Ethnic Groups In Malaysia Research Articles

Withanolides, the hidden gem in Physalis minima: A mini review on their anti-inflammatory, anti-neuroinflammatory and anti-cancer effects

The Southeast Asian rainforests, notably in East Malaysia, are home to a diverse range of medicinal plant species with limitless therapeutic potential. Physalis minima (family Solanaceae) is a native East Malaysia plant which is closely linked to P. angulata, are recognized for their various pharmacology properties are abundance in Withanolides, a C28-steroidal lactones based on an ergostane skeleton. This review focuses on the bioactive compounds of this herb, as it is frequently used to treat inflammation, neurodegenerative disease and cancer among East Malaysian ethnic groups. In this review, a total of 103 Withanolides were reported, with 59 of them being newly characterized. Previous scientific data revealed that Withanolides were intriguing principal compounds for inflammatory, neuroinflammatory and cancer treatment due to unique steroidal structure and strong bioactivities. Despite their excellent pharmacological characteristics, only a few Withanolides have been extensively studied, and the majority of them, particularly the newly discovered Withanolides, remained unknown for their therapeutic properties. This indicates that P. minima compounds are worth to be investigate for its pharmacological effects.

ISLAMIC INFLUENCE ON WOODCARVING MOTIFS IN JOHOR TRADITIONAL MALAY HOUSES

Woodcarving motifs can be influenced by various aspects, including religions and beliefs. Malaysia is known for its cultural diversity and is rich with traditional heritage. Malay is one of the major ethnic groups in Malaysia and is considered as the majority of the country's population, contributing to the significant heritage, including art, decoration, and even architecture. Traditional woodcarving is an intricate Malay heritage and is the symbol of Malay art. A study on Malay woodcarvings is critically needed in order to know the influence that occurs on the selection of the motifs. It is such a waste to see our woodcarving heritage destroyed unappreciated and undocumented, especially on Johor woodcarvings, as many studies in other states have done. More and more traditional Johor Malay houses are being demolished day by day before we know the historical influence on the existence. The objective of this paper was to identify the woodcarving motifs found in Johor Malay houses and to identify their influence. Site visits were conducted in which the woodcarvings of 50 houses were examined, photographed, and documented. Interviews were also conducted with the house owners and the woodcarvers. The samples were analyzed, and the results were verified by experts. The results show that floral motifs lead the statistic, and the pumpkin motif, known as 'labu maya', takes the highest percentage of the overall motifs. It is concluded that the Islamic religion is the biggest influence that contributes to the findings. The findings also show that the 'labu maya' motif is the identity of the Johor woodcarving motifs. It is hoped that this study can bring recognition to Johor woodcarvings, and contribute valuable guides for woodcarvers to apply these motif typologies into their future works to sustain and cherish the Johor local identity.

Geographical separation and ethnic origin influence the human gut microbial composition: a meta-analysis from a Malaysian perspective.

Ethnicity is consistently reported as a strong determinant of human gut microbiota. However, the bulk of these studies are from Western countries, where microbiota variations are mainly driven by relatively recent migration events. Malaysia is a multicultural society, but differences in gut microbiota persist across ethnicities. We hypothesized that migrant ethnic groups continue to share fundamental gut traits with the population in the country of origin due to shared cultural practices despite subsequent geographical separation. To test this hypothesis, the 16S rRNA gene amplicons from 16 studies comprising three major ethnic groups in Malaysia were analysed, covering 636 Chinese, 248 Indian and 123 Malay individuals from four countries (China, India, Indonesia and Malaysia). A confounder-adjusted permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) detected a significant association between ethnicity and the gut microbiota (PERMANOVA R 2=0.005, pseudo-F=2.643, P=0.001). A sparse partial least squares – discriminant analysis model trained using the gut microbiota of individuals from China, India and Indonesia (representation of Chinese, Indian and Malay ethnic group, respectively) showed a better-than-random performance in classifying Malaysian of Chinese descent, although the performance for Indian and Malay were modest (true prediction rate, Chinese=0.60, Indian=0.49, Malay=0.44). Separately, differential abundance analysis singled out Ligilactobacillus as being elevated in Indians. We postulate that despite the strong influence of geographical factors on the gut microbiota, cultural similarity due to a shared ethnic origin drives the presence of a shared gut microbiota composition. The interplay of these factors will likely depend on the circumstances of particular groups of migrants.

Religiousness and Quality of Life Among Older Adults of Different Ethnic Groups in Malaysia: A Five-Year Follow-up Study.

Research has shown that religion is associated with a better quality of life (QoL). This study aims to examine ethnic differences in the association between religion and the QoL of older adults in a predominantly Muslim population within a multicultural setting. Two-wave data of 3,810 participants consisting of mostly Muslims and older adults aged ≥ 55years were collected as part of the community health surveys conducted in 2013 and 2018 in the South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO). Both cross-sectional analyses of baseline data and prospective analyses of longitudinal data were conducted. The associations between religiosity and quality of life were mainly positive in the cross-sectional analysis. In the two-wave analysis, religious importance was negatively associated with QoL among the Malays (B = - 1.103, SE B = 0.029, p < .001) and the Chinese (B = - 0.160, SE B = 0.043, p < .001), and a belief in a higher power control was associated with better QoL among the Malays (B = 0.051, SE B = 0.022, p < .005) and poorer QoL domains among the Indians (physical health: B = - 5.412, SE B = 1.382, p < .001; psychological: B = - 3.325, SE B = 1.42, p < .001; social relationship: B = - 5.548, SE B = 1.616, p < .001; environment: B = - 2.586, SE B = 1.288; p < .05). Our study's mixed results suggest that religiosity is positively associated with quality of life in cross-sectional analyses. However, in longitudinal analyses, the results are different. Conclusions with regard to causality based on cross-sectional analyses may be misleading. Health promotion programs should continue to examine the effect of religiousness on health outcomes over time among aging populations across different ethnic groups.

The Influence of National Cultural Attributes on Locally Produced Designs: Case Study of Malaysian Design

This paper examines the influence of national cultural attributes on locally produced designs (i.e. comics, animation, commercial advertisements, printed materials and graphics). Drawing from the inconsistent results of past literature on influences of national cultural attributes on design; it is considered an under-researched area of the important role of cultural values on designs, specifically in the Malaysia context, in which cultural differences among different ethnic groups exist. Because of the paucity of research in this area, this study adopted a quantitative research approach with results derived from the content-analysis of 18 Malaysian designs using a visual preference survey by six experts from the design industry in Malaysia. This study incorporates two stages of sample screenings of a visual preference survey with brief interviews; results show that Malaysian designs need to adhere strictly to requirements and specifications set by the Malaysian authorities; incorporation of Islamic values and code of conduct to reflect the racial harmony and national ideology; and some unique characteristics of the respective ethnic groups in Malaysia were not upheld, thus, they gradually disappeared and/or were blended in the designs. The results and discussion from this study extend the literature on Malaysian design and provide practical implications on how local design industries could produce designs which abide by the boundaries of a Malaysian pluralistic society.

Lagu Malaysia Truly Asia Sentuhan Ahmad Nawab: Sebuah Penjenamaan Bangsa Berakarkan Rumpun Nusantara

Since 1972, Tourism Malaysia has been making efforts at branding Malaysia as a unique tourist destination in South East Asia. In this process, songs play a significant role. In 1999, Malaysia Truly Asia was composed by Dato’ Seri Ahmad Nawab and it became the most iconic song for the ministry's branding campaign. The song was initially recorded in English and later translated into seventeen languages for international markets. This song introduces and highlights cultural heritage musical elements of the three main ethnic groups in Malaysia: the Malays, Chinese and Indians with a touch of kompang (single-headed frame drum), Kelantan Wayang Kulit (shadow puppets) music, serunai (quadruple reed wind instrument), tabla (a pair of double-headed drums), accordion and seruling (flute). National songs represent and build kinship amongst Malaysians who associate themselves with a more ‘authority-defined’ ideology because it is based on ethno-national politics as a result of colonial legacy. This article discusses the concept of ‘nation branding' used as a marketing tool for the tourism sector of Malaysia. Any nation branding effort for Malaysia will always be infused with elements of historical heritage within the archipelago that are hybrid and shared. Symbols of historical heritage that are firmly intertwined within the performing arts culture live within the soul of Ahmad Nawab. Naturally, he embodied and imbued this into a popular song until it became accepted by many as the Malaysian identity. Keywords: Nation branding, historical heritage, hybrid history, tourism, popular songs.

A Forensic Study of Ethnicity and Sex Differences in Fingerprint Patterns in a Malaysian Subpopulation

Fingerprint is one of the most common evidence found at a crime scene. Owing to the uniqueness of fingerprint, it is useful for suspect identification. Typically, the questioned fingerprint is of limited contribution due to blurriness of the minutia or absence of potential suspect. However, it is still useful if the ethnicity or sex of the questioned fingerprint could be inferred to narrow down the scope of searching of suspect. Therefore, this study aims to examine sexual and ethnic differences in fingerprint patterns among the three major ethnic groups in Malaysia, i.e. Malays, Chinese and Indians. In total, 2000 plain fingerprints were collected from all the ten fingers of 200 Malaysians (i.e. 99 males and 101 females). Each of the three ethnic groups was represented by at least 60 subjects. Descriptive statistics and hypothesis test were performed to assess the sexual and ethnic variability of fingerprint patterns. In addition, simple correspondence analysis was also conducted to support the descriptive and inferential statistics. By considering fingerprint patterns in all the ten fingers, loop was the most frequent pattern in Malays (23.0%) and Indians (23.2%), while Chinese (13.9%) showed slightly higher frequency of whorl than Malays (9.6%) and Indians (10.3%). The relative distribution of fingerprint patterns of male was similar to that of female. In conclusion, fingerprint patterns could be used to infer the ethnicity rather than the sex of a suspect in the Malaysian context.

Metabolic Syndrome among Indigenous People (Orang Asli) in Peninsular Malaysia: A Systematic Review

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of developing chronic diseases. This paper aims to assess the data on metabolic syndrome among indigenous Orang Asli in Malaysia. Searches were carried out using electronic databases of CINAHL, Medline, PubMed, and Scopus using predefined keywords. Cross-sectional studies of metabolic syndrome using any clinical diagnosis criteria among adult Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia included. Fifteen studies with these criteria were selected, five with metabolic syndrome studies. The general prevalence (weighted mean) of metabolic syndrome in Orang Asli was 26.3% (range: 12.0–39.8). Metabolic syndrome was more frequent in females (30.0%) than in males (19.3%). The most common components of metabolic syndrome were low HDL-C levels (41.0%) and hypertension (33.7%). For abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, and abnormal glycemia, the prevalence was; 24.6%, 21.5%, and 14.0%, respectively. Conclusively, the present systematic review brings us closer to an understanding of the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among this vulnerable population. The methodological differences among the studies published limit a joint analysis of their results. Nevertheless, finding from this review shows their high prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is comparable with other ethnic groups in Malaysia that requires immediate attention from all related parties.

Clinical and demographic pattern of chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) from a multicenter perspective: Malaysia\u2019s experience over 26 years

BackgroundA retrospective review of clinical manifestations and demographic pattern of patients diagnosed as chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) from 7 hospitals in Malaysia. An analysis of the available database would establish clinical characteristics, diagnoses and outcome including microbiologic pattern. Studying the demography allows us to document the occurrence of CGD amongst multiethnic groups and its geographical distribution for Malaysia.MethodsData from the Malaysia Primary Immunodeficiency Network (MyPIN) with cases of CGD diagnosed from 1991 until 2016 were collated and analysed.ResultsTwenty patients were diagnosed as CGD. Males (N = 13, 65%) outnumber females (N = 7, 35%). CGD is commonest amongst the Malays (65%) followed by the Chinese (15.0%), Indians (10.0%) and natives of Borneo (10.0%), reflecting the ethnic composition of the country. The mean age of diagnosis was 3.7 years. There was a positive family history in 40% of the cases. Abscess was the main presenting feature in 16 patients (80%) with one involving the brain. Pneumonia occurred in 10 (50%) and one with complicated bronchiectasis. Catalase-positive bacteria were the most commonly isolated pathogen with Chromobacterium violaceum predominating (N = 5, 25%) with consequent high mortality (N = 4, 80%). All CGD patients with C. violaceum infection displayed CD4 + (T helper cells) lymphopenia.ConclusionThis study has shown CGD occurs in the major ethnic groups of Malaysia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first and the largest series of chronic granulomatous disease in South East Asia which may be reflective of similar clinical pattern in the region. C. violaceum infection is associated with a higher mortality in CGD patients in Malaysia. All the CGD patients with C. violaceum infection in this patient series displayed CD4 + (T helper) lymphopenia. We recorded rare clinical manifestation of CGD viz. brain abscess and bronchiectasis.

Predictors of glucagon-like peptide-1 responses following oral glucose tolerance test in 3 ethnic groups of Malaysia

Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)

Does Ethnicity Matters in Capital Structure Decision in Family Firms? Overview of Agency Theory

Drawing on the evidence indicating that prominent features of Asian companies are notably the concentrated ownership with extensive family ownership and dominance of controlling shareholders controlled by two main ethnic groups in Malaysia, namely the Chinese and the Malays, this study attempts to investigate the effect of ownership and ethnicity on the financing decisions of Malaysian family firms.

Asthma symptoms and respiratory infections in Malaysian students-associations with ethnicity and chemical exposure at home and school

Little is known on respiratory effects of indoor chemicals in the tropics. We investigated associations between asthma and respiratory infections in Malaysian students and chemical exposure at home and at school. Moreover, we investigated differences in home environment between the three main ethnic groups in Malaysia (Malay, Chinese, Indian). Totally, 462 students from 8 junior high schools in Johor Bahru participated (96% participation rate). The students answered a questionnaire on health and home environment. Climate, carbon dioxide (CO2), volatile organic compounds (VOC), formaldehyde and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were measured inside and outside the schools. Multilevel logistic regression was applied to study associations between exposure and health. Totally 4.8% were smokers, 10.3% had wheeze, 9.3% current asthma, and had 18.8% any respiratory infection in the past 3 months. Malay students had more dampness or mould (p < 0.001), more environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) (p < 0.001) and more cats (p < 0.001) at home as compared to Chinese or Indian students. Wheeze was associated with ethnicity (p = 0.02; lower in Indian), atopy (p = 0.002), current smoking (p = 0.02) and recent indoor painting at home (p = 0.03). Current asthma was associated with ethnicity (p = 0.001; lower in Chinese) and para-dichlorobenzene in classroom air (p = 0.008). Respiratory infections were related to atopy (p = 0.002), ethylbenzene (p = 0.02) and para-dichlorobenzene (p = 0.01) in classroom air. Para-dichlorobenzene is used in Asia against insects. In conclusion, chemical emissions from recent indoor painting at home can increase the risk of wheeze. In schools, para-dichlorobenzene can increase the risk of current asthma and respiratory infections while ethylbenzene can increase the risk of respiratory infections.

Framing the Actors though Thematic Structures: The Case of the Malaysian Orang Asli

The current study deals with the analysis of thematic structures in news articles published regarding the Orang Asli community in The Star. The study aims to investigate the major themes associated with the community when they are presented in media. An analysis was conducted on 158 news articles through the utilisation of van Dijk’s “Theory of Semantic Macrostructures” (1980). Findings revealed that the community has been stereotypically represented as the most marginalised ethnic group in Malaysia with the highest poverty rates, experiencing poor health conditions, confronted horrendously with limited amenities, and facing limited access to political power. The findings provide a novel insight into the ways the Orang Asli community are represented in media and serves as a wake-up call for a more neutral representation of the community in media.&#x0D; &#x0D; Received: 15 September 2020 / Accepted: 4 February 2021 / Published: 5 March 2021

Prevalence and risk factors in metabolic syndrome among Temiar in Kelantan

The Malaysian OA live mainly a traditional life of forest gathering. Over the decades, the Malaysian government relocated them, exposing them to lifestyle changes. This study investigated the prevalence of MetS among translocated Temiar OA. The objectives were to compare the prevalence and associated risks with other OA and Malaysian studies to inform authorities of the unintended consequences of translocation. This was a cross-sectional study of a resettled Temiar community in Kelantan. The study involved a simple random sampling of 123 resettled Temiar individuals. MetS was diagnosed on a modified NCEP ATP III Guidelines. Anthropometric, dietary, and biochemical information were gathered. Differences were determined using independent t tests for continuous variables and chi-squared test for categorical variables. The associations between variables were determined using binary logistic regression. MetS occurred in 39.8% of the subjects. They were younger adults, with a mean age of 38.6 years. Age, BMI, BP, serum adiponectin, and serum resistin predicted MetS development in this population. The prevalence of MetS was higher than reported figures for other OA and ethnic groups in Malaysia with an apparent younger onset. Associated (risk) factors are discussed.

Images in the Human Mind: Between Stereotype and Reality of the Ethnic Groups in Malaysia

Images in the Human Mind: Between Stereotype and Reality of the Ethnic Groups in Malaysia

Framing Jawi-Khat Move: A Comparative Analysis of Chinese, English and Malay-language Newspapers in Malaysia

The Malaysian government’s move to introduce Jawi-Khat in the Malay-language curriculum in Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools has been fraught with tension and opposition, especially among the Chinese Malaysian community. Being the second-largest ethnic group in Malaysia, the Chinese’s negative response to the initiative has generated some implications for the country’s socio-political order. Sin Chew Daily, the first newspaper to break the news, was accused by then Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng of stirring fears among the Chinese community. Lim’s condemnation of the Chinese daily and the manner in which the whole Jawi-Khat episode played out have raised questions over the roles of Chinese newspapers vis-à-vis their counterparts of other languages in the reportage of the Jawi-Khat move. Thus, a study on the ways three top vernacular-language newspapers in Malaysia, namely, Sin Chew Daily, The Star and Harian Metro, covered this issue, was conducted. The extent of news coverage, news sources, news frames and valence of the reports were analysed. The research findings reveal that each of the newspapers framed the Jawi-Khat controversy differently. Sin Chew remains a classic ethnic newspaper, having reported extensively on the issue and actively pursued the voice of opposition of various stakeholder groups towards a policy that impacts on Chinese education, a key area vital to the Chinese community. Otherwise, the three newspapers have, to varying degrees, performed the interpretive function within a controlled media landscape and attempted to de-escalate conflicts and misunderstanding arising from the Jawi-Khat move. Keywords: Jawi-Khat, media framing, vernacular newspapers, newspaper roles, ethnic relations.

How does economic growth impact on income inequality across ethnic groups in Malaysia?

AbstractThis study aims to examine the impact of economic growth on income inequality in Malaysia with special attention to the distribution of income among different ethnic groups. Twofold methodologies have been used in this analysis. The primary methodology is descriptive in nature where tables, charts, and diagrams have been extracted from the specific sources for analysis. Second, this paper applies the Granger noncausality test to estimate the causality and also applies the ARDL (autoregressive distributed lag) regression model to see the shot‐run and long‐run dynamic relationship between economic growth and income inequality in the context of Malaysia using the data of 1970–2018 from the household income survey, World Development Indicators, and the Standardized World Income Inequality Database. Additionally, it deploys panel Granger noncausality and dynamic pool mean group regression for the robustness of the results. This study reveals that the income gap among ethnic groups has been narrowed; although, intra‐ethnic income inequality is still very high, especially among Indians. The study further advises that income inequality does not Granger‐cause economic growth; rather, economic growth does Granger‐cause income inequality, and economic growth affects income inequality negatively, regardless of ethnicity, suggesting that economic growth significantly contributes to the reduction of income inequality in Malaysia. The paper concludes with a few policies which could significantly contribute to reducing income inequalities and achieving greater economic development goals, such that Malaysia can become a developed country by 2030.

Five Love Languages Scale Factor Analysis

Research has shown that social networking sites (SNS), such as Facebook and WhatsApp, make it more convenient for older adults to bond with friends and family. However, despite such benefits, studies also found few older adults use SNS, and even fewer older adults use SNS in less developed nations. Therefore, it is important to identify factors that can influence intention to use SNS in older adults, especially among the Malaysian Chinese population, as they will face an aging society earlier than other ethnic groups in Malaysia. This study used the Technology Acceptance Model and Reasoned Action Approach to examine whether factors such as perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, selfefficacy, and subjective norms, are significant predictors of intention to use SNS among Malaysian Chinese older adults. Purposive and snowball sampling methods were used to recruit 288 Malaysian Chinese adults aged 60 and above to participate in this survey. Multiple regression was used to analyze the data. Results showed that subjective norms played the most important role in intention to use SNS among Malaysian Chinese older adults. These findings can provide insight for program managers and policymakers when promoting SNS use among older adults.

Ethno Cultural Concept of Family Life in Malaysian Literature in English

A family involves two or more persons who live in the same household and are related through blood, marriage, or adoption . Family is “a social group branded by a common home, economic collaboration, and reproduction. It includes grown-ups of both genders, at least two of whom sustain a socially approved sexual relationship, and one or more children, own or adopted, of the adults living together(Alakavuklar, 2009).The study is going to examine the concept of family in term of father/mother, father /children, mother/children binary opposition between three main ethnic groups in Malaysia (Malay ,Chinese ,Indian ) through Malaysian novels in English: ‘The Rice Mother', ‘Evening Is the Whole Day’, ‘Green Is the Color’, and ‘The Garden of Evening Mist’.

Development of a Malaysian Family Functioning Scale (MFFS)

ABSTRACT The study reported here explains the development of a Malaysian Family Functioning Scale (MFFS) that can be used by researchers and practitioners in the field of marriage and family therapy. Results show that the MFFS validly measures the functioning of Malaysian families. Items used in the instrument were developed based on data gathered from Focus Group interviews with family experts and consolidated with findings from previous studies. A total of 121 items for the MFFS were produced and tested using a pilot test. Following the pilot test, an initial scale of 121 items was administered to 233 participants. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) conducted on the items in the MFFS resulted in the extraction of four factors consisting of 30 items. Confirmatory factor analysis using data from 350 participants was subsequently conducted to verify the validity of the four factors discovered through EFA, which are Communication, Cohesion, Rules, and Roles. The study reported here shows that the MFFS is a reliable and valid measure that can be used by researchers and practitioners to understand the level of family functioning across different ethnic groups in Malaysia. There may be valid applications to other collectivist societies as well.