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Purpose: The world after the pandemic of COVID-19 is looking at a different environment in teaching and learning and primarily being influenced by general online learning readiness. Perception towards the measurement of online learning readiness would also need to change. This study seeks to determine whether Malaysian undergraduate students are ready to study online if the Movement Control Order (MCO) is reimposed. Design/methodology/approach: Using an online poll, this study analysed 299 undergraduate students from Malaysia's public and private universities. The collected data were then analysed using SmartPLS software to test the measurement model and structural equation modelling. Findings: The findings of this study indicate that computer self-efficacy and self-directed learning have a substantially positive link with online learning preparedness among Malaysian undergraduate students. Research limitations/implications: Findings in this study indicate that universities should draw comprehensive plans to enhance students' readiness in terms of indicators such as technology usage, technology availability, computer and internet efficacy, self-directed learning and attitude. One of the aspects that require change is online communication self-efficacy. Thus, there is a need for improvement, or this would affect undergraduates adversely, especially in the event of future MCO. Originality/value: The originality of this article lies in the time frame this study was conducted, where cases of coronavirus infection are seen to increase around the world and there is a possibility that movement restrictions will be re-enforced. The findings in this study are expected to give insight to the government in the effort of the national higher education plan. By not undervaluing previous research models, this research model should give a new perspective to the academic literature on online learning among undergraduate students.

In the 21st century, mobile games have become a growing interest among children, including primary school students. This can be a great opportunity for instructors to utilize mobile games approaches and students' interest in games for education teaching and learning purposes, specifically in the primary classroom environment. However, there is no study yet considering the effect between individual and collaborative game-based learning (GBL) on students' knowledge. Experimental research was conducted in a public primary school to address the issue. The present study successfully determined the effectiveness of individual and collaborative GBL using tablets in improving students' knowledge in a primary classroom environment. Three groups of Standard Five students were given a pre-test before the intervention, followed by each group were taught using different approaches of conventional learning, individual and collaborative GBL, respectively. Subsequently, the students were given a post-test after the intervention. The test of homogeneity results indicated that the model was normally distributed and could be used for the intervention. The results of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) on students' post-test scores show the collaborative GBL had the highest mean, which was 9.324 at Day 4. Additionally, the collaborative group also had the highest mean of trials and success rate during intervention among the three groups as the days increased, which were 3.8 and 0.6, respectively. The collaborative GBL was the most effective among three different approaches. The students had a group discussion to share and organize ideas and critical thinking between their group members on what they have learned from previous intervention days into the current intervention session. The major findings of the present study revealed the potential of collaborative GBL using the tablet in the primary classroom environment in improving students' understanding, knowledge, problem-solving, communications and critical thinking skills.

Purpose: The study aims to examine the influence of soft skill integration on the interpersonal soft skill levels of diploma business students in the private higher education institutions based in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia. Research Methods: The study was guided by the Soft Skill Development Model (2006) and the Soft Skill Integration method, according to Devadason, Subramaniam and Daniel (2010). This paper applied a descriptive quantitative survey method to assess the levels and relationships between the variables. A set of self-administered questionnaires were adapted based on Devadason, Subramaniam and Daniel's (2010) instruments. The questionnaires were distributed through a proportionate stratified random sampling method to 429 respondents from 12 private higher learning institutions in three northern states of Peninsular Malaysia. Descriptive analysis, correlation, and regression analyses were applied in the findings. Findings: The results revealed a significant influence of the overall soft skill integration towards communication and teamwork levels. The study also advocated the significant impact of soft skill integration in problem-solving and critical thinking on all of the four essential soft skills elements. Implications for Research and Practice: Despite decades of emphasis on soft skill development, soft skill integration in Malaysia is still not at an optimal level. Embedding soft skills would lead to more real-life experiences, and they will horn students' skills, especially their problem-solving ability. The empirical evidence of soft skill integration contributes towards innovative teaching and learning experiences, social innovation, and the impact on school policies to develop what is required in the industry.

Purpose: Students' ability to self-regulate their learning and to learn effectively with peers are indicators of success in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution. This study investigated whether peer learning helps to influence online learning satisfaction in the presence of self-regulated learning (SRL) as a mediating variable. Methodology: The study adopted a correlational research design to examine the possibility of relationships between these variables. The sample was selected based on proportional stratified sampling method. Of the 409 respondents, only 347 were valid for data analysis, forming a usable case of 84.84%. The instrument used was an online questionnaire adapted from pre-existing reliable multi-item instruments. Structural Equation Model (SEM) analysis was used to examine the relationship between the constructs in the hypothesised model, while Bootstrapping test was applied to examine the mediation effects of SRL. Findings: From the direct effect of the SEM analysis, students' ability to learn with peers was found to have significantly influenced their SRL strategies, while SRL strategies were found to have a positive and statistically significant effect on online learning satisfaction. Moreover, the findings from the Bootstrapping test concurred that the influence of peer learning on online learning satisfaction was fully mediated by SRL. Significance: By understanding the mediator roles played by SRL, this study hopes to provide insights for universities and course instructors to make pedagogically informed design decisions by integrating appropriate SRL strategies in the development of blended learning courses.

Managing education and research during pandemics has increased in importance since the onset of epidemics such as avian flu, SARS and now COVID-19. Successful management in times of crisis ensures business continuity and institutional survival, making preparedness preceding an impending pandemic essential. Institutions of higher education (IHEs) must maintain balance between academic continuity and preventing morbidity during a pandemic crisis. To date, however, no general pandemic preparedness frameworks exist for IHEs. The aim of this paper is to report on the development of a Haddon matrix framework for IHE pandemic preparedness based on a scoping literature review of past IHE responses including pre-, during and post-pandemic phases. First, a review of previous global responses by IHEs during past pandemics was carried out. The review findings were then collated into a new IHE-centric Haddon matrix for pandemic preparedness. The content of the matrix is then illustrated through the documented responses of Malaysian universities during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The resulting IHE Haddon matrix can be used by universities as a general guide to identify preparedness gaps and intervention opportunities for business continuity during pandemics.

Purpose: The availability of new innovative learning spaces together with the introduction of new teaching and learning strategies have shifted the nature of the classroom from a place of instruction towards a place that produces authentic learning. Students in the 21st century are inclined to learn with peers, through the use technology to produce the information as the result of their collaboration. This research examines the effect of learning space design and teaching strategies on undergraduate students' collaborative learning behaviour in the Mobile X-Space classroom. Methodology: This study used a quantitative survey research design to measure students' learning experience in the Mobile X-Space classroom. A set of online self-reported questionnaire was posted through the official Learning Management System of the university to collect data from 467 undergraduate students in a Malaysian top private university. Through exploratory factor analysis, three factors were identified: (a) teaching strategies, (b) collaborative learning behaviour and (c) space design. Pearson's correlation and multiple regression were run to assess the relationship between learning space design and teaching strategies conducted by the lecturers on the collaborative learning behaviour of the students. Two-way factorial ANOVA with Post Hoc tests were performed to determine the effects of gender and study semester of the students on their collaborative learning behaviour. Findings: The results from the multiple regression analysis revealed that both (i) teaching strategies, and (ii) space design were positively correlated with collaborative learning behaviour of the students. The results from Person's correlation showed a significant, strong and positive relationship between teaching strategies conducted by the lecturers on the collaborative learning behaviour among the students. Also, there was a statistically significant, strong and positive relationship between learning space design on the teaching strategies of the lecturers. In addition, the results from two-way factorial ANOVA showed that collaborative learning behaviour was different for groups in different study semesters. However, there was no statistically significant difference for collaborative learning behaviour between different genders in all semesters. Significance: The outcomes of this research will be beneficial in enhancing the support and design of future learning spaces and add value to the present educational model. It is also beneficial in guiding academics in determining the practical teaching and learning approaches in the flexible learning spaces, which could be more suitable for the millennium youth who are more tech-savvy and favour Internet of things in their daily lives. This type of learning space will help to improve the students' soft skills and collaborative skills, that are very useful in their future employability in the actual work settings.

Despite extensive research on ICT integration among teachers, limited knowledge was given to understand the successful integration of ICT among teachers. For those purposes, a single-case study aimed to explain the successful integration of ICT by teachers into teaching in one national primary school in Malaysia. Data were collected using multi-method of data collection including in-depth interviews, non-participants observations, and document analysis. The results discovered three models that lead to teachers' successful ICT integration in teaching, explaining how the interactions between the contradictions, causes of contradictions, and resolutions of contradictions have hindered or influenced the teachers to integrate ICT in their teaching. The findings indicate the activity system of department and school (prior activities) influencing activity system of the classroom (recent activity), led to the successful integration of ICT by teachers in teaching.

As a crucial feature of assessment for learning (AfL), questioning technique plays an important part in student learning. In an AfL classroom, questioning technique is not merely a pedagogical tool to elicit evidence of students' understanding but also a means to improve their understanding. Effective classroom questioning underpins AfL; However, research into AfL raises significant doubt about the efficiency of teachers' questioning during AfL especially in Malaysian primary schools where AfL is still in its infancy. The current study illuminates the process of classroom questioning during AfL in a Malaysian primary school ESL context. This qualitative case study was conducted in a selected primary school around Selangor, Malaysia. Three ESL teachers teaching in the selected school took part in the study. In order to collect data, twenty periods of each teacher's classroom were observed. Then, interview was conducted with each individual teacher. Interviews and observations were tape-recorded verbatim and transcribed for further analysis. The results indicated that the low-cognitive level of questioning techniques and strategies were utilized by the three teachers. Many findings of this study point to the fact that teachers are still practicing teacher-centered syllabus. The results of the current study showed that the traditional concept of questioning was maintained and classroom questioning did not seem to fulfill the promise of enhancing learner autonomy which is the focus of AfL. The students were not encouraged to ask questions and engage in self-reflection. Many of them were silent oftentimes during classroom questioning and questions were usually answered by a specific group of students or the teachers themselves. Recommendations were made based on the results of the study.

It is conceivably important that demographic variables such as gender may have an impact on community of inquiry (CoI) and perceived learning. This study is in response with Garrison et al. (2010) who suggest that there is a need to determine moderation effects of gender on the relationship between CoI elements and perceived learning. A total of 348 undergraduate students were drawn from blended programs in three public universities in Malaysia to be the sample of the study. As research instrumentation, participation in online and face-to-face session, the community of inquiry questionnaire, and a perceived learning scale were distributed among the respondents. All the questionnaires were validated by a panel of experts, reliability of the instrument was tested in a pilot study and assumptions of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were checked before analyzing the data. The findings of the study have shown that although differences between the two groups of undergraduate students (male and female) were statistically significant, the amount of differences were not enough to moderate the relationship between CoI components and perceived learning in undergraduate blended learning environments. However, the findings indicate that differences between the two groups of undergraduate students (male and female) were statistically significant.

This study examined specific issues and concerns faced by Bachelor of Education student teachers majoring in Language and Literature during their 12-week teaching practicum experience. Specifically, three main areas of concerns were examined. They were: (1) specific issues and concerns related to the implementation of teaching practicum faced by the student teachers; (2) Effect of interactions with the mentor teachers and faculty supervisor on the effectiveness of the practicum experience; and (3) the expectations of the mentor teacher and faculty supervisors on the performance of the student s during their practicum experience. The findings indicated that student teachers were concerned over a series of instructional, administration and student management issues during their practicum experience. Besides, the interactions with their mentor teachers and faculty supervisors, and their expectations of their student teachers seemed to have affected the performance of the student teachers during the practicum experience. The concerns they expressed in study therefore were genuine and they must be duly addressed by the faculty supervisors, mentor teachers, faculty management, faculty curriculum developers and school management.

To date, lots of research was carried out solely on the effectiveness of Authentic Learning principles in service learning. The results showed positive relationships between theories and practices because students had become relatively analytical thinkers, problem-solvers and collaborators. The uses of Authentic Learning and Facebook in service learning, however, are under research. Hence, this paper tends to investigate the effectiveness of Authentic Learning Principles and Facebook in promoting active learning among students in their service learning curriculum. These students are from Albukhary International University (AiU) whereby service-learning curriculum also known as Community Engagement Project (CEP) has been introduced to all undergraduate students across their 3-year curriculum. Purposive samplings were employed to find out the students' preferences in using Authentic Learning Principles together with Facebook as a social media tool in their service learning projects. Surveys which consisted of Likert-scale questions were administered to ninety-six (99) students from 20 different countries. Fifty-one percent (51%) of the students were males and the other forty-nine (49%) were females. The results have shown that Authentic Learning Principles and Facebook as a tool of communication have effectively enhanced students' learning experience in service learning.

Knowledge of Diverse Learners (KDL) is increasingly recognized as an essential component of knowledge base for effective teaching as in today's schools, teachers must be prepared to teach a diverse population of student (Banks et al. 2005). In other words, teachers need to be aware that their students in a classroom are and always have been different from one another in a variety of ways. KDL refers to an understanding of diversity of students in terms of their abilities and interests and how they respond to diverse situations; an application of different teaching strategies; and how various types of classroom activities might be managed. Although KDL has come to be seen as important, details of its development, depth and quality among pre-service teachers (PSTs) has remained something of mystery, as has the capability of PSTs to adapt and employ KDL into their actual teaching. As an effort to develop coherent understanding of the feature of prospective teachers regarding KDL, this paper addresses three questions. First, to what extent are the PSTs prepared for KDL as they are finishing the teacher education programmes? Secondly, how do the PSTs apply the KDL in their teaching practices? Thirdly, how do PSTs reflect on their practice in undertaking the elements of KDL during the teaching practices? This paper illustrates the results of a study involving a sample of 74 PSTs at a university in Malaysia. At the beginning of the study, 74 PSTs were given a questionnaire. 11 PSTs have been observed and interviewed. Result indicates that PSTs were able to develop KDL and show their understanding of it, yet not readily apply such knowledge in modified situations. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of soft skill integration in the curriculum on quality of college life of diploma business students in Malaysian private higher educational institutions. Design/methodology/approach: Descriptive quantitative survey research was used to assess the views and relationship between variables from 429 business students in Peninsular Malaysia. The adapted self-administered questionnaires were distributed through stratified random sampling method. Descriptive analysis, correlation and regression analysis were used in the findings. Findings: The results advocated significant influence from soft skill integration on quality of college life. Soft skill integration in critical thinking and problem solving especially has significant positive influence on quality of college life in all the aspects from academic, social and also facilities. Research limitations/implications: Generalizability of the research as it was conducted in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia only. It was also limited by subjectivity bias of the students who responded to the questionnaire. Practical implications: The implication of this study was that it serves as an evidence-based information of soft skill integration and effects on college quality. In this way, it provides an empirical reference to the authorities for better guidelines, evaluation, control and development in the curriculum, delivery approaches, co-curriculum, campus environment or facilities. Social implications: Local education in particular is closely linked to the neighboring community and also dependent on the socio-economic needs of the state or region. According to Kayrooz and Parker (2010), greater engagement with local issues and higher local autonomy for spending could lead to greater effectiveness and efficiencies. Originality/value: The study was a pioneering research in the context of Malaysian private higher education, guided by Devadason et al.'s (2010) soft skill integration study in Malaysian public higher education, plus Sirgy et al.'s (2007) study on quality of college life.

Marriage is a way of gaining a peaceful mind and soul, be it monogamous or polygamous marriage. This is the sweetness of marriage as enshrined by Islam. To achieve this wisdom, conditions laid down by the religion and legal requirements must be observed. Otherwise, a marriage may turn into a miserable and thorny life for couples, especially in polygamy. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to disseminate legal knowledge and refine the understanding about polygamous law in Malaysia. The central arguments of this study are two-pronged: (1) to deliberate on the Malaysian legal framework for polygamous marriage and (2) to discuss a crucial legal issue related to polygamy, namely cross-border marriage and its effects. The qualitative method of doctrinal legal research was employed to obtain and analyse primary and secondary data from various sources. It included examining the statutes and decided cases of the Syariah Courts, including reported and unreported cases. The relevant statutes studied were the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territories) Act 1984 and the Enactment of Islamic Family Law (Kedah Darul Aman) 2008. In substantiating arguments, data from e-Syariah Version 3 (ESV3) was used together with existing literature. The findings revealed that refusal or failure to comply with legal requirements pertaining to polygamous marriage may lead to cross-border marriage and its aftermath effects on the legality of the marriage, jurisdiction of the court, and the rights of wives and children in the context of law. Hence, the enforcement of existing laws on polygamy should be emphasised to control any abuse of power by a man to contract a polygamous marriage. More importantly, the laws and enforcement should be strengthened to protect the rights of the wives and children. Future research may focus on issues involving the rights of the wives and children of a polygamous marriage upon the death of the husband or father according to Islamic family law in Malaysia and its implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees, Malaysia does not legally recognize them. Instead, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) conducts the refugee status determination process, and Malaysia expects them to take care of refugees, although community-based and nongovernmental organizations do most of this work. The Malaysian government, concerned by the increasing number of foreigners registered by the UNHCR, introduced the Tracking Refugee Information System scheme to form a national database for "security reasons." Contracted to a private company, this yearly registration scheme with high fees provides no rights to cardholders. This article highlights the role of the Malaysian government, the UNHCR, community organizations, and a private company to make sense of the variable refugee registration regimes that increasingly use technological tools to collect refugee biodata to police refugees without increasing refugee protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the knowledge and perceptions of sexual education and teenage pregnancy among Indigenous people in Pekan, Malaysia. The research aimed to address the high rates of teenage pregnancy, particularly among unmarried teenagers, in the country. Through qualitative methods, including semistructured interviews with Indigenous participants, several themes emerged. These themes included the sources of sexual education, such as formal and informal channels, first sexual experiences, safe-sex beliefs, and the importance of sexual education for children. The study also explored perceptions of teenage pregnancy, identifying factors like young marriage and premarital dating. Participants shared their views on premarital motherhood among those under 20 years old, as well as the acceptance and responses of parents and the responsibility of the baby's father. The study highlighted the complications of teenage pregnancy for both the baby and mother. The findings revealed a lack of sexual education knowledge among Indigenous participants, attributed to limited access to facilities like mobile phones and limited interaction with outsiders. The study recommends further research and the dissemination of awareness and knowledge about sexual education, particularly through campaigns and outreach efforts to Indigenous communities, while also emphasise the need to review the effectiveness of these initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sanitation is crucial in the food industry, involving cleaning and disinfection processes to ensure facility cleanliness. This study examined sanitation knowledge and practices among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia's frozen meat sector. It also evaluated the acceptance of eco-friendly sanitation technology, specifically an electrolysis unit producing electrolyzed water. Data was collected through an open-ended online questionnaire using Google Forms. The questionnaire comprises demographic profiles, sanitation knowledge, sanitation program design knowledge, sanitation challenges, and the acceptance of integrating a green cleaner with the current sanitation program. Results show SME manufacturers possess sanitation knowledge but face implementation challenges due to absent sanitation programs, skilled labor shortage, hot water supply issues, difficulty cleaning narrow spaces in equipment, chemical storage, and budget constraints. Due to low-temperature operations, only 73 % of frozen meat industries use hot water for sanitation. Additionally, 45 % lack wastewater treatment, leading to chemical residue discharge into municipal drainage. SMEs show interest in electrolyzed water for its dual role as a cleaning and disinfecting agent. The technology's room-temperature efficacy and environmentally friendly degradation into salt and water appeal to SMEs. Adopting electrolysis sanitation technology is expected to significantly reduce costs by utilizing only salt, water, and electricity for electrolyzed water generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Business Intelligence (BI) encompasses a suite of strategies, processes, applications, and technologies that convert raw data into valuable insights for business analysis. By aiding in informed decision-making, BI empowers organizations to enhance their competitive edge and streamline internal operations. It not only uncovers new prospects but also refines customer service and bolsters profitability. Through historical, real-time, and predictive perspectives on business operations, BI facilitates well-informed choices. Leveraging BI tools, businesses dissect consumer behavior, detect trends, and devise potent marketing tactics. BI amplifies comprehension of customers, rivals, and markets, leading to astute decisions that foster profitability. This study amassed data via a survey of 162 IT managers in multinational corporations within Malaysia. Employing partial least squares (PLS) through SmartPLS software, the analysis reveals that BI, along with its insights, contributes to effective management practices. Notably, the information requisites may shift based on the balance between uncertainty and ambiguity in an organization's practices. Nevertheless, the research gap remains concerning the relationship between BI, its significance, and business performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stress, depression, and anxiety are prevalent issues among SME employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even while having meaningful work that expressively contributes to individual growth has been related to improving mental health, employees' work may also need to adopt coping strategies to increase outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between meaningful work (positive meaning, meaning-making, and greater good motivations) and mental health, as well as coping strategies (problem-focused and emotion-focused) as a mediator of this relationship. Methods: Meaningful work, coping strategies, and mental health were evaluated in empirical research based on a sample of 462 SME employees working in Malaysia. Structured questionnaires were used to collect the data and analyze it through Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) using AMOS 21.0. Results: The findings of the study show the importance of meaningful work in influencing the mental health of SME employees, particularly during a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. This suggests that the more they value and see their work as meaningful, the more capable they are of dealing with limitations and mental health problems associated with crises. The study also discovered a partial mediating role for coping strategies between employees' mental health and meaningful work. Conclusion: This study encourages employees to constantly feel connected and discover continued possibilities to work and learn even during crisis situations. In order to improve human resource efficiency in emerging markets, managers and owners of SMEs must implement the model developed by the researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Formative assessment refers to frequent evaluation of student attainment to identify learning needs. It is crucial for the development of soft skills and improvement in learning progress in the classroom. However, the practice is still lacking and undervalued in medical education. This study aims to determine the level of beliefs and perceived practices of formative assessment among lecturers teaching undergraduate medical programme in a Malaysian university. Methods: A self-administered 27-item questionnaire was distributed to 62 lecturers in a medical school in Selangor, Malaysia. They were required to indicate their agreement and frequency on each item that describes their beliefs on the importance and practice of formative assessment in the medical programme. All data was analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics software version 26. Results: Majority of the respondents indicated that the assessment was conducted frequently during small group sessions (64.5%), through written examination (59.7%) and during practical classes (53.2%). The respondents rated positively on the importance and practice of formative assessment. The score of formative assessment practice through scaffolding was significantly higher than monitoring (Z = 944.5, p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between beliefs and practice of formative assessment (r(62) = 0.213, p = 0.097). Additionally, the duration of service had no significant association with their perception and practice of formative assessment (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study suggested that regardless of their level of experience, lecturers exhibited a positive perception of and engagement with formative assessment in training medical students. A substantial improvement of peer and self-assessment practices is warranted to foster student autonomy and accountability on their learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Government response to building calamities using certain approaches depends on the types of building failures. Such approaches are the Periodic Building Inspection (PBI) in Malaysia and the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme (MBIS) in Hong Kong. Both statutory requirements are meant to maintain the safety and structural integrity of buildings, and MBIS is selected for comparison with PBI because of the many parallelisms between the applications of both laws. Since it was made a statutory requirement in 1994, studies have found that PBI implementation by various local authorities in the Klang Valley region, Malaysia was insufficient. Comparing both statutory requirements offer insight and understanding into the compliance issues and solutions, therefore, benefiting the PBI from the proposed improvements. To achieve the aforementioned goal, the following objectives are proposed: a) To compare both statutory periodic building inspections; b) To identify gaps and best practices in both statutory periodic building inspections; and c) To propose improvements for PBI implementation. This research involves data gathering and comparative reviews of prior studies on PBI and MBIS. The study's outcomes suggest significant similarities in the challenges faced during the implementation of both statutory periodic inspections. These challenges encompass unclear legal procedures, insufficient government participation, and weak enforcement. Building owners in both localities also encounter hurdles related to financial limitations, gaining consensus from residents, and selecting suitable engineers. Hong Kong's targeted inspection using a risk-based approach priority can be emulated by local authorities in Malaysia. Hong Kong's approach of allowing other qualified professionals like registered architects and building surveyors to perform initial visual inspections could also be applied in Malaysia. KPKT should consider providing financial support to low cost building owners, similar to the initiatives of the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) and Urban Renewal Authority (URA). Local authorities and KPKT need to refine their service delivery through improved inter-departmental collaboration and heightened engagement with building owners. Revisions to Act 133, mirroring enforcement methods in Hong Kong, would be beneficial. Additionally, efforts should be made to raise public awareness about the significance of conducting PBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blended learning as "third generation" of distance learning has the potential to offer multimethod instruction through the blend, to leverage the strengths of current online and traditional instructions. Therefore, higher education institutions having recognized the fact that blended learning is beneficial, adopted this alternative approach as a new educational delivery method. The study determined the difference in perceived learning among three different blended learning environments in Malaysian higher education institutions. The data were collected from three public universities in Peninsular Malaysia and the respondents were undergraduate students from these universities. The result showed that the students' presence in classroom meetings contributes to their learning. The results also indicate that high levels of perceived learning were reported by undergraduate student in the blended learning environment face-to-face meeting rather than online sessions.

Background: Child malnutrition problems still occur in Malaysia, particularly stunting. This study aimed to determine the proportion of stunting among children below 5 years old and investigate the factors associated with stunting on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Methods: This study utilised data from the 2016 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS). Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with malnutrition among non-stunted and stunted children. Results: The proportion of stunting among children below 5 years old in this East Coast region was 26.2%. When divided by state, Kelantan had the highest proportion of stunting, followed by Pahang and Terengganu, at 28.8%, 26.2% and 23.4%, respectively. In this study, the factors associated with stunting were children aged 24 months old--59 months old (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.26, 1.83; P < 0.001), male children (aOR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.23, 1.76; P < 0.001), Orang Asli children (aOR: 2.84; 95% CI: 1.86, 4.32; P < 0.001), children with low birth weight from 1,500 g to 2,499 g (aOR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.36, 2.55; P < 0.001) and children from households that practice unsanitary waste disposal (aOR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.16, 1.74; P = 0.001). Conclusion: Stunting among children under the age of 5 years old on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia remains a public health problem. To reduce the prevalence of stunting in this region, intervention programmes should be intensified. Emphasis should be placed on public health programmes that target the associated factors, such as dietary habits, Orang Asli children, low birth weight and unsanitary waste disposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine the determinants of motivation that influences Malaysian and Indonesian millennials to contribute cash waqf. Design/methodology/approach: The present study used self-determination theory and 423 respondents, of which 205 respondents are from Malaysia and 218 from Indonesia. The study developed a self-administrative questionnaire, and it is distributed through an online survey method, and the data are analysed using SmartPLS partial least squares analysis. Findings: The results show that perceived donor effectiveness and moral obligation factors influence both Malaysians and Indonesian millennials to make cash waqf contributions. Meanwhile, the face concern factor did not significantly affect millennials in Malaysia and Indonesia to contribute cash waqf. Furthermore, the sense of self-worth factor appears to significantly influence only Indonesian millennials but not Malaysian millennials. Research limitations/implications: The research findings have significant theoretical and practical ramifications. Firstly, while face concern has a positive effect on millennials' willingness to contribute cash to waqf, it is not statistically significant in Muslim populations. This implies that to persuade millennials to make cash waqf contributions, the face concern argument should be avoided. Originality/value: The comparative study between Malaysia and Indonesia adds new value to this study. These two Muslim majority countries have similar attributes in terms of religion, demography and race background. Furthermore, the focus of this study, which targets units of analysis from millennials, has received very little attention in the literature related to cash waqf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) has been subjected to a wide range of debate around the globe. In Malaysia, SOEs or government-linked companies (GLCs) play a significant role in shaping the economy. This study investigates whether GLCs with large debts suffer from poor financial performance as proposed by Public Choice Theory, and whether corporate governance mechanisms and board diversity as suggested by Agency Theory and Human Capital Theory can moderate the impact of debt on the GLCs’ financial performance. Utilizing longitudinal data from 20 largest GLCs listed on Bursa Malaysia from 2005 to 2019, our results show that the negative relationship between leverage and financial performance is not statistically significant, hence Public Choice Theory is not supported. CEO duality is found to significantly exacerbate the negative relationship between leverage and financial performance, while a higher proportion of independent directors attenuate, thus supporting Agency Theory. We also found that ethnic diversity weakens the negative relationship between leverage and financial performance, supporting the presumption in Human Capital Theory that diversity in personalities strengthen organizational performance. This study offers theoretical and policy implications surrounding corporate governance practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measures preservice teachers' attitudes toward information technology (IT) following their participation in a discrete IT course taught in a constructivist learning environment where the students collaborated to achieve their learning goals and problem solve on tasks. Results revealed that with the constructivist learning approach infused in the IT course, there was a positive shift in participants' attitudes toward IT. (Author/AEF)

Amphibians of Sekayu lowland forest have been studied more than a decade, with discoveries of new records of species showing no sign of abating between the years 2003 to 2020, indicating the remarkably rich diversity of anurans in this forest. Despite ceaseless anthropogenic activities in this area, this study successfully recorded 52 species of amphibians from 32 genera in the lowland forest of Sekayu. The species composition consisted of a single species from the family Ichthyophiidae and 51 species of anurans of 31 genera and six families. The number of species recorded has steadily increased especially during more recent surveys from 2015 to 2020. This study augments the total number of amphibian species recorded from Hulu Terengganu by ten additional species, increasing the total to 70 species for the district. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sediment samples were collected from 19 sampling stations of Pahang River, east coast Malaysia to determine the concentration of arsenic (As), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and bacterial colony forming unit (CFU) distribution. Sampling was conducted during pre and post of North-East monsoon season for the years 2013 and 2022. Heavy metal concentrations were determined by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The concentration of heavy metals was compared with the world average concentration of shale values. The dry weight concentration of As ranged between 4.387 ± 0.586 to 15.922 ± 8.738 µg·g–1 during pre-monsoon. While it was 3.989 ± 0.758 to 11.336 ± 6.748 µg·g–1 during post-monsoon. The range of dry weight concentration for Co was found between 1.730 ± 0.318 and 4.569 ± 0.586 µg·g–1 during pre-monsoon while 1.476 ± 0.063 and 4.620 ± 0.951 µg·g–1 during post-monsoon. The dry weight concentration of Cu ranged between 1.182 ± 0.510 to 10.722 ± 5.664 µg·g–1 and 0.900 ± 0.222 to 6.514 ± 3.749 µg·g–1 during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon, respectively. The range dry weight concentration for Zn was found between 7.964 ± 4.857 and 26.289 ± 2.636 µg·g–1 during pre-monsoon while 8.187 ± 3.010 and 28.347 ± 15.665 µg·g–1 during post-monsoon. The bacterial community in sediments along Pahang River was determined using culture-based method. The bacterial CFU range was found between 1526.67 ± 64.68 and 16146.67 ± 225.71 CFU/g during pre-monsoon while 1013.33 ± 38.51 and 28826.67 ± 418.47 CFU/g during post-monsoon. This study revealed that the concentration of heavy metals does not influence the distribution of bacteria in the Pahang River sediments. Even though the concentrations of heavy metals studied are typically below reported toxic levels, ongoing monitoring of river ecosystems is an essential to safeguard this ecosystem and ensure that the pollution from heavy metals is under conducive condition throughout these increased industrialization and urbanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tillering and yield are linked in rice, with significant efforts being invested to understand the genetic basis of this phenomenon. However, in addition to genetic factors, tillering is also influenced by the environment. Exploiting experiments in which seedlings were first grown in elevated CO2 (eCO2) before transfer and further growth under ambient CO2 (aCO2) levels, we found that even moderate exposure times to eCO2 were sufficient to induce tillering in seedlings, which was maintained in plants grown to maturity plants in controlled environment chambers. We then explored whether brief exposure to eCO2 (eCO2 priming) could be implemented to regulate tiller number and yield in the field. We designed a cost-effective growth system, using yeast to increase the CO2 level for the first 24 days of growth, and grew these seedlings to maturity in semi-field conditions in Malaysia. The increased growth caused by eCO2 priming translated into larger mature plants with increased tillering, panicle number, and improved grain filling and 1000 grain weight. In order to make the process more appealing to conventional rice farmers, we then developed a system in which fungal mycelium was used to generate the eCO2 via respiration of sugars derived by growing the fungus on lignocellulosic waste. Not only does this provide a sustainable source of CO2, it also has the added financial benefit to farmers of generating economically valuable oyster mushrooms as an end-product of mycelium growth. Our experiments show that the system is capable of generating sufficient CO2 to induce increased tillering in rice seedlings, leading eventually to 18% more tillers and panicles in mature paddy-grown crop. We discuss the potential of eCO2 priming as a rapidly implementable, broadly applicable and sustainable system to increase tillering, and thus yield potential in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood transfusion is an important and crucial component of adult and pediatric patient care across all medical and surgical disciplines. One of the complications of blood transfusion that commonly confounds the blood transfusion service is the formation of alloantibodies and autoantibodies against red blood cell antigens. We hereby report a case of 31 years old female who developed multiple rhesus alloantibodies; anti-C and anti-e due to a previous history of transfusion, and she underwent a surgical procedure that required blood transfusion. This patient also has a very rare rhesus D-positive phenotype. The aim of reporting this case is to highlight the important role of transfusion medicine services in the early detection of antibodies in individuals with a history of multiple blood transfusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global cancer incidence and its high mortality rate indicate limitations in its current treatment and chemotherapeutic strategies. This sparked a worldwide interest in the demand for chemical diversity in searching for therapeutic drugs derived from natural products. Natural products from medicinal plants, whether as pure compounds or crude extracts, offer inexhaustible sources of new drugs because of their unparalleled chemical diversity. This review aims to disseminate detailed information on the anticancer potential of Malaysian medicinal plants, focusing on the bioactive phytochemicals and mechanisms of action against cancer development in both in vitro and in vivo studies. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases was conducted to find relevant articles on the anticancer activity of Malaysian medicinal plants. A total of hundred and twenty-two (122) articles on the anticancer activity of Malaysian medicinal plants was identified and reviewed. Eighty-five (85) plants (in vitro) and 16 plants (in vivo) have been identified to possess anticancer activity. The activity reported was attributed primarily to diverse chemical groups of naturally occurring phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenolics, glycosides, quercetin, and gallic acid. Henceforth, the findings will hope to aid further research in understanding the underlaying mechanism and the efficiency of the isolation of the bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the largest group of refugees in Malaysia, the Rohingya. Many Rohingya have made Malaysia their home, even though they have no legal status in the country. When COVID-19 was detected in Malaysia, the government followed a strategy of suppression, with targeted lockdowns in areas of COVID-19 outbreaks. As most refugees work to survive, they hold important front-line jobs and were exposed to COVID-19 at higher rates of infection than Malaysians. In this paper, we trace the way the Malaysian government, Malaysian people, and refugees encountered COVID-19, and how refugees became the subject of enhanced securitization and surveillance based on prejudice. We show how the state enacted securitization first at the borders, before it inverted this process and focused on domestic border work wherein neighborhoods, mosques and markets became central places of immigration control and exclusion for refugees. Based on data collected during ethnographic fieldwork in peninsular Malaysia between 2020 and 2021, we argue that the securitization of refugees, their surveillance and even expulsion and eviction demonstrates continued and heightened scapegoating of refugees for all of Malaysia's ills. These actions reinforced the stigma and stereotype of refugees being legally undocumented and therefore outside of and too often unwelcome in the Malaysian body politic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manuscript type: Research paper. Research aims: Drawing from the lens of dynamic capability view (DCV), this study investigates whether companies with big data analytics (BDA) capabilities, specifically BDA management, infrastructure, and personnel capabilities, disclose more sustainability posts on social media and whether such disclosure affects their competitive advantage. Design/Methodology/Approach: Data from 100 public listed firms in Malaysia were obtained from questionnaires and content analysis of Facebook pages. Smart PLS was employed to analyse the data. Research findings: The results suggest that in the context of Malaysia, BDA management capability significantly impacts sustainability reporting on social media (SRSM). The evidence also points to SSRM positively impacting a company's competitive advantage. Theoretical contribution/Originality: Theoretically, this study contributes to the literature on DCV. The findings provide insights into how BDA capabilities can help organisations focus on social media platforms and communicate with their stakeholders on sustainability performance. It also suggests that sustainability reporting on social media is associated with competitive advantage, as it allows for two-way interaction between organisations and its stakeholders. Practitioner/Policy implications: Practically, this study provides insights into the roles of accounting, social media, and big data within the current digital revolution. Specifically, it offers guidance to executives and managers on identifying the conditions that need to be present for BDA capability to add value to SRSM. Additionally, the findings here have implications for policymakers and businesses looking to use BDA in the context of SRSM to gain competitive advantage. Research limitation/Implications: Future studies could consider increasing the sample size. This study sheds light on the relevance of BDA capabilities in promoting sustainability issues using social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Working industry adapting the changes in working environment are influenced by employee capabilities in adapting new situation especially involving the technology. Law practitioner's fields are also affected from the change of how the industry works. Work wise, this transition gives an impact to the performance in term of facilities and evaluation of accurate legal materials. This study investigated the effect of digital literacy on individual work performance among practicing lawyers in Malaysia. The data was collected from 271 respondents which were extracted into statistics testing using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (SmartPLS). The results revealed that the independent variables, namely technical skill, cognitive skill and social-emotional skill, influenced individual work performance. This paper provides in depth discussion on significant relationship between digital literacy and individual work performance among the practicing lawyers in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is an extension of an earlier study that examined the relationship between information disclosure on donor commitment related to waqf institution. Data was obtained from a sample of 558 individuals in Malaysia who are a repeating cash donor to waqf. Partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) test using SmartPLS was used for data analysis. The findings indicated that future information disclosure and waqif (the person who gives waqf) significantly influenced the latter’s commitment. Additionally, the waqf, or trust in English, plays a role as a mediator between future information disclosure and governance information disclosure to the waqif’s commitment. This theoretical contribution has a practical implication as well in that, it indicates to the waqf or trust to disclose their report to donors to ensure sustainable collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In developed countries, contamination of soil due to industrial activities and illegal toxic waste disposal has been identified as major environmental problems. Established mechanisms for identifying, prioritizing, characterizing, assessing, and improving soil conditions have been implemented to reduce risks to human health and environmental receptors. However, the Contaminated Land Management System (CLMS) and the practices for the management of this contaminated land in Malaysia, including the enforcement of legislation are ineffective. The objective of this study is to discuss an overview of potential chemical substances, especially regarding its existence in contaminated soil in Malaysia. The report also examines the parameters of several heavy metals especially arsenic and mercury found in contaminated soil areas. In addition, this study is an explanatory effort to assess the level and characteristics of illegal disposal including current enforcement practices in Malaysia after three guidelines related to contaminated land management were developed by the Department of Environment (DOE) Malaysia in 2009. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock deformation is considered one of the essential rock properties used in designing and constructing rock-based structures, such as tunnels and slopes. This study applied two well-established ensemble techniques, including boosting and bagging, to the artificial neural networks and decision tree methods for predicting the Young's modulus of rock material. These techniques were applied to a dataset comprising 45 data samples from a mountain range in Malaysia. The final input variables of these models, including p-wave velocity, interlocking coarse-grained crystals of quartz, dry density, and Mica, were selected through a likelihood ratio test. In total, six models were developed: standard artificial neural networks, boosted artificial neural networks, bagged artificial neural networks, classification and regression trees, extreme gradient boosting trees (as a boosted decision tree), and random forest (as a bagging decision tree). The performance of these models was appraised utilizing correlation coefficient (R), mean absolute error (MAE), and lift chart. The findings of this study showed that, firstly, extreme gradient boosting trees outperformed all models developed in this study; secondly, boosting models outperformed the bagging models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Malaysia, social innovation programs are fully supported by the government. However, reports and findings on the related matter have yet to be comprehensively collected due to the current interest. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to provide a better insight and understanding on how social innovation projects could assist in achieving the SDG agenda. Since social innovation is emerging and has just recently been embraced in Malaysia, we present the study as a case based on an entrepreneur cooperative, named KOKULAC, with a grounded theory analysis as a core approach. The findings suggest that there are five sustainability development goals that are very closely related to KOKULAC's agenda. These goals are no poverty, zero hunger, decent work and economic growth, responsible consumption and production, and partnership for the goals. In addition, the case also presented how the values of sustainable development spur greater social benefits of shared prosperity. We conclude that the proposed model contributes to the expansion of innovation capability theory by shaping the innovations within the scope of social needs, which could be applied in other settings. For future research, we recommend a higher integration between the social innovation model and dynamic capabilities of the networking structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) significantly increases the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) due to an inappropriate, aberrant response of the mucosal immune system that can cause chronic irritation and malignant transformation. This prospective study included 8 patients who presented at the Gastroenterology Clinic of Serdang Hospital in Malaysia with a prolonged history of altered bowel habits. Blood tests, endoscopy, tissue biopsy, and whole-body positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) using fluorodeoxyglucose F 18 (18F-FDG) as biomarker for tumor imaging were performed. There was a correlation between a high maximum standardized uptake value with contrast-enhanced CT changes, endoscopic, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate findings and clinical presentation. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of 18F-FDG PET-CT were 100%. 18F-FDG PET-CT is a promising, noninvasive method that complements endoscopy in the investigation of IBD and may perhaps play a role as a gatekeeper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating Coal-Fired Power Plant (CFPP) performance is a complex process involving the determination of the turbine cycle Heat Rate (TCHR). This study focuses on determining the TCHR by developing a mathematical model. The model, which incorporates economic analysis of the plant, is developed using energy and mass balance relationships of the turbine cycle, validated using plant commissioning data from a 700MWn CFPP located in Perak, Malaysia. Actual plant data from a 700MWn CFPP is utilized to improve the accuracy and increase the confidence of the results of this study. It was found that at the nominal operating load of 729MWg, there is a Heat Rate (HR) deviation of -1,135 kJ/kWh, leading to daily losses of RM240,447 or USD 60,112. Furthermore, it is possible to utilize the developed model at lower loads as the plant is now being used to operate on "cyclic" loads. The daily losses at a lower load of 431MWg are RM125,767 or USD31,442. Thus, the model is able to compare the plant HR at various loads against commissioning data, and economic analysis is able to be carried out effectively. Valuable information for plant operations and performance engineers could be obtained using this model to determine plant HR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The factors of straightening the religiosity of Muslim converts (muallaf) are an important element especially involving zakat assistance. This is due to the fact that the zakat assistance is still an important allocation to muallaf. Thus, there are among muallaf who do not understand the faith of Islam well. As a result, they feel marginalized after embracing Islam. The objective of this article is to identify the factors strengthening influence of the level of religiosity among muallaf through zakat influencing factors which perception, psychology, motivation, environment, and faith. Thus, the design of this work is in the form of inferential statistics using the questionnaire form as the data collection method by structural equation modeling (SEM). There are 136 questionnaire forms analyzed involving the muallaf in Terengganu, Malaysia. Data analysis uses SPSS 22 and the Smart-PLS version 3.2.7. The finding will support continuous development with the aid of muallaf to strengthen religiosity through zakat assistance. There are four factors influencing the straightening religiosity among muallaf that are psychology, perception, motivation, and environment. It is hoped that the success of zakat assistances toward muallaf will produce quality for religion and avoid the negative perception of the public among muallaf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]