Developed Nation Status Research Articles

Implementation of Open Space: The Need for Uniform Policy?

The provision of open spaces within a residential development is often seen as unimportant. The Malaysian Government targeted to provide 2 hectares of open space per 1000 population to be achieved as a developed nation status by the year 2020. This vision can be seen as the Government attempt to ensure the sustainability of open spaces in Malaysia. The Federal Department of Town and Country Planning, Peninsular Malaysia (FDTCP) has produced a planning standard guideline to supervise the implementation of the open space policy in Malaysia. According to FDTCP; until December 2009, Malaysia has achieved a percentage of 1.19 hectares of open space per 1000 population. Achieving the standard requires commitment of local authorities to implement the open space policy. However, the adoption of open spaces policy differs among local authorities, from a simplistic general approach of land ratio techniques to an ergonomics method. The paper examines the local allocation practices using 5 different approaches and it argues that implementation of open space by local planning practices requires the knowledge of and understanding by planning profession towards a long term sustainable green objectives.

P09 ‐ Meta‐analysis: spectrum of HDM allergic rhinitis and asthma in Malaysia

Asthma prevalence is increasing worldwide. Its incidence is highest in the West and less common in developing countries. Allergic rhinitis and asthma prevalence is increasing in Malaysia as it progresses towards developed nation status. Careful assessment of clinical history and symptoms provide clues to the causative allergen but more definitive data is needed on the aetiological agents.

Malaysian Construction Sector and Malaysia Vision 2020: Developed Nation Status

Malaysian economy has to perform efficiently and to play effective role in making true the dream of developed nation status. This study examines the role and performance of construction sector of Malaysia during the last two decades of Vision 2020 i.e. 1991 to 2010. The time series data over the period 1991-2010 for construction sector and economic growth of Malaysia is obtained from statistic department Government of Malaysia. The results exhibit that there is a strong correlation between construction sector and economic growth of Malaysia. The construction sector has been playing a significant role in aggregate economy of the country in term of its contribution to revenue generation, capital formation and employment creation which ultimately support the gross domestic product (GDP) and the socio-economic development of Malaysia. Considering the substantial role of construction sector in economic development of Malaysia, it is necessary for Malaysia government to give due attention and focus on construction sector for qualifying the title of developed nation.

A Study on the Effect of Spiritual Intervention on Spiritual Intelligence and Life Satisfaction among Teachers

As a developing nation, India is in a quest and tremendous pressure to lead a competition in this 21st century. This competition requires taking steps in order to achieve the next level of growth and thus realizing national aspiration to achieve vision 2020.Nation needs sufficient amount of skilled and qualified workforce in various fields in order to achieve developed nation status by the year 2020. To create such a workforce, a very good education system as well as excellent and competent teachers in various fields are required. To attain the national aspiration, education is important factor and teachers play a pivotal role in ensuring the victory. A teacher is an acknowledged guide or helper in the process of learning. A quality teacher is who fulfills the responsibilities to produce knowledgeable and trained workforces as well as create a national identity and instill high national spirit and integrity among people to foster national unity. The study aims to analyze the impact of Spiritual intervention on Spiritual Intelligence and life Satisfaction among School teachers. Accordingly a group of 40 school teachers were selected for baseline assessment. A sample of 30 school teachers, scoring low on spiritual intelligence were selected for intervention.15 school teachers were randomly assigned to experimental group and 15 in to control group. The pre and post training data on spiritual intelligence and Life satisfaction are discussed. The implications of the results for intervention are discussed.

Implementation of Open Space: The Need for Uniform Policy

The provision of open spaces within a residential development is often seen as unimportant. The Malaysian Government targeted to provide 2 hectares of open space per 1000 population to be achieved as a developed nation status by the year 2020. This vision can be seen as the Government attempt to ensure the sustainability of open spaces in Malaysia. The Federal Department of Town and Country Planning, Peninsular Malaysia (FDTCP) has produced a planning standard guideline to supervise the implementation of the open space policy in Malaysia. According to FDTCP; until December 2009, Malaysia has achieved a percentage of 1.19 hectares of open space per 1000 population. Achieving the standard requires commitment of local authorities to implement the open space policy. However, the adoption of open spaces policy differs among local authorities, from a simplistic general approach of land ratio techniques to an ergonomics method. The paper examines the local allocation practices using 5 different approaches and it argues that implementation of open space by local planning practices requires the knowledge of and understanding by planning profession towards a long term sustainable green objectives.

A comparison and Causality analysis between the Construction and Agriculture Sectors of Malaysia (2000-2010)

Malaysia has been trying to shift toward from developing nation status to developed nation status. Hence it becomes important for the Malaysian government to study and understand the dynamics of inter sectoral linkages in order to obtain positive growth, development to sustain the economic growth momentum and to achieve higher level of socio-economic development. The objective of this study is to investigate the causal relationship and make a comparative analysis between the two key sectors (construction and agriculture) of the Malaysian economy. A descriptive statistics is used for comparison and sophisticated econometric techniques. Granger causality test and the vector auto regression (VAR) technique used to determine the causality link between the two sectors and measure the effect of changes in the output of one sector on the output of another sector. Results of empirical analysis exhibit that there is strong correlation and bi-directional causal relationship between construction and agriculture sectors of Malaysia. Agriculture sector takes only 3 quarters to respond to the impact of shock emanating from the construction industry while the construction sector responding time is 13 quarters against the shock of agriculture sector.

Goodbye Renaissance man: globalized concepts of physical education and sport in Singapore

This paper provides an analysis of physical education and sport as educational concepts that have informed Singaporean society in its journey from newly independent state to developed nation status. Their early development owes much to the influence of Loughborough University. The initial concepts had their foundation in the 1933 UK syllabus for Physical Education modified by broader trends in education experienced after the war years. The core concept was responsibility for personal development in all domains not only physical but also cognitive, affective, moral and social. An historical focus on discipline had been progressively replaced via the Swedish influence by one of the well-rounded physical development through a range of targeted exercises. This component was complemented by games, athletics and gymnastics, which offered opportunity for social development. Physical education was a broad education through the physical as opposed to the narrower education (or at worst, training) of the physical. The concepts of physical education found fertile soil in Singapore because of a fortuitous congruence between political and educational objectives of the 1960s, particularly the goal of a more cultivated citizenry. With present-day Singapore now absorbing the global commodification of body and sport, the match between these evolving concepts of health and sport and an engaged and active population may be proving less fortuitous than hoped for with the foundation of the College of Physical Education in 1986.

Motivation Model for Employee Retention: Applicability to HRM Practices in Malaysian SME Sector

In the Vision 2020, Malaysian government aims at achieving a developed nation status by the year 2020. To realize the vision, the country needed the support and motivation from all Malaysians. Hence, human resource management (HRM) plays an important role for the said vision since it is a significant capital in the operation of an organization. For Malaysian entrepreneurial firms, it is crucial to retain their employees in order to achieve their ultimate goal i.e. maximizing profits. Such small, growthoriented firms are considered vulnerable to lose even one key employee because it may aggravate extensive consequences and, at the extreme, may imperil exertions to attain organizational objectives. Employee retention becomes a vital human capital objective for entrepreneurial companies which are seeking to grow and capture market share. Motivation is essential in leading the employees towards achieving organizational goals besides fostering the organizational commitment. Such organizational attachment and motivation has implications for whether an employee will opt for remaining with the organization or not. With HRM, the human resource (HR) model would regard humans as being inspired by an intricate collection of interconnected aspects, such as recognition, interpersonal relation, and desire for meaningful work. HR managers must endeavour to redesign the job to be more varied and decentralized in order to encourage sovereignty among employees. Therefore, motivation model is relevant to be employed in HRM practices for employee retention. This paper is primarily based on literature review. Extensive literature study is used to identify relevant information and references. This paper intends to elucidate one particular issue with regards to Malaysian SMEs which is employee retention and in more specifically, this study will aim to produce a model for employee retention conjoining it with organizational strategies, organizational culture and benefits factors. To attain this aim, the two-factor, or motivation-hygiene theory (Herzberg, 1968) was taken as the basic foundation. Key words: Motivation-hygiene; Vital human capital; Sovereignity; JEL Codes: C11, J12

Information and Communications Technology Development Products Towards Strengthening Rural Communities in Malaysia

This study aims to evaluate the extent of development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) ability to empower rural communities and enhance their economic productivity. ICT is a core catalyst for the development of a country to achieve developed nation status. However, rural communities are still exposed to the challenges and constraints in order to promote ICT development in rural areas. To address this issue, the government has established various objectives to ensure that rural communities are not marginalized. In an effort to take advantage of ICT development in rural areas, governments and agencies have developed various ICT-based products in rural areas. Programs such as Center of Telecenter, Rural Internet Centre (PID), Medan Info Desa, e-Village/e-Community, K-TRAK, PKIT and others are among the products introduced to the rural community. The purpose of the introduction of this product is to focus on the government’s efforts in ensuring the development of balanced urban and rural areas from different angles. Through ICT products, a rural community not just only follows the development of the ICT revolution, but to create a knowledgeable society and helps to boost the quality of life of rural communities. Thus, this paper will discuss ICT products developed in the rural areas of Malaysia, the purpose and prospects of the product development and the challenges faced during its implementation. Hopefully, the discussion and recommendations given could trigger the opportunity and space in making ICT as a driving force to economic development in rural areas. Key words: ICT products; Rural communities; The use of ICT; Economic catalyst

The influence of image consciousness, materialism and compulsive spending on credit card usage intentions among youth

PurposeThis study aims to bridge the gap in the literature on consumer behaviours such as image consciousness, materialism and consumer spending on credit card usage intentions among Malaysian college students.Design/methodology/approachA purposive sampling design was employed using a sample of 191 business and management students at a private higher education institution in Subang Jaya, Malaysia. An anonymous survey questionnaire was administered to the students. Structural equation modeling was then used to determine the validity of the path diagram and model fit.FindingsThe findings of the study revealed that materialism is a partial mediator in the relationship between image consciousness and compulsive spending. The study also found that compulsive spending is not a mediator in the relationship between materialism and credit card usage intentions. However, compulsive spending does exert a sizable influence.Research limitations/implicationsFuture research is required to investigate whether family background has an impact on youth abilities to be more responsible and rational when undertaking more lavish lifestyles and credit.Practical implicationsThe implication of this study is that there needs to be more concerted efforts made in instilling credit card awareness and financial discipline among youth to avoid them falling into the debt trap at an early age.Originality/valueThis study highlighted the existence of the credit card debt problem which can inhibit Malaysia's vision to achieve a developed nation status in 2020.

Tourism in Trinidad and Tobago: carving a niche in a petroleum‐based economy

AbstractTrinidad and Tobago lies within one of the world's most tourism‐intensive regions, the Caribbean. Yet, unlike its neighbours, it has not relied heavily on income from travel and tourism since its economy is dominated by the energy sector. The energy sector is the mainstay of the economy contributing approximately 34.1% to the country's GDP, 85.5% to merchandise exports and 37.1% to Government revenues in 2004 (Ministry of Energy, 2006). The Government, in its aim for developed nation status by 2020, recognizes that the energy sector is unable to provide the sustainable jobs needed to achieve this. Thus, the Government's policy strategy, Vision 2020, identifies tourism as one of five (5) sectors that should be developed to contribute to the country's economic development.The tourism industry currently represents 13.8% of total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Trinidad and Tobago and is expected to increase its share by nearly three percentage points to 16.5% by 2015. It accounts for 16.7% of total employment, and this is forecasted to rise to 19.2% (WTTC, 2005). Several challenges are evident, that continue to limit the industry's full potential for growth in the country. It is against this background that this paper seeks to identify and analyse the strategies that can be adopted to maximize the contribution of the hospitality and tourism industry to economic development in Trinidad and Tobago. The three main strategies proposed are a greater focus on local entrepreneurship; the re‐orientation of the role of the local financial mechanisms in tourism development and; the development of competitive tourism investment incentives for potential investors in the hospitality and tourism industry. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Evolution of industrial policy-making in support of innovation: the case of Singapore

Like any developing nation, Singapore has always aspired to attain higher levels of economic prosperity and to eventually achieve developed nation status. Since independence, Singapore has enacted numerous industrial policies to sustain and stimulate its economic progress. These policies have largely aimed to address the business, industrial and technological concerns of firms. As to whether Singapore has succeeded in promoting innovation pursuits, one needs to understand the economic difficulties faced by the government that shaped industrial policy-making over the last four decades. In the light of the country's national objective to develop an innovation-driven economy, this paper provides historical perspectives tinged with social-economic and socio-political influences to the evolution of Singapore's industrial policy-making. It describes the context of the nation's economy and discusses the policy-making thinking that has helped to build the economy to its current state of development. Finally, it envisions the next wave of industrialisation and directions of Singapore's industrial policy-making to foster an economic climate in support of innovation.

A nationwide biotechnology outreach and awareness program for Malaysian high schools

Biotechnology education in developing nations remains one of the rate limiting factors in achieving optimal human resource capacity to drive and tap the bio-resources of these nations. Many developing countries are situated within rich bio-diversity enclaves. Biotechnology offers the promise of tapping these bio resources towards due process of developing these nations. While there may be a steady stream of biology and biotechnology based graduates, from Malaysian as well as foreign universities contributing to the human resource base for these countries, the numbers and knowledge diversity produced, still lack the capacity to optimally power research and development as well as supply the industrial biotechnology sectors of these countries. Realizing the need to address these issues at the grassroots level of higher education, Malaysia has taken an active step of bringing biotechnology into the classrooms of high schools throughout the country. These future generations of Malaysians, are hoped to progress towards manning and driving Malaysia's BioValley initiatives (a biotech based R&D and industry cluster), towards the national dream of developed nation status by the year 2020, using biotechnology as an economic growth vehicle. Here, we share our experiences in developing and proliferating a biotechnology awareness program for Malaysian high schools. It is hoped that similar programs will strive towards similar objectives in other developing countries.

Perceptions Towards Accounting Career Among Malaysian Undergraduates

In the late 20th Century and the early part of the 21st Century, the accounting profession has suffered some setback in its image. The recent scandal involving Enron and Arthur Andersen may have an adverse impact on the career choice of accounting students. On the other hand Malaysia needs more accountants to assist the country to achieve developed nation status by year 2020. Therefore, this study is an attempt to determine whether accounting students still prefer to become accountants and to compare the perception of accounting as a career between first semester and final semester accounting undergraduates in Malaysia. One thousand questionnaires were distributed to these two groups of students in all the universities regestered with the Ministry of Education. The valid response rate was 52.7 per cent. The results of this study show a significant difference in career choices between first semester and final semester students. Of the first semester student respondents, 30.3 per cent prefer to be public accountants, whereas only 25.8 per cent of the final semester responsents choose to be public accountants. However, both groups agree that starting salary is an important criterion for choosing accounting as a career and that their university has provided them with adequate knowledge to enable them to join the accounting profession.

The pursuit of innovation for transition to a knowledge economy: new challenges of industrial policy-making

In most developing economies, industrialisation has constituted a major objective of development strategy and government policy. Through industrialisation, developing nations aspire to attain higher levels of economic prosperity and to eventually achieve developed nation status. However, despite having enacted industrial policies with the objective of stimulating economic growth, it remains doubtful whether the approach of industrial policy-making in developing countries has indeed succeeded in transforming their economies. While policy critics, industrial macro-economists and technocrats are in support of innovation-driven industrial policy that fosters skills upgrading, enhances industrial growth and produces world-class exports, several lessons can be drawn from the developed world. This paper discusses why industrial policy-making, to be effective in transiting to a knowledge economy, must address the pursuit of innovation as a prime mover in economic development. It outlines the role of governmental facilitation to put the importance of an innovation-driven industry policy in the right perspective. It also provides evolutionary perspectives of Singapore's industrial policy-making in relation to how it has helped build the nation to its current state of economic development. Finally, it concludes with the new challenges of industry policy.