are replaced with those of good practices. A quantitative approach was utilised by distributing questionnaires to 528 urban Muslim households in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya, Malaysia, which was then analysed using descriptive analysis. This was, then, followed by the usability assessments by 14 experts from academia and industry, where the data was analysed using the 'fuzzy delphi method'. Findings indicated that 27.84% of respondents experienced spiritual poverty relating to the emotional indicator, 17.42% experienced from a perceptual indicator, while 91.86% of respondents experienced poverty from a practices indicator perspective. The study points out that the elements of emotion, perception and practice as indicators holds significance in measuring spiritual poverty with a percentage expert consensus of 78.6% on emotion and perception indicators and 85.7% on practices indicator. The results gives credence to the expansion of the concept of multidimensional poverty, to include measuring psycho-spiritual deprivations as one component of poverty in addition to measuring both monetary and non-monetary factors as currently being advocated. This study calls for further exploration of this important area relating to self development, which has been overlooked in poverty measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real estate planning is the exertion plan, which must be made to distribute the property owned by the property owner to the beneficiaries when the owner passes away in order to prevent problems or arguments later on. This paper aimed to study the effect between knowledge, heir's awareness, and complex administration process toward unclaimed properties among residents in Selangor in the context of post-pandemic scenario. This study reviewed the literature of past research of factors that influenced unclaimed properties. The construct variables used in this study were knowledge, awareness, and complex administration process. This study adopts online survey questionnaire to collect 384 valid responses from the residents in Shah Alam, Selangor. These collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 and the results were gathered through pearson's correlation coefficient. The findings revealed all variables were significantly influenced by unclaimed properties. The implication of this study was to focus on smaller sample in Selangor while sample size should give another significant outcome. Government and state authority must come up with mountainous strategies to overcome this issue by imposing several initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, all types of businesses and industries are facing global competition, and the quick service restaurant franchise industry is no exception. Every time there will definitely be a new brand or business that offers a variety of goods and services in its own way in an effort to attract customers and find profit. For a quick service restaurant, the most important thing is the quality of its fast service in serving customers comparable to its quick and easy concept. However, the experience for customers who buy products or use services at a quick service restaurant needs to be taken care of and ensured that it meets their needs and wishes. This paper focuses on fast food restaurants in Sabak Bernam, Selangor. This study determines the factors of marketing experience based on five dimensions of marketing experience, namely: i, sense experience; ii, feel experience; iii, think experience; iv, act experience; and v, relate experience. This study adopted a quantitative methodology through a survey on 377 respondents who are customers at a quick service restaurant in Sabak Bernam, Selangor. A convenience sampling technique was used, and data were collected through an online survey using google forms. The statistical data were analysed by Smart-PLS version 4. The findings concluded that only sense experience and relate experience were positively related to customer satisfaction. The findings of this study are beneficial to the management of the quick service restaurant and can be used as a guide for them to improve and plan strategies to increase the level of customer satisfaction in the future. This study also suggests that future studies can explore other factors related to customer satisfaction more widely.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the population grows and resource consumption increases, waste management has become a significant environmental challenge. A more sustainable approach to waste management is essential to maximize the recovery of materials acquired from nature. Vermicomposting is one of the answers to sustainable waste management. A study was conducted to determine the viability of vermicomposting Gliricidia sepium leaves and office scrap paper with matured compost as feedstock and to determine the vermicompost characteristics and suitability as potting mixtures for vegetable cultivation. The choy sum mustard was selected as the test crop. The plants were grown in the pots in a netted nursery in Serdang, Selangor. Treatments were mixtures of vermicompost to soil ratio by volume: control (0% no vermicompost), T1 (20% vermicompost), T2 (40% vermicompost), T3 (60% vermicompost), T4 (80% vermicompost) and T5 (100% vermicompost). Physicochemical properties of the potting media mix were determined and compared to an established growth media concentration and other ASEAN standards. Crop growth was evaluated by measuring plant height, the number of petioles, and fresh and dry weights at harvest. A significant improvement in the physicochemical properties of the media was observed, where the optimum ratio of potting media was 60% to 80% (T3 & T4). The number of petioles was 20-46% higher, plants were 39-46% taller, and dry matter accumulation was three-fold higher than controls. Crop yields were 200% higher in media treatments consisting of 60-80% vermicompost. In conclusion, G. sepium based vermicompost could be used in media mixtures for potting plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Third Malaysia Plan (1976-1980) earmarked Batu Caves as a nature monument, listing it as part of its proposed national parks, nature reserves, nature monuments and wildlife sanctuaries. The listing is pegged on the need to put into effect conservation measures grounded on the ecosystems approach. The policy direction then was to ensure that the diversity of ecosystems are effectively conserved, to complement existing national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Batu Caves was earmarked as a potential area for recreation and tourism. Various literature related to Batu Caves have shown that the area is unique and rich in diversity - both biodiversity and geodiversity, which also makes it susceptible to threats and risks. Taking into account the need to put into place conservation measures from ecosystem as well as geosystem approaches, there is a need to revisit the conservation goal and strategy, as well as review the existing legislative regime that is applicable to Batu Caves. However, given that Batu Caves requires specific measures due to its unique features and richness, the option of badging it as a nature reserve will need to be given serious consideration. This paper looks at one option of establishing such a nature reserve, leveraging on the provisions of the National Land Code 1965. It also recommends the establishment of a specific authority, similar to the Selangor State Water Authority, to manage nature reserves with Batu Caves being one of the many areas that can be listed, thus forming a network of reserves that will be managed by the State government directly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent developments in linguistic theory in the Minimalist Program have provided many solid basic frameworks for analyzing pronouns in the Mah Meri language, one of the Senoi group. The data analyzed in this paper is taken from fieldwork conducted at Kampung Bukit Bangkong, Selangor. The data was obtained by recording the conversations of respondents who spoke the Mah Meri language. Two research methods were used, the library method and the field method. The library method was used to collect information related to pronouns, and the field method was used to obtain data on the field area. The data collected was analyzed and analyzed using the Minimalist Program. The analysis process of such pronouns is divided into two parts, namely descriptive analysis and syntactic analysis. The descriptive analysis discusses the cases of pronouns of the language, while the syntactic analysis discusses the syntactic structure of Mah Meri pronouns based on descriptive analysis. The syntactic analysis uses a minimalist program framework to analyze the pronouns in the Mah Meri language. As a result of this analysis, a novel finding for an Austroasiatic language is that Mah Meri language pronouns can be divided into two parts, namely case-bearing and case-marked pronouns. Analysis of these pronouns displays differences in the words that follow and precede a noun. In addition, there are also similarities and differences in the classification between Mah Meri and Malay languages, although they are in different language groups and families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is discussing on the social media contributions toward service quality of the academic libraries. Everyone aware that social media has become an operative information distribution tool which involves minimal effort in order to be operated by libraries for marketing their informational resources and cultural efforts. Social media is now considered as an emerging occurrence in giving overview about a product. Not only to business, but librarians nowadays recognized the significance of social media in the libraries and information centres. Despite of lack of allocation on budget and resources, librarians still need to strive to meet up with the anticipation of their users in terms of providing their ever-changing needs. With the fact that there are abundances of information which is easily accessible on the internet, libraries should optimize the power of social media in order to give room for interactive communication with the library users and public in an online environment. Furthermore, social media has the potential of improving the image of the library and improving the users experience. The use of social media in library address greater library promotion programs, engaging and increased involvement of the users in library activities besides enhancing the library community building. The objective of this study is mainly to determine the reliability of social media toward service quality in libraries. A quantitative approach was employed in both data collection and data analysis. The study population is made up of the students of the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Selangor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Future floods are expected to increase in frequency and intensity. Communities must arm themselves with information and skills to overcome these disasters and limit their impact. Moreover, the Coronavirus-19 infection doubled as the transmission was thought to occur when evacuation facilities were overrun and crowded. Despite government and agency assistance, the aftermath of a flood disaster leaves victims susceptible to the impacts. Resilience is essential when battling flooding or a pandemic. Thus, this study aims to determine the community disaster resilience score and its associated factors in Selangor flood-prone communities during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative survey will be conducted with a sample size of 574 residents living in flood-prone areas. A validated self-administered questionnaire will be distributed in liaison with community leaders using paper and online. The questionnaire includes respondents' demographic, flood disaster preparedness, general disaster preparedness belief, and community disaster resilience. The associations and predictors between the independent and dependent variables will be examined using bivariate analysis and multiple linear regression with a < 0.05 significance level. Discussion: Insights from this research will help communities better prepare for and recover from disasters. A more robust resilience approach requires focusing on predictors and recruiting those factors to assist health authorities in promoting flood disaster preparedness and resilience practices in the community. Researchers may comprehend the health behaviour of a community to build disaster preparedness and resilience as well as a health intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to measure the satisfaction level of tourists on the attributes associated with adventure lodges. The Holiday Satisfaction Model (HOLSAT) was used to determine the gaps between the expectations of tourists and the experience on 21 adventure lodges attributes. Results were drawn from a questionnaire survey of 280 Malaysian and international tourists who visited the Tadom Hill Resorts located in Selangor, Malaysia in 2018. Data derived from the analysis was plotted into a two-dimensional graph showing the mean score for expectations (Y-axis) plotted against the mean score of experiences (X-axis). Findings reveal that only three attributes gave the most satisfaction to tourists with a significant level at 0.001, with one attribute showing a significant level of dissatisfaction by the tourists. Therefore, the attributes that failed to satisfy tourists should be further investigated to develop strategies to attract tourists and the development of the adventure tourism industry in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology has become a significant factor in producing up-to-date and accurate topographic data in the current world. LiDAR technology has been used for years for many applications, including the efficient creation of digital model for large scale, high accuracy mapping. This technology offers fast, accurate, expedient and cost-effective ways of capturing wide area elevation information to produce highly detailed digital model of the earth. LiDAR is based on airborne laser scanners enables to acquire dense and accurate 3D data of the surveyed area, i.e., the Digital Surface Model (DSM). This paper presents an exploratory study to assess the accuracy of constructed DTM (Digital Terrain Model) and evaluating ground height without surface features using LiDAR Digital Surface Model (DSM). The study area comprised of an undulated area situated at Jinjang in the Klang Valley region, Malaysia covering an area of one kilometre square. LiDAR DSM and DTM constructed and derived from LiDAR were critically assessed with reference to the USGS Map Accuracy Standards. The accuracy of derived DSM and DTM were evaluated using ground control points derived from conventional surveying technique. The constructed models were accessed quantitatively and qualitatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manuscript type: Research paper Research aims: The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of human resource practices, namely employee involvement and employee recognition, on normative commitments. It also attempts to determine the role of the ability, motivation and opportunity (AMO) model as a mediator in the relationship associated with human resource practices, and normative commitments. Design/Methodology/Approach: Data were collected across 168 employees, working in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Selangor, Malaysia. Structural equation modelling with bootstrapping estimation was used to predict and estimate the relationships. Research findings: The results indicate that both employee involvement and employee recognition have a significant impact on the normative commitment. This study however, indicates no mediation effect on both of these relationships. Theoretical contribution/Originality: This study seeks to compliment and extend the human resource (HR) practice and organisational commitment literature base by incorporating the AMO model as a mediation variable. Practitioner/Policy implication: The underlying messages to HR practitioners and also SMEs owners are that employee involvement and employee recognition are amongst the most important HR practices to be employed in the current working environment, which will soon be dominated by the millennials. Organisations should focus on exhibiting a great working environment that involves employees in daily work activities, and promotes recognition programmes that motivates employees' retention rates. Research limitation: Data were collected through the use of a questionnaire in a designated period of time, and did not permit causal inferences. Moreover, it only focusses on service sectors of SMEs, and therefore the results may not be as generalised as one sought it to be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a crime prevention strategy used in many advanced states to safeguard community members from criminal activities. In a non-western setting of Malaysia, individual selected states apply the system to control their crime occurrences. Despite its implementation throughout its municipal councils in the states, Selangor still has the highest recorded crime rates throughout Malaysia. A few factors and underlying issues have caused high crime rates despite the implementation of CPTED. This paper highlights three of those issues: the misunderstanding of the CPTED concept, insufficient funding, and lack of police involvement in designing the CPTED application. The study aims to understand further the theories of CPTED and ways of practical implementations. The study's research approach is qualitative. The study found that most projects are designed by people that do not understand CPTED entirely; due to the yearly budget limitations, it has limited CPTED application and strategies, and the police have not been included in the CPTED design process. Addressing these issues deliver the long-term social and economic benefits to the community. At a larger scale, the country and CPTED strategies, which are well designed, reduces cost and increases the quality of life for its residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reported preliminary findings on orchid diversity and abundance in Gunung Ulu Semangko, Selangor. A total of 52 orchids taxa belonging to 26 genera were opportunistically sampled from a trail in Gunung Ulu Semangko. The majority of collected species were from the subfamily Epidendroideae, with 47 species (91%). The remaining were from the subfamily Orchidoideae, with five species (9%). The results have shown that most of the species collected were epiphytic, with 42 species (81%) and only ten species (19%) were terrestrial. The orchid species diversity was H = 3.74 for Shannon's Index and D = 0.98 for Simpson's Index. The high D and H values were supported by a high evenness value, E = 0.80, indicating that the abundance of each species was evenly distributed without complete domination by one species. Only two species of orchids were evaluated in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, namely the Bulbophyllum cheiropetalum (Vulnerable) and Dendrochilum cf. gracile (Least Concern). The high orchid diversity and presence of rare species discovered in this trail highlights the importance of the comprehensive botanical study to reveal the true state of diversity and conservation assessment of orchids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the study on the relationship between social media marketing and service quality of international private college libraries in Selangor. The study hypothesized three dimensions that posited to influence the service quality of the college’s library namely perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and technology features. The quantitative research method via survey is opted where questionnaires were distributed to a total of 252 respondents. Findings indicated that the majority of the respondents were coming from non-technical programs and exists a significant and high positive correlation between service quality and the posited three service quality dimensions: perceived usefulness (r=0.731, p=0.000), perceived ease of use (r=0.766, p=0.000) and technology features (r=0.795, p=0.000). Findings indicated that academic library social media marketing activities may help students more to fulfil their study needs however it also found that they also face challenges, less anticipation through social media and did not receive a response (to get help) through library social media platforms as quickly as they expect. The study suggests that the library management should be aware of the current students’ needs/issues/behaviour towards the trend of using social media technology as to ensure the service quality of the academic library meets their expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to map crime hotspots, and to determine high and low crime areas in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. The data is analysed using kernel density estimation (KDE) in the ArcGIS 10.5 spatial analysis tool software to identify hotspot areas and buffer analysis for hotspot streets, which is displayed in raster format. The study uses index crimes, which has 26,739 points (x, y coordinates) from 2010 to 2016. This study involves ten boundaries of police stations in Petaling Jaya. The results indicate that there is a clustering of crime hotspots found in seven areas in the study area, namely Kelana Jaya, Sg. Way, Sea Park, Kota Damansara, Seksyen 17, Damansara and the city centre of Petaling Jaya. The crime hot streets are found to be of very high priority are in seven roads; 23 roads are of high priority; 83 roads are medium; low priority in 694 roads; and 13,902 roads have very low crime. The outcome of this paper allows law enforcement agencies and policymakers to consider the hotspot areas and streets in the implementation of strategic planning for reducing crime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Malaysian Education Blueprint (PPPM) 2013–2025 has spurred significant reforms in the Primary School Standard Curriculum (KSSR) and Secondary School Standard Curriculum (KSSM), particularly concerning classroom-based assessment (CBA). CBA evaluates students' understanding and progress, informs instruction, and enhances the learning outcomes. Teachers with robust pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) are better equipped to design and implement effective CBA strategies that accurately assess students' comprehension and growth, provide personalised feedback, and guide instruction. This study aims to investigate the relationship between PCK and CBA among English as a Second Language (ESL) secondary school teachers in Selangor, Malaysia. A 5-point Likert-scale questionnaire was administered to 338 teachers across 27 regional secondary schools in Selangor. The Covariance-based structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that the secondary school teachers demonstrated a high level of PCK, with content knowledge (CK) obtaining the highest mean, followed by pedagogical knowledge (PK) and pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). The CBA practices among these teachers were also found to be high. SEM analysis showed a positive association between PK and CBA practices and between PCK and CBA. However, no positive association was observed between CK and CBA practices. In order to enhance teachers' PCK and ensure the effective implementation of CBA, which is crucial for student learning outcomes in Malaysian ESL secondary schools, it is recommended that continuous professional development opportunities be provided, specifically focusing on PCK and CBA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper discussed the comparison of the persistence and mobility of metsulfuron-methyl from a residue field trial experiment and simulation using a VARLEACH model. The residue field trial experiment was performed at Sungai Buloh Oil Palm Estate, Selangor. The plots were treated with metsulfuron-methyl at two treatment rates of 15 g a.i ha−1 (T1) and 30 g a.i ha−1 (T2). Soil samples were collected at 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 30, 60 and 90 days after treatment (DAT) and analysed subsequently by HPLC–UV. The results show that metsulfuron-methyl degraded rapidly in the soil with the half-life (t½) of 6.3 days in T1 and 7.9 days in T2. The simulation of VARLEACH model gave similar pattern of persistence and mobility of metsulfuron-methyl in the soil profile. However, total residues and the mobility of the metsulfuron-methyl were poorly simulated by the VARLEACH model due to consistent overestimation of the quantified residues. Results indicated that the metsulfuron-methyl lost more rapidly than the prediction values from VARLEACH model. In this case, simulation models which use transformation routines similar and which include additional degraded processes such as leaching, volatilisation, plant uptake or runoff could be considered. Albeit, overestimated values on the concentrations of metsulfuron-methyl are reported using VARLEACH model, the model still can be used as rapid and fast approach to predict the behaviour of pesticide at minimum cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to discuss the knowledge levels, attitudes and behaviours regarding the concept of sustainable development among pre-university programme educators, as well as the potential barriers and opportunities they face in adopting the concept of sustainable development in the teaching of the pre-university level chemistry module at a public university in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach: A survey was conducted with eight educators of a pre-university programme at a public university located in Selangor, Malaysia. This pre-university programme exposes students to advanced courses in science, which are very much like first-year university courses for candidates who are interested in gaining admission to degree programmes. For this study, the focus was on chemistry educators only. The collected data were analysed through descriptive analysis following which interviews were conducted with the respondents. Findings: In general, the educators have good knowledge and attitudes towards the concept of sustainable development. Moreover, their projected knowledge (K), attitude (A) and behaviour (B) focus more on environmental dimensions, as opposed to other sustainable development dimensions. While the integration of the concept of sustainable development in chemistry teaching is restricted by a few barriers, such as content-based learning, lack of guidebooks related to sustainable development and an overcrowded curriculum, positive responses from the chemistry educators indicate that there are opportunities to implement sustainable chemistry concepts in the pre-university chemistry module. Research limitations/implications: The present study was conducted with several limitations; the data were obtained from a small sample size at an institute located within a public university. The respondents of this research consisted of only three existing chemistry educators and five administrators who are also educators. Further studies about sustainable chemistry teaching should include samples from other public and private universities. Originality/value: This paper is instrumental in assisting the Ministry of Education, administrators, as well as educators within the pre-university sector to shift their goals towards sustainable chemistry teaching to achieve success in education for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of foundation chemistry learners concerning the sustainable development concept.Design/methodology/approach Qualitative and quantitative studies were conducted. Atlas.ti software was used to analyse the chemistry curriculum based on selected themes and sub-themes. A survey was carried out involving 132 chemistry learners. The chemistry learners were students from a foundation programme in a local university located in Selangor, Malaysia. The collected data were analysed using SPSS 21.0 involving descriptive and inferential statistics.Findings Document analysis on the chemistry curriculum shows that water is the theme most covered in the chemistry learners' textbook, as compared to other themes. In general, the chemistry learners have good knowledge and attitude concerning the sustainable development concept. However, their knowledge and attitude do not reflect in their behaviour as an individual, as well as in the classroom. Moreover, their knowledge, attitude and behaviour focus more on environmental dimension, as compared to other sustainable development dimensions.Practical implications This paper is instrumental in assisting educators to assess how chemistry learners perceive sustainable development, and this may help to bring about changes to improve chemistry teaching and learning processes towards education for sustainable development.Originality/value This paper is an original and novel research paper which is first conducted on sustainable development concept in chemistry curriculum in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: COVID-19 has led to a significant increase in household waste generation, ranging from 10% to 30% in certain regions. Objective: This study aims to investigate the impact of knowledge and attitude on waste recycling practices in selected communities in Selangor during the post-pandemic period. Methods: A comprehensive waste analysis was conducted in six residential areas in urban Selangor, sampling waste from 25 households. A survey was administered to 244 respondents who had resided in the study area for at least one year and were familiar with the recycling programs and facilities. Data collection involved door-to-door surveys and online platforms. Results: The study revealed a weekly generation of 124.89 kg of solid waste, equivalent to 0.14 kg per person or 0.71 kg per household per day. Of this, 101.45 kg was recycled, resulting in an 81% recycling rate, averaging 0.11 kg per person or 0.58 kg per household per day. Paper accounted for the highest proportion of recycled waste (51%), followed by plastic (19%) and used items such as clothes (19%). Respondents displayed good knowledge (76.6%) and attitude (90.6%), but recycling practices were poor (61.9%). Significant associations were observed between knowledge and gender, attitude and factors such as age, race, monthly household income, and house type, and practice and factors such as residential location, gender, and the number of household members. Conclusion: Despite the pandemic, communities exhibited a high recycling rate, reflecting positive knowledge and attitude. However, bridging the knowledge-implementation gap is essential for improving recycling practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Future floods are expected to increase in frequency and intensity. Communities must arm themselves with information and skills to overcome these disasters and limit their impact. Moreover, the Coronavirus-19 infection doubled as the transmission was thought to occur when evacuation facilities were overrun and crowded. Despite government and agency assistance, the aftermath of a flood disaster leaves victims susceptible to the impacts. Resilience is essential when battling flooding or a pandemic. Thus, this study aims to determine the community disaster resilience score and its associated factors in Selangor flood-prone communities during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative survey will be conducted with a sample size of 574 residents living in flood-prone areas. A validated self-administered questionnaire will be distributed in liaison with community leaders using paper and online. The questionnaire includes respondents' demographic, flood disaster preparedness, general disaster preparedness belief, and community disaster resilience. The associations and predictors between the independent and dependent variables will be examined using bivariate analysis and multiple linear regression with a < 0.05 significance level. Discussion: Insights from this research will help communities better prepare for and recover from disasters. A more robust resilience approach requires focusing on predictors and recruiting those factors to assist health authorities in promoting flood disaster preparedness and resilience practices in the community. Researchers may comprehend the health behaviour of a community to build disaster preparedness and resilience as well as a health intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to rapid urbanization, solid waste management (SWM) is a major challenge in Malaysia, hence the need to sustainably manage it. Compared with other states, Selangor produces the highest volume of domestic waste. Most of the state's waste is generated in Shah Alam City. This condition is expected to worsen because the population of Shah Alam is projected to rise by 2.5% from 2018 to 2035. This situation will increase the demand for resources, production, and consumption, increasing the volume of waste generated in Shah Alam. Hence, the pressing necessity to advance from the current traditional waste management practices to a more sustainable SWM system has been identified as a key target in Shah Alam's 2025–2030 plans. The Smart Waste Management System (SWMS) has been identified as a novel approach to dealing with the absence of route optimization, real-time information exchange, and the consequent increase in waste management costs. All of these elements have characterized the current traditional households' SWM. However, because this method is novel, there is a dearth of knowledge on the appropriate measurement model for evaluating the dimension of households' intention to recycle waste through source separation as well as measuring the determinants of such a pro-environmental intention under the new SWMS. Thus, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was carried out to verify the factorial structure of the variables, relying on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) based on the structural dimensions identified in prior exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The study found support for the use of TPB as a relevant framework for modeling the intention for source separation and its determinants under SWMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In Malaysia, research indicates that there is an interest amongst the stakeholders, namely, administrators and academicians to be engaged in education for sustainable development (SD), but it is rarely implemented as a part of the higher education curriculum due to various barriers. This paper aims to develop a framework for integrating SD concepts into the chemistry curriculum, using a case study approach. Design/methodology/approach: This study was conducted at a local university located in Selangor, Malaysia, offering a foundation programme to students between 17 to 18 years of age. Data was collected using a qualitative approach that involved 12 experts as informants. The collected data was analysed via three coding stages, namely, open coding, category coding and thematic encoding using Atlas.ti 7.0 software. Findings: The research revealed that six aspects contribute to the integration of SD concepts into the chemistry curriculum, namely, educational policy, awareness, resources, curriculum, pedagogical approach and stakeholders' engagement. The proposed framework was formulated by considering these aspects. Originality/value: The findings of this study can be used as a guide to facilitate the integration of SD concepts into the chemistry curriculum. It is expected to encourage the involvement of more teachers in adopting sustainable chemistry teaching. [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]

This paper is written to examine and narrate the existence of several monuments in Kota Melawati, Bukit Melawati, Kuala Selangor. The monuments' existence in Kota Melawati could be seen as a tourist attraction and a monument with a historical story, signifying the existence of the Selangor Sultanate and elements of Selangor colonization. Therefore, the historical research methodology in this writing depends on primary and secondary sources and field studies to collect data to ensure accurate and appropriate information. Among the monuments found in Kota Melawati are Batu Hampar, Busut Melawati, Tangga Seratus, Meriam Tiga Sederet and Lighthouse. Behind the existence of these monuments in Kota Melawati, each has its own story related to the colonial government, diplomatic and political anecdote, and the story of wars that creates rich history related to the existence of the state of Selangor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) contribute significantly to the economic and social development of many countries. In particular, the sector provides new job opportunities, stimulates competition and thus boost productivity. Accordingly, the sustainability of MSMEs is of paramount importance. However, according to Fatoki (2012) 60% of MSMEs fail within the first five years of their operations. One of the reasons of this failure is poor financial management which is mainly because of poor financial literacy. Financial literacy is also an issue highlighted in the human resource ability in accessing fund from financial institution. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to assess the level of financial literacy among Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) MSMEs operator in Klang Valley from three different districts of Selangor. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 312 AIM MSMEs operator. Descriptive and inferential analysis are used to examine the extent of awareness regarding financial literacy among AIM MSMEs operator. The findings indicated that ANOVA result significantly influences financial literacy. The study results indicated that knowledge, socialisation agents, attitude and skills are significant predictors of financial literacy among AIM MSMEs operator in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Thus, policymakers should consider MSMEs factors and financial literacy traits, which determine their behaviours and actions in micro-entrepreneurship while implementing financial literacy interventions to promote financial inclusion of MSMEs, especially in Klang Valley, Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the best practices of school leaders, teachers, pupils, parents and the community in selected transformed schools in Selangor, Malaysia.Design/methodology/approach This qualitative multiple-case study explores the best practices in two selected transformed schools through in-depth interviews, observations and document reviews. The data were collected from 2 school heads, 6 teachers with administrative responsibilities and 20 teachers. The themes were elucidated via open, axial and selective coding based on the grounded theory approach.Findings The analysis identified various best practices exhibited by school leaders, teachers, pupils, parents and the community. Four themes were found to be common as best practices in both selected schools, which were adaptive and multi-dimensional leadership, winning-the-hearts, extensive use of Information and Communication Technology in school operations, and a culture of acquiring and sharing professional knowledge. The unique theme for School A was the emphasis on the social, emotional and ethical well-being of the students, while extensive parental involvement and support was a unique theme identified in School B.Research limitations/implications The findings of this paper may be used as guidance tool for policy makers and educational planners regarding school transformation in Malaysia, and as well as in other countries. Such practices can be learned, adapted and replicated by other schools in order to transform. The findings also have direct implications to current teachers, school leaders, parents and the community.Originality/value This study contributes to the growing body of research on the best practices and school transformation in Malaysian transformed schools. There is a decisive need to explore the best practices of transformed schools in Malaysia based on their own cultural and contextual needs in order to help schools that aspire for transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Pilot study of solar/hybrid/storage system for vertical farming under tropical climate condition with a case study at Malaysia. • Energy utilization and management via optimized building geometry modeling integrated with energy yield estimation tool to evaluate the potential of integrating green energy into urban agriculture. • Comprehensive analysis and assessments including technological, economic and environmental aspects of the proposed work. • The proposed work is evaluated under different design configuration (grid connected, stand alone, hybrid, storage etc) considering various optimization and design requirements and real-life constraints. • Comparative studies with hypothetical model and verification with additional energy modeling tool. Human population is projected to reach 9.7 billion in 2050 and strike 11.2 billion by 2100. Residence shift from countryside to cities will occur and the human population resides in the cities is envisaged to rise from 55% to 68%. Vertical farming was proposed to address food insecurity caused by overcrowded population and farmland shortages. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of vertical farming in the Asia Pacific is forecasted to grow at 22.1% with a market size reaching USD 2,101.0 million by 2024. Malaysian government encourages the implementation of vertical farming as the production of major agricultural commodities has contracted by 3.4% from 2015 to 2017. However, high energy consumption is one of the shortcomings of a vertical farm as the estimated annual energy consumption for each square meter of growing area is 3500 kW h. Thus, this paper proposes an optimized building geometry modeling integrated with energy yield estimation tool to evaluate the potential of integrating green energy into urban agriculture. This research examines the load demand in the vertical farming systems and develops solar/hybrid/storage for vertical farming system with energy yield, performance ratio, economics and environmental assessments. Preliminary resources assessment by analyzing the solar radiation of the sites was carried out at stage 1. At stage 2, load consumption was calculated, and specifications of the system were justified. Stage 3 included the development of solar PV system for the vertical farms, the economic evaluation in the context of net present cost (NPC), levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and investigation of the environmental impact. Grid-connected and standalone solar PV systems were developed for comparative studies. The estimated daily energy consumption for vertical farms in Selangor and Kuching was 430.116 kW h and 1002.024 kW h. Energy generated by grid-connected solar PV systems supported 11.6% and 8.35% of the load consumption in Selangor and Sarawak. The performance ratios of grid-connected solar PV systems in both selected sites were 82.22% and 82.56%. The finding proved that proposed work has significantly reduced the dependency of the utility grid. Additionally, the LCOE with solar PV integration vertical farming system appeared to be lower than the LCOE of the grid and lower CO 2 emission. This paper serves as a reference guide to the vertical farming stakeholders, national policy-decision makers and non-profit organizations who planned for similar initiatives especially those within the tropical climate regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Begin in 1971 a new era in the Malaysian development has been started in which the emphasis on national unity became the national agenda. Tun Abdul Razak policy become an important person to bring the development through the New Economy Policy which the last product is unity. The impact of the policy the community has changed from traditional society to a modern society. Emile Durkheim already uses the concept as mechanical solidarity (rural community) and organic solidarity (modern community) to describe the changes. Ferdinand Tonnies described the changes through the concept of Gemeinschaft (community) to Gesellschaft (society). Through changes and modernization, society has changed to a more individualistic but still blend in among them in a new way, through association. In Malaysia, we have a department that manages the unity called the Rukun Tetangga-RT (Neighbourhood Watch). RT is the institution that officially is under the Department of National Unity and Integration (JPNIN). Therefore, RT plays important roles, especially in organizing the community, especially in the state of multicultural society. RT in this study area covers the district of Hulu Langat Selangor, Malaysia. There are seven zones in the district that includes Kajang, Ampang, Cheras, Beranang, Hulu Langat and Semenyih and Bangi. This study uses the questionnaire. This paper attempts to look at social cohesion in the community, especially in the neighborhood of RT in the district. This study has used the concept of social cohesion brought by Jenson (1998) and Paul Bernard (2000). There are six dimensions used to measure social cohesion: Belonging-Isolation, Inclusion-Exclusion, Participation-Non-involvement, Recognition-rejection, Legitimacy-Illegitimacy and Equality-inequality. A total of 588 questionnaires were analyzed. The discussion in this paper try to get feedback and input from presenters and participants of the seminar to improve the research was conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many industries operate or run 24 h and seven days a week with downtime only for maintenance and repair in manufacturing facilities. This continuous operating trend allows for a higher production volume since the industry has relentless pressures on cost containment to maintain profit margins. However, the practice poses high risks of occupational injuries or major accidents. Shift working hours could lead to various safety and health and significantly impact the workers' well-being. Based on this fact, this paper presents a correlation analysis of shift works with sleep patterns, fatigue, and work injuries in food manufacturing plants, specifically in Malaysia. A survey using a set of questionnaires was conducted on two food manufacturing industries in Selangor, Malaysia. The industry operates continuously with a pre-planned downtime due to market globalization, industrialization transformation, and the rising demand for food. The companies in the food manufacturing industry held frequent internal and external audits to ensure the food quality was not being compromised and adhered to the local acts and regulations. To ensure the company runs continuously, the companies practice slow rotation schedules of shift work systems, where workers change to a new shift every three months. The companies have three working shifts per day, namely the morning shift (7.00 am to 3.00 pm), the afternoon shift (3.00–11.00 pm) and the night shift (11.00 pm to 7.00 am). Based on the statistical analysis, many workers prefer the day shift over the afternoon and night shifts. Sleep patterns and fatigue are significantly correlated with work-related injuries. Due to shift work, the workers tend to have fewer sleep hours, resulting in poor sleep patterns, which could increase the possibility of work injuries. In conclusion, workers' physical, mental and social well-being in any industry should be promoted and maintained to the highest degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the impact of language learning software that was developed for hearing-impaired students for the Malay Language. The software was developed using Microsoft PowerPoint on a topic of reinforcement words with sign language. This study conveyed an experimental research design using pre-test and post-test of 8 hearing-impaired year 6 students that were selected randomly for this study. The study was conducted at one of the primary schools in Hulu Langat in Selangor. The pre and post-test analysis were based on the mean score value. The mean score value increased from 10.3% to 86.4% for multiple-choice questions and increased from 4.2% to 91.7% for sentence structure questions for the post-test analysis. The finding of this study found that students were able to choose appropriate reinforcement words for multiple-choice questions. The study also showed that students were able to construct sentences using appropriate reinforcement words. The implications of the study showed that learning software with interactive elements using sign language and attractive visuals can help hearing-impaired students to improve their understanding on reinforcement words. The usage of technology in various aspects of multimedia along with sign language video also helps to enhance the language skills of hearing-impaired students especially for those who practise visual learning styles. In conclusion, studies that focus on teaching using learning software with exciting elements are encouraged in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Eco-friendly raft-pile foundation (ERP) system is one of the most recent developed types of pile foundations that the original materials can be provided from local Bakau. A precise prediction of its behaviour is of interest for many engineers. This paper presents three intelligent systems, namely, adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), conventional artificial neural network (ANN), and optimized ANN model with genetic algorithm (GA) for prediction of vertical settlement in ERP system. In this regard, a database compiled from 43 load-settlement results obtained from full-scale maintained load test (PLT). Note that, these floating raft-pile system piles were subjected to vertical axial loading. The ERP system was installed at the marine soft clay soil site at Rantau Panjang Kapar, Selangor, Malaysia. The values of subgrade modulus (Ks), Young's modulus (Es), soil properties beneath the footing, and applied load were set as model input to predict vertical settlement (s). To evaluate the reliability of the network output, several well-known statistical indexes were used. The results show that the new proposed GA-ANN model could provide a better performance in estimating the maximum settlement of ERP system. In terms of statistical indexes (R2, and RMSE), the values of (0.998, 0.0259, and 99.99) and (0.997, 0.0324, and 99.998) were obtained for both data sets of training and testing, respectively. Besides, comparing the training and testing data sets, R2 values of (0.994, 0.9884, 0.995, and 0.9984) and (0.996, 0.985, 0.994, and 0.9973) were found for ANN–LMBP, ANFIS, GA, and GA-ANN models, respectively, which proves the superiority of the proposed GA-ANN model comparing to other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strength characteristics of a rock is a criterion for its ability to be drilled and fractured. The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) is the most commonly used strength index in construction industry and in rock engineering projects. Therefore, a comprehensive knowledge on the factors that could influence the value of the compressive strength is essential in any rock engineering project. This paper explores the effects of mineralogical composition on the UCS value of granitic rocks to evaluate its drillability. Samples of granitic rocks were collected from the Interstate Raw Water Transfer Tunnel project. The rock samples were characterized with quantitative Rietveld XRD method to quantify the relative mineral phase compositions in the rock samples. The relationships between mineralogical properties and UCS were investigated by simple regression analysis. The strength of the rock samples increases with higher composition of quartz and decreases with increase in the composition of feldspar and kaolinite. The positive effects of quartz on the strength of the granitic rock is more significant than the negative influence of feldspar and clay content. The drilling rate varies inversely with the UCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although pharmaceuticals treat illnesses and prevent diseases in humans and animals, ironically, they are now among the emerging pollutants in the environment. As individuals continue to consume medicines, households can become a primary source of pharmaceutical pollutants. This paper explains relevant Malaysian law and policy on the issue. Using a questionnaire survey, it also assesses public perception concerning the environmental impact of pharmaceutical waste and the current methods of disposal that are practiced in Selangor. The survey used a convenience sampling and the data collected were analysed using statistical descriptive analysis. Most of the participants were aware that pharmaceutical waste can have an adverse impact on the environment and public health. Half of the participants disposed of their pharmaceutical waste in trash bins. About 2.9% of the respondents poured their household pharmaceutical waste (HPW) directly down the drain, while 8.8% poured them down the sink in the kitchen or toilet. The study also discovered that while 73.8% of the respondents felt that HPW should be separated from other household solid waste, only 25.2% returned their medicinal waste through the medicine return-back programme. The majority of the respondents (82.5%) agreed that information concerning the proper disposal of HPW is insufficient. The study concludes that while the respondents were aware of the adverse impact of HPW, their practices to ensure proper disposal is discouraging. There is a need for effective unwanted medicines return-back programme as a more prudent disposal method of HPW to avoid any risk to the environment or human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pneumonia is one of the primary causes of death from infectious diseases. Traditionally, its spread has been tracked based on the total number of cases reported, with no concern for geographical distribution. Disease mapping is among the ways public health and the government can monitor diseases as a preventative strategy. Clear pictures of the risk areas can be seen using this method. Relative risk estimation is a significant part of disease mapping that needs to be considered when studying disease occurrence. This paper aimed to estimate the relative risk values for pneumonia based on three models and compare the results. The approaches used in this study were Standardised Morbidity Ratio (SMR), Poisson-gamma, and discrete time-space stochastic Susceptible-Infected-Carriers (SIC) models, which were applied in estimating the relative risk values. Results showed that Kuala Lumpur was classified as a very low-risk area for pneumonia incidence when using the SMR and Poisson-gamma models. In contrast, Selangor was identified as a very low-risk area when using the discrete time-space stochastic SIC model. Putrajaya was categorised as a very high-risk area in the results of all three types of methods. In conclusion, this stochastic SIC model demonstrated better performance than the conventional models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the ongoing promotion of infrastructure and water privatization in Malaysia despite the failure to increase capital investment and improve efficiency. It locates privatization within the process of capital accumulation, with rents and rent-seeking as an integral part of this. In this context, water privatization provides opportunities for the creation of entrepreneurs through the allocation of rents in the form of water-related contracts. The paper provides preliminary evidence, drawing from privatized water and sewerage projects in the state of Selangor to illustrate how this offers rents for both bumiputera (Malay) and non-bumiputera entrepreneurs. Rent-seeking is driven by changes in social formations and specifically the emergence of a Malay middle class that needed to be politically accommodated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: HIV late presenters were defined as individuals presenting with a CD4 count below 350 cells/μL or with an AIDS-defining event, according to the European Late Presenter Consensus working group. Early diagnosis and treatment of HIV have proven beneficial for people living with HIV (PLHIV), reducing the burden on healthcare systems, and contributing to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic. However, in Malaysia, over 50% of newly diagnosed HIV patients present late, leading to increased morbidity and premature mortality. This study aims to determine the prevalence of late HIV presenters and its association with HIV-related stigma and HIV knowledge among PLHIV attending public primary care clinics in Selangor. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at selected public health clinics in Selangor, involving PLHIV aged 18 years and older, who were diagnosed since 2019. HIV-related stigma was measured using the Malay version of Berger's HIV Stigma Scale, and HIV knowledge was assessed using the Malay version of Brief HIV-KQ-18. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with late HIV presentation. Results: A total of 400 participants were included in the study, with 60.0% (n = 240, 95% CI: 55.0–65.0) classified as late presenters. The participants had a mean age of 30.29 (±7.77) years. The risk factors for late presenters were high levels of HIV-related stigma (aOR = 1.049, 95% CI: 1.034–1.063, p-value <0.001), low levels of HIV knowledge (aOR = 0.709, 95% CI: 0.646–0.778, p-value <0.001), tertiary education background (aOR = 15.962, 95% CI: 1.898–134.235, p-value = 0.011), and being single (aOR = 3.582, 95% CI: 1.393–9.208, p-value = 0.008). Conclusion: This study highlights the association between high levels of HIV-related stigma, low levels of HIV knowledge, and late HIV presentation. Interventions targeting stigma reduction and HIV education can promote early testing and prompt access to care, improving health outcomes for PLHIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ku-band have a larger attenuation during heavy rain in the equatorial region. Despite that, Ku-band has been identified as a frequency band in high-throughput satellite systems (HTS) for broadband satellite communication. The available rain fade prediction models are still not able to accurately predict rain attenuation in the equatorial region. The models depend on the specific attenuation parameters produced based on the international telecommunication union radiocommunication sector (ITU-R) instead of the measured value. Direct measurement of specific attenuation is more accurate but difficult to obtain because the correlation of rainfall rate and satellite signal loss due to rain must be obtained simultaneously. This paper aims to derive new specific attenuation frequency-dependent coefficients for Ku-band using the semi-empirical method. The Malaysia East Asia Satellite 3 (MEASAT-3) satellite data was collected using a 13 m antenna located at Cyberjaya, Selangor while the rainfall data was collected by the nearby hydrological station. The specific attenuation was obtained from correlations of the direct measurement of rain attenuation and rainfall rate. The new frequency-dependent coefficients for Ku-band specific attenuation values are k = 4.6690 and α = 0.1941. The newly acquired specific attenuation coefficients have improved the rain attenuation model prediction for the equatorial region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While job insecurity has been widely studied across various contexts, the empirical study within the Malaysian context remained scarce. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of job insecurity on deviant workplace behaviour on employees from retrenching organizations. This study also explored the effects of emotional intelligence and job embeddedness as moderating variables. Respondents were selected from retrenching organizations located in Johore, Penang and Selangor as these three states had the highest number of retrenchment cases in the country. Hypotheses testing was carried out using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), the SmartPLS version 2.0. Overall, the results showed that job insecurity was negatively related to affective commitment and positively related to job-related tension. No relationship was detected between affective commitment and deviant workplace behaviour; however job-related tension correlated positively to deviant workplace behaviour. There was also a significant moderating influence of emotional intelligence on affective commitment and deviant workplace behaviour as well as on the relationship between job-related tension and deviant workplace behaviour. In addition, job embeddedness moderated the relationship between jobrelated tension and deviant workplace behaviour. The implications of the results to both theory and practice are discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid infrastructure development in Malaysia especially in Selangor causes drastic change in landscape and clearing of more vegetated areas. This has gradually lead to slope instability problems that causes enormous loss affecting human lives, destruction of property and environment. Thus, conservation practices by incorporating vegetation to enhance slope stability is much needed alternative to the conventional technique of stabilization. Limited studies had been done in discovering the effectiveness of vegetative covers in relation to slope and soil parameters. Hence, in this paper, a parametric study is carried out to discover the relationship between some of the various vegetation species and different soil types as well as slope angles. Conventional limit equilibrium methods are applied in the analysis considering the soil shear strength parameters, unit weight of soil, as well as slope geometry. Typical scenarios of cut-slope along highways in Selangor are simulated in order to obtain comparable results from the stability assessment by means of calculating the factor of safety. The modelling showed that shallow slip failure can be prevented when sufficient number of roots of a certain tensile force interact with the slip plane, increasing the overall factor of safety of the slope. The percentage of FOS increased due to the vegetation effects can reach up to 43% with slope angles ranging between 15° and 25°. Moreover, based on the parametric study, silty soils showed more significance in contributing to the increase in FOS when incorporating vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]