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The presence of pharmaceuticals in aquatic systems is a matter of great concern. As a result of their high solubility and low volatility, their removal has been very challenging. In this work, the synthesis, characterisation and adsorption study of graphene oxide-based magnetic nanoparticles (GO@Fe3O4) were explored for the removal of fluoroquinolones (FQs). GO@Fe3O4 adsorbent was synthesised by a one-step co-precipitation method using ammonium ferrous sulphate ((NH4)2FeSO4) and ferric chloride hexahydrate (FeCl3 · 6H2O) as iron sources and ammonium solution as precipitant. The removal of four FQs (ofloxacin, enrofloxacin, sparfloxacin. and gemifloxacin) by GO@Fe3O4 adsorbent was explored. The effect of contact time, initial pH of the solution, initial FQs concentration on the removal efficiency, and reusability were investigated. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model represented the adsorption process for GO@Fe3O4 adsorbent. The Freundlich isotherm model was a better fit with adsorption capacities of 44.4, 40.8, 64.0, and 51.8 mg/g for ofloxacin, enrofloxacin, sparfloxacin, and gemifloxacin, respectively. Under optimised conditions, GO@Fe3O4 adsorbent was successfully applied for the removal of FQs in water samples from the Langat River basin. The results showed enhanced sorption capacity and high removal efficiency towards for FQs removal from an aqueous solution and has the potential to be an alternative adsorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fast-growth plantation forestry is relatively new in many Southeast Asian countries, and there is a clear need for monitoring and assessment of plantation forest soils in this region. In this study, we used miniature plots to estimate and explain site productivity for three widely planted hardwood tree species: Acacia mangium, Falcataria moluccana and Eucalyptus pellita. Miniature plots investigate forest productivity by carrying out very small-scale, short-term experimental studies and treating the results as analogous to what would occur in an operational-scale forest stand over a normal rotation. Miniature plots were established in three separate compartments of a tropical forest plantation in southeastern Sabah, Malaysia. Plots included the three species of interest, each with a fertilised and unfertilised subplot. Assessments were made of site and soil factors including soil profile properties and laboratory analysis of soil carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus (total and available) and pH. Tree growth was measured for nine months to estimate site productivity. Results suggest the need for research focusing on the role of soil carbon, carbon:nitrogen ratio, available phosphate and possibly soil pH in tropical plantation productivity, as well as the potential for large increases in productivity with high rates of fertiliser. In addition, there were differences in the fertiliser response between species, suggesting that F. moluccana in particular might respond more strongly than A. mangium to high application rates of fertiliser. The results also suggest that miniature plots have considerable potential for monitoring and investigating site productivity in fast-growth tree plantations in Southeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eucalyptus foliar pathogen Teratosphaeria destructans causes severe and widespread damage in South‐East Asian and South African plantations. In 2016, leaf blight symptoms resembling those caused by T. destructans were observed in a plantation of a Eucalyptus grandis × E. urophylla hybrid in Sabah, Malaysia. The aims of this study were to confirm the identity of the causal agent as T. destructans and to investigate the genetic structure of isolates associated with this newly detected disease outbreak. Using sequence data of three gene regions, the identity of the pathogen was confirmed as T. destructans. The mating type and microsatellite genotypes of 41 isolates from this Malaysian population were identified and compared with those from previously characterized populations in South‐East Asia and South Africa. The Malaysian population had the highest genotypic diversity of any T. destructans population thus far investigated. Both the mating types were found in the collection of isolates, and these were in approximately equal proportions. Although structures linked to a sexual state of the fungus have not been found, sexual reproduction is theoretically possible and could explain the high genetic diversity in the pathogen that must have been accidentally introduced into Malaysia. This is the first record of T. destructans in Sabah and, to the best of our knowledge, in also other parts of Borneo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plantation-grown, high-value timber species producing high-value end products are key to optimising land utilisation in Sabah and Sarawak states in Borneo, Malaysia, while meeting the demand for downstream processing. Eucalyptus pellita is one such species suitable for the tropical climatic conditions and exhibits considerable potential for solid wood and veneer production. The characteristics of E. pellita grown in Sabah, demonstrate the need for an appropriate silviculture management and downstream processing strategy to optimise the quality and quantity of veneer and sawn board. Recovery from E. pellita resources has demonstrated the average volume recovery of dry-graded veneer ranged from 38.1 to 49.5%, whereas the average dried board volume ranged from 48.5 to 57.9%. If E. pellita is to be grown on short rotations as a peeler resource, an appropriate pruning regime is needed to maximise the volume of clearwood. The greatest cause of volume loss was end-splitting in the recovery of veneer and solid timber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New development activity brings its various impacts for indigenous people often prompting their relocation to a new area. The 1977's relocation of indigenous people in Royal Belum, Perak State, Malaysia, as part of its rural spatial development, questions on their livelihood in a new resettlement area and their relationship with nature within the current context of development. Despite the provision of basic facilities and infrastructure and the introduction of mono-crop cultivation and agriculture for the indigenous people, they are still practicing the 'slash and burn' method and performing their nomadic forest-based lifestyle. This contributes to their living below the poverty line. This present study explains the coexistence of indigenous people in the context of physical development vis-à-vis conservation effort in the Royal Belum. As neglected issue of interactions and conflicts between indigenous peoples and biodiversity conservation, this study outlined the potential of indigenous people's community-based practices based on the factors: (1) self-belonging of Royal Belum Forest; (2) biodiversity conservation concerns; (3) sustainable development supporter; and (4) wildlife concerns. The indigenous people close relationship with the nature offers a unique stewardship function for co-creation and co-management practices of community-based sustainable ecotourism and agriculture for further enhancement of their livelihood. This effort will support the socio-economic of national physical spatial plan as well as the co-development of conservation of Royal Belum world natural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building Information Modelling is one of the crucial topics in the construction industry. The construction industry has played an important role to assist stakeholders to successfully transfer construction practices to BIM-based technology. Currently, no systematic research that has been carried out to determine the level of BIM implementation in Malaysia. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate the diffusion of BIM among Malaysian companies. The results of the 268 responses received revealed that only 13% of the participants from both public and private sectors are using BIM in their organization and this is a negative sign that Malaysia is still far away from the position it supposed to be in BIM implementation. Lack of awareness, costs, slow adaptation, unavailability of a clear guideline to assist organizations and policymakers toward BIM implementation transforming and that BIM was not mandated in sufficient time were observed to be responsible for the slow implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building Information Modelling (BIM) implementation is considered a daunting reality because majority of the construction players don't know the potential benefits of the technology. Awareness of BIM benefits and its implementation could significantly increase project productivity and performance. This study is aimed to determine the influence of BIM benefits from the Malaysian construction stakeholders' perception towards its implementation. The study was carried out using survey questionnaire. Out of 590 questionnaires 268 were collected that represent a sample size of 346. Results revealed that most of the construction companies lack of awareness about BIM technology. The statistical analysis showed that productivity, time, cost, clashes, and communication are the most essential BIM benefits that concerned the participants. The driving factors of implementation, on the other hand, were identified as Trust, respect, commitment, early involvement, and knowledge. It is also found that there is a significant relationship between BIM benefits and its implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to improve the understanding of the institutional pressures that shape the intention to adopt waqf accounting and reporting. The study seeks to answer two research questions as follows: what are the challenges in the adoption of waqf accounting and reporting in waqf institutions; and how do institutional pressures influence the adoption of waqf reporting in Malaysia. Drawing on the work of DiMaggio and Powell and Scott of institutional theory, this paper provides empirical evidence of institutional pressures on the adoption of waqf reporting in Malaysia and the challenges faced in adopting waqf accounting and reporting. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses qualitative research method with an explanatory case study approach. Data are collected through semi-structured interviews with the accountants of State Islamic Religious Council and Customs of Terengganu, an informal conversation with the Deputy Director of Accountant Generals Department of Malaysia and document reviews, mainly the Malaysian Accounting Standard Board Research paper. Findings: The findings show that coercive pressure such as government regulation contributes to challenges in the adoption of waqf accounting and reporting. Normative pressures contribute to challenges in formulating standardised waqf accounting and reporting, whereas mimetic pressure contributes to challenges in the comparability of the waqf accounting and reporting among the state Islamic religious councils in Malaysia. In the efforts towards the standardisation of waqf accounting and reporting practice, a similarity of the process of the standard implementation or the institutional isomorphism of the State Islamic Religious Council in Terengganu is strongly influenced from the result of the mandate of its Board members and Fatwa council members (coercive isomorphism and religion logic) and minor influence from the normative isomorphism (the result of the participants' education and profession) as well as the result of imitating other State of Islamic Religious Councils (SIRCs) because of the ambiguity of the process or certain practice. Research limitations/implications: The study contributes to the knowledge by extending institutional theory and the possible role of religion logic in Islamic perspective to organisational behaviour and accounting development in SIRCs. This study is limited to the understanding of the challenges in the adoption of waqf accounting and reporting but could also be applicable to the adoption of other accounting standards or regulations. Practical implications: This paper offers key implications for research, in improving the understanding of contextual factors and decision to adopt waqf accounting and reporting. The standard setter needs to be aware of the influence of contextual factors that shape decision towards standardisation of accounting and reporting for waqf. Originality/value: The interplay of institutional pressures and implications of religion logic provides an interesting approach to understanding the waqf institutions' intention to adopt accounting and reporting for waqf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Effective building maintenance management is vital for reducing the impact of building defects and costly building maintenance work. Such practice significantly contributes to the public sector in terms of cost reduction, improved effectiveness and efficiency in maintenance works, increasing safety and well-being of the occupants, expanding the life of building stocks and expanding the value of investment for the government building assets. The maintenance practice in Malaysia is still emerging in comparison to many developed nations. The purpose of this study is to determine the current scenario of the building maintenance approach at the design stage in public buildings in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach: An extensive questionnaire survey was held, involving 312 key players (38 per cent out of 820 predetermined participants) in Malaysia. Findings: The analysis showed that building maintenance in public building in Malaysia still uses the reactive approach. Despite the Malaysian Government's adoption of a proactive maintenance approach, unfortunately, there are some misunderstandings among the key players regarding the approach. The research results demonstrate that the key players had a lack of understanding on the concept of the proactive maintenance management approach and that they were either ignorant or had insufficient awareness of proactive maintenance approach. Originality/value: The contribution of this study is useful for the government to adopt a more proactive building maintenance policy at the design stage, to give awareness on proactive building maintenance to the key players in their construction project and as a guide to the key players to adopt a maintenance plan at the design stage of work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrialized construction continues to emerge globally. Developing countries like Malaysia are still unable to increase industrialized building system (IBS) implementation significantly, demonstrated by the low IBS percentage of less than 3%. Therefore, this research aims to determine the factors blocking IBS implementation through a mixed-methodological approach in the Malaysian construction industry. Using the data collected from 219 valid questionnaire responses, several statistical analyses were performed. Factor analysis was used to categorize the 25 factors into six main groups namely: "financial concerns," "ineffective policies," "technical and management worries," "traditional stakeholders' concerns," "design restrictions" and "negative perception". The top three critical factors are high initial capital cost, high initial cost of customized design, and transportation cost. Hence, adopting an innovative standardized design concept and increasing IBS manufacturers nationwide are recommended. The findings provide a useful guide to critical blocking factors and, thus, develop feasible solutions to achieve successful implementation of industrialized buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]