Landscape of Dual-Use Research Governance in Malaysia.

Indonesia is increasingly vulnerable to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats, driven by regional geopolitical tensions, natural hazards, and the rapid evolution of biological technologies. While the country has developed various laws and sectoral regulations to manage these risks, its current policy landscape remains fragmented and lacks systematic alignment with global standards. The absence of an integrated national strategy limits Indonesia’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond effectively to CBRN emergencies. This study investigates the extent to which Indonesia’s existing CBRN policies align with two critical international frameworks: the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and the guiding principles of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) in biosecurity and disarmament. Using a qualitative document-based approach, this research analysed national legislation, ministerial decrees, strategic plans, and relevant international conventions. Thematic content analysis was applied to evaluate policy alignment with IHR core capacities, such as surveillance, legal frameworks, coordination, and emergency response, as well as WHO–UNODA principles, including dual-use oversight, biological disarmament, and research governance. The analysis reveals major policy and institutional gaps. CBRN governance in Indonesia is dispersed among multiple agencies, BNPB, BAPETEN, Kementerian Kesehatan, BNPT, and TNI, each operating within its own silo. There is no overarching coordinating body or comprehensive legal framework to unify efforts. Moreover, critical areas such as dual-use research oversight, bio-threat intelligence sharing, and international reporting obligations remain poorly developed. Integration with IHR and WHO–UNODA protocols is limited and largely ad hoc. To improve national preparedness and resilience, Indonesia must pursue comprehensive legal reform and establish a national CBRN coordination body. Embedding international norms, such as the IHR and WHO–UNODA guidance, into domestic policy frameworks will enhance inter-agency coherence and align Indonesia’s biosecurity governance with global best practices.

The chapter provides an overview of the field of biosecurity mostly as it developed in the US. It begins by providing essential insights about historical and political developments in the biosecurity arena. It shows that biosecurity has origins as early as World War II, when the fighting parties were developing both biological weapons and countermeasures. Since then and to this day, the biosecurity apparatus has evolved to face various kinds of threats including accidental, intentional and unintentional release of pathogens – each deserving appropriate action. The chapter then directs its attention to the most recent development, namely the risk that well-intended life sciences research might be abused to cause harm – i.e. dual-use research of concern. To illustrate the biosecurity risks of dual-use research, the chapter uses the H5N1 controversy as a case study. Through describing the H5N1 case, the chapter delineates the biosecurity risks it generated and the various ways in which US policy has evolved to address them. It demonstrates that the US government as well as international bodies have been moving away from the notion that scientists should police themselves with regard to dual-use research towards an understanding that specific regulations are needed in order to protect national security and public health.

Cyberhate refers to hateful and biased online content that targets people based on their group membership. This study differentiates between intentional and unintentional cyberhate exposure and examines the role of perceived discrimination, with five dimensions of digital literacy as mediators. Data were collected via a three-wave longitudinal survey conducted over the span of three years (2021–2023) with 2,660 adolescents (aged 14–17 in W3) from six European countries (Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Portugal). A cross-lagged panel model shows that perceived discrimination predicts both types of cyberhate exposure and that there are differences in digital literacy dimensions. Technical and operational skills increased intentional cyberhate exposure. Programming skill increased both types of cyberhate exposure. Communication and interaction literacy decreased intentional cyberhate exposure. And information navigation literacy decreased unintentional cyberhate exposure. The indirect effects were analogous – technical and operational skills led to higher un/intentional cyberhate exposure in the preceding year, whereas communication and interaction literacy led to less intentional exposure, and information, navigation, and processing literacy led to less unintentional exposure in the last year. The implications for digital literacy curricula are discussed.

In Malaysia’s development plan, privatization continued to be an important part of the overall strategy to enhance the role of the private sector in the country’s economic development. For several years, local governments in Malaysia had used privatization to expand facilities, which made local governments a significant player in the economic development of cities. However, studies had also shown that the privatization programmes among local governments in Malaysia are not entirely successful. Some of privatization development failed not achieving project goals. There are some criteria which lead the privatization into failure. The effectiveness of privatization requires efficiency and transparency in its implementation. Therefore, the study explores the challenges that have been studied in the development of privatization projects among local governments. By adopting a qualitative approach, the primary data are obtained using semi-structured interviews, where 16 respondents are selected using Purposive Stratified Sampling from five local authorities that actively implemented privatization in development projects. Thematic network analysis was adopted in analyzing the primary data. Finding transpired that there are eight critical challenges: political interferences, internal company problems, communication between parties, current financial situation, existing experts, compliance with prescribed conditions, land status issues, and objection and complaints from the community.

Gen Y in Malaysia comprises approximately forty percent (40%) of the population. Through media, various Malaysian leaders have enunciated the significant roles played by the Gen Y especially in the country’s development and advancement. Therefore, it is interesting to conduct a research on how Gen Y in Malaysia perceives the current Malaysia government leadership, governance, and policy. This article is also measured Gen Y‘s expectations and determine to what extent the youth in Malaysia believe in the ability of the current Malaysian government in shaping a better nation and country. The scope of this article is limited to the Gen Y studying in MARA higher learning institutions as per requested by MARA, the funder for this research project. By using the mixed methodology, this research has collected data from three focus groups and 431 respondents answered the survey. This cross-sectional survey took place from June 2016 until October 2016. The findings show a majority of Gen Y in MARA higher institutions have a negative perception on the current Malaysian leadership, policy, and governance except on few matters such as globally connected leadership, education opportunities policy and infrastructure for youth activities. In contrary to the findings for Gen Ys expectation towards public policies and governance in Malaysia, majority regardless male and female believe the Malaysian government can enhance public services and implement better policies in the future. Therefore, it is important for the current government to identify and rectify the factors that shaped Gen Ys’ negative perception as well as strategize a plan of action to ensure their expectations will be the future reality.

Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) are carcinogenic contaminants. Residues from historical production and ongoing unintentional releases from industrial thermal sources have led to the ubiquitous presence of PCNs in the environment. Our previous study has revealed that unintentional releases may be the main sources of PCNs in human milk from China. However, an assessment of PCN burden in human milk and exposure differences between historical residues and unintentional release exposure has not been conducted. In this study, we performed the first comparison of human exposure to PCNs and evaluated the differences between the estimated health risks from historical residues and unintentional releases. Three characteristic PCN congener patterns found in Chinese human milk specimens collected from 100 cities/counties can be considered characteristic of PCN exposures in regions with unintentional industrial releases as the main PCN sources. The health risk assessment suggested potential noncarcinogenic health effects in infants aged 0-6 months. The hazard index calculated for infants in Sweden indicates a strong impact of historical residues that nonetheless decreases over time, and a comparison of the hazard indices calculated for China and Ireland suggests that ongoing unintentional formation and release of PCNs from industrial processes should be a matter of public health concern.

Cyberhate is one of the online risks that adolescents can experience online. It is considered a content risk when it is unintentionally encountered and a conduct risk when the user actively searches for it. Previous research has not differentiated between these experiences, although they can concern different groups of adolescents and be connected to distinctive risk factors. To address this, our study first focuses on both unintentional and intentional exposure and investigates the individual-level risk factors that differentiate them. Second, we compare each exposed group of adolescents with those who were not exposed to cyberhate. We used survey data from a representative sample of adolescents (N = 6,033, aged 12-16 years, 50.3 percent girls) from eight European countries-Czechia, Finland, Flanders, France, Italy, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia-and conducted multinomial logistic regression. Our findings show that adolescents with higher sensation seeking, proactive normative beliefs about aggression (NBA), and who report cyberhate perpetration, are at higher risk of intentionally searching for cyberhate contents compared with those who are unintentionally exposed. In comparison with unexposed adolescents, reporting other risky experiences was a risk factor for both types of exposure. Furthermore, NBA worked differently-reactive NBA was a risk factor for intentional exposure, but proactive NBA did not play a role and even decreased the chance of unintentional exposure. Digital skills increased both types of exposure. Our findings stress the need to differentiate between intentional and unintentional cyberhate exposure and to examine proactive and reactive NBA separately.

Waqf is often viewed in Muslim countries, including Malaysia, as a beneficent tool for promoting socioeconomic well-being and reducing inequality. However, its performance is heavily reliant on effective and transparent governance. Waqf governance in Malaysia continues to face persistent challenges such as suboptimal asset management, lack of efficiency, and limited accountability. Inconsistent, incomplete, and unclear legal provisions, as well as state-specific governance processes, all have a role. The State Islamic Religious Councils (MAIN) are designated as the exclusive trustees of waqf. However, variations in standards and methods have resulted in discrepancies and ambiguities in governance implementation. This study addresses governance standards, procedures, and accountability practices in relation to two major frameworks. Public Sector Governance (PSG) principles and Shariah governance (SG) principles. It employs a qualitative methodology, relying on content analysis of policy papers and semi-structured interviews with experts from selected MAINs. Findings indicate that while waqf governance in Malaysia aligns with PSG principles such as accountability, transparency, and efficiency, implementation is inconsistent and frequently lacks systematic monitoring, risk management, and preventive mechanisms. The study proposes a Waqf Governance Framework that integrates PSG and SG, with emphasis on dual accountability—to Allah (SWT) and to stakeholders—underpinned by principles of integrity, ethical leadership, and the Maqasid al-Shariah. The suggested framework provides MAIN with practical, organized, and operational direction to improve governance effectiveness, enhance trust, and assure the sustainability of waqf assets. This study advances policy and practice by demonstrating how governance integration can protect waqf, provide long-term benefits, and encourage socioeconomic growth.

In previous chapters we have demonstrated how the practice of policy integration—the linking of environmental regulatory policies with resource pricing policies, trade and investment policies, and technological capabilities building policies—in the East Asian NIEs has driven down the energy and pollution intensity of industrial activity in these economies. As we have shown, each East Asian NIE used a somewhat different strategy for driving down environmental intensities. Singapore did it by effectively linking its tough environmental agency, the Ministry of the Environment, to the country’s premier institutions of industrial policy—the Economic Development Board and the Jurong Town Corporation—charged with attracting OECD multinationals and providing them with factories and OECD-like infrastructure facilities. Taiwan Province of China took a decidedly different path. Following the decision of the central government to create a tough regulatory agency in the face of strong opposition from the country’s institutions of industrial policy, the government, by building a capable regulatory agency and allowing it to get tough with polluters, demonstrated to those who managed the institutions of industrial policy that they would have to adapt to a crackdown on polluters. They did so by using the institutions of industrial policy to craft an approach to industrial environmental improvement that linked Taiwanese firms and the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration to the technology-upgrading policies of the Industrial Development Bureau in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the technological research activities of the Industrial Technology Research Institute. Where governments had less capable environmental regulatory agencies, they used several other pathways to policy integration. The government of Malaysia followed two different pathways to policy integration. On the one hand, it adopted an industry-specific approach to de-link palm oil production and the export of processed palm oil products from palm oil pollution by integrating palm oil processors with a quasi-public, quasi-private palm oil research institute, the Palm Oil Research Institute of Malaysia, and the Department of the Environment in a search for a cost-effective palm oil waste treatment technology. Once a viable solution to pollution emerged, the Department of the Environment used its embedded autonomy with producers in this sector to ratchet up emissions standards and de-link palm oil processing from palm oil pollution.

Background Benzonatate is an antitussive with sodium channel blocking properties that may cause seizures, dysrhythmias, and death in overdose. Limited data describe the medical outcomes of benzonatate exposures, and no standard treatment guidelines exist for managing benzonatate toxicity. We characterized clinical outcomes and management of benzonatate exposures over a 20-year period at the Wisconsin Poison Center. Methods This retrospective case review examined all benzonatate exposures reported to a single regional poison center from January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2019. Exposures were excluded if the medical record was incomplete. The primary outcome was the rate of serious adverse effects, defined as seizure, electrocardiogram changes, coma or central nervous system depression, or death. Potential life-saving treatments (antiepileptics, antidysrhythmics, vasopressors, sodium bicarbonate, or intravenous lipid therapy) were also assessed. Results A total of 313 calls were received with 48 exposures excluded, leaving 265 exposures included for analysis. Most exposures were female (162/265; 61%) with a median age of 19 years (IQR: 4–39 years). Sixteen exposures were adverse reactions only. Of intentional exposures (106/265; 40%), 23 (22%) experienced at least one serious adverse effect and 40 (38%) were hospitalized. Of unintentional exposures (143/265, 54%), one (0.7%) experienced a serious adverse effect and three (2%) were hospitalized. Regarding 77 unintentional pediatric exposures, none experienced a serious adverse effect, with two (2/77; 3%) hospitalized. Two deaths (0.8%) occurred during the study period; both were intentional exposures. Discussion While severe outcomes are possible after intentional exposures, unintentional exposures rarely exhibited serious toxicities. No therapeutic interventions beyond supportive care were consistently employed. Conclusions Intentional exposures to benzonatate more commonly warranted significant therapeutic interventions and caused a higher incidence of serious toxicity. Unintentional exposures did not result in clinically significant adverse effects. Although benzonatate can result in serious toxicity, adults with unintentional exposures may be candidates for home management.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is currently being used by the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry in Malaysia. It has been introduced by the Director of Public Works Department (PWD) in 2007 to reduce construction costs and avoid design problems. BIM utilization in construction can detect any clash analysis during the design stage, improves efficiency of project scheduling, reduce costs and ensure high quality of the project as well as facilitate communication among construction players. Since it has been introduced by the PWD, several projects have been constructed and being constructed using BIM and one of the project is The National Cancer Institute (NCI). The project is owned by the Malaysian government. This paper discusses the application of BIM in the project, the first project launched by the Malaysian government. A literature review was conducted to explore previous BIM studies on the history of BIM, benefits and importance, barriers and challenges as well as existing BIM projects in the Malaysian construction industry. Furthermore, semi-structured interviews were carried out with the client, consultant and contractor involved in the project. The interviews results reveal necessities and benefits of implementing BIM in completing the project. BIM is necessary for construction because its implementation can increase project quality. It is useful in assisting construction players to complete projects successfully. The results provide clear evidence of the effectiveness of implementing BIM in government projects. This paper can serve as a reference for critical studies of developing a strategy approach model for BIM implementation in the Malaysian construction industry.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is currently being used by the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry in Malaysia. It has been introduced by the Director of Public Works Department (PWD) in 2007 to reduce construction costs and avoid design problems. BIM utilization in construction can detect any clash analysis during the design stage, improves efficiency of project scheduling, reduce costs and ensure high quality of the project as well as facilitate communication among construction players. Since it has been introduced by the PWD, several projects have been constructed and being constructed using BIM and one of the project is The National Cancer Institute (NCI). The project is owned by the Malaysian government. This paper discusses the application of BIM in the project, the first project launched by the Malaysian government. A literature review was conducted to explore previous BIM studies on the history of BIM, benefits and importance, barriers and challenges as well as existing BIM projects in the Malaysian construction industry. Furthermore, semi-structured interviews were carried out with the client, consultant and contractor involved in the project. The interviews results reveal necessities and benefits of implementing BIM in completing the project. BIM is necessary for construction because its implementation can increase project quality. It is useful in assisting construction players to complete projects successfully. The results provide clear evidence of the effectiveness of implementing BIM in government projects. This paper can serve as a reference for critical studies of developing a strategy approach model for BIM implementation in the Malaysian construction industry.

Institutional biosafety committees (IBCs) have been charged with the oversight and review of biosafety at thousands of biocontainment labs nationwide, hundreds of which are high-level BSL-3 and BSL-4 labs. In light of the recent rapid proliferation of BSL-3 and BSL-4 facilities and the increases in research in the areas of biodefense, select agents, recombinant DNA, and synthetic biology and dual-use research, questions have been raised about whether IBCs are fulfilling their oversight responsibilities. This article reviews information on the responsibilities and expectations of IBCs as currently constituted and provides an analysis of IBC performance from survey data of hundreds of research institutions over the past several years. The findings highlight serious ongoing problems with IBCs' adherence to NIH Guidelines. This raises questions about the current voluntary governance framework as an effective system to monitor and oversee U.S. research facilities, including high-containment facilities, and their research activities. The findings strongly suggest the need for immediate improvement or replacement of the IBC system.

Frequent reports of laboratory- and hospital-acquired infection in Egypt suggested a deficiency in handling hazardous samples and microorganisms among different researchers and professionals. The most common cause of laboratory incidents and potential exposure is often identified as a lack of biosafety training. In this study, we designed and implemented an effective laboratory biorisk management (BRM) training. Two workshops were delivered to 42 faculty members working in laboratories handling biological material in Egypt. The workshop modules were based on the global biorisk management curriculum developed by Sandia National Laboratories, with some modifications. The content was delivered to actively engaging participants in the learning process that included group work, case studies and scenarios, short presentations, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and questions and answers that created analytical thinking situations. These workshops introduced the concept of biorisk management, which combines risk assessment, risk mitigation, and performance systems and dual-use research of concern. Results of pre-tests/post-tests revealed significant (P < .001) improvement in knowledge acquisition among participants. Course evaluation surveys indicate that most participants felt that these teaching methods met their needs and that their personal laboratory practices would change as a result of the training course. We conclude that using varied hands-on strategies in teaching biorisk management provided the participants with the skills, tools, and confidence to guide their laboratory staff and colleagues on sustainable biorisk management to reduce the risks associated with infectious disease research in a laboratory setting.

Research on pathogenic organisms is crucial for medical, biological and agricultural developments. However, biological agents as well as associated knowledge and techniques, can also be misused, for example for the development of biological weapons. Potential malicious use of well-intended research, referred to as “dual-use research”, poses a threat to public health and the environment. There are various international resources providing frameworks to assess dual-use potential of the research concerned. However, concrete instructions for researchers on how to perform a dual-use risk assessment is largely lacking. The international need for practical dual-use monitoring and risk assessment instructions, in addition to the need to raise awareness among scientists about potential dual-use aspects of their research has been identified over the last years by the Netherlands Biosecurity Office, through consulting national and international biorisk stakeholders. We identified that Biorisk Management Advisors and researchers need a practical tool to facilitate a dual-use assessment on their specific research. Therefore, the Netherlands Biosecurity Office developed a web-based Dual-Use Quickscan (www.dualusequickscan.com), that can be used periodically by researchers working with microorganisms to assess potential dual-use risks of their research by answering a set of fifteen yes/no questions. The questions for the tool were extracted from existing international open resources, and categorized into three themes: characteristics of the biological agent, knowledge and technology about the biological agent, and consequences of misuse. The results of the Quickscan provide the researcher with an indication of the dual-use potential of the research and can be used as a basis for further discussions with a Biorisk Management Advisor. The Dual-Use Quickscan can be embedded in a broader system of biosafety and biosecurity that includes dual-use monitoring and awareness within organizations. Increased international attention to examine pathogens with pandemic potential has been enhanced by the current COVID-19 pandemic, hence monitoring of dual-use potential urgently needs to be encouraged.