Groups In Malaysia Research Articles

Waqif preference of waqf-based qardhul hassan financing in Malaysia using a maqāṣid approach

Purpose The purpose of this study is to develop a new framework to measure waqif preference of waqf-based qardhul hassan financing in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach Using a maqāṣid approach, this study’s data were drawn from 286 valid usable questionnaires to examine the effects of consumer, family, ummah and humanity factors on the preference. Findings The study found that the said factors sourced from Attia’s maqāṣid al-Shariah were instrumental in determining waqif preference to donate in waqf-based qardhul hassan financing. Research limitations/implications Like others, this study’s findings are limited in terms of their generalisations and applications. The theory, context and variables used should be expanded in future works. Practical implications The results obtained are useful as a yardstick to enable the offered waqf-based qardhul hassan financing for improved mutual well-being among different classes of the wealth of societal groups in Malaysia. Furthermore, the results provide valuable insights into the direction for practitioners mainly managers involved in introducing waqf-based qardhul hassan financing as a new Islamic social financial instrument for poor and needy folks, at best. Originality/value This study is novel in terms of the proposed conceptual framework, where the waqif perspective comes into play.

The influence of workforce diversity and job meaningfulness on employee engagement and organizational citizenship behaviors

BACKGROUND: This study was done after the COVID-19 pandemic that brough a lot of disruptions and changes in behaviors of employees. This study focused on behaviors of Z employees in the new normal environment after the COVID-19 pandemic. Generation Z presently form the biggest age group in Malaysia, accounting for 29% of the total population. They have their own way of behavior and working patterns that is different from previous generations. Despite the increasing number of Gen Z employees, there is a dearth of studies that examined the effect of workforce diversity and job meaningfulness on employee engagement and OCB after the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to find out the association between workforce diversity and job meaningfulness to employee engagement and Organization Citizenship Behavior (OCB) among Gen Z employees in Malaysia after the COVID-19 pandemic. This research also investigated the relationship between employee engagement and OCB. METHODS: This was a quantitative study, and a survey strategy was used to collect data from 160 respondents. SPSS and Smart-PLS were used to generate descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: The results revealed that workforce diversity was the strongest predictor of employee engagement among Gen Z employees after the pandemic. Workforce diversity also had a significant impact on OCB. Comparatively, job meaningfulness had a significant impact only on employee engagement but there was also a significant impact of employee engagement on OCB. CONCLUSIONS: The study that was done after the pandemic is one of the first to examine the relationship between workforce diversity, job meaningfulness, employee engagement, and OCB and has extended the current literature through the focus on Generation Z employees. The results suggest that workforce diversity and job meaningfulness to be adopted by organizations to upgrade engagement of Gen Z employees after the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in employee engagement post-COVID, will lead to lower employee turnover, improved productivity and motivation.

Literature and Cultural Ecology: The Relationship Between Folklore and Environmental Sustainability

The paper addresses the relationship between literature, cultural ecology, and folklore’s role in promoting ecological sustainability. The expression of values and beliefs of community in folklore very often teaches people how to interact with the natural environment. This ecological component of folklore gives us a helpful insight into how traditional societies have grappled with and respected nature. This paper adopts a folkloric origin to identify several folk stories of ethnic groups in Malaysia to prove that these entertaining stories have essential messages on environmental conservation for the dwellers. Then, the article tells us how a literary treasure like this can be a pedagogical tool for raising ecological awareness and encouraging sustainable practices among the young generation. A more in-depth grasp of the literature on cultural ecology linking would lead to a better understanding of the role of image admin folklore in creating attitudes and perspectives towards environmental sustainability.

Perceptions of risk and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic among women and older adults.

The world's health, economic, and social systems have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With lockdown measures being a common response strategy in most countries, many individuals were faced with financial and mental health challenges. The current study explored the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological well-being, perception of risk factors and coping strategies of two vulnerable groups in Malaysia, namely women and older adults from low-income households (USD592). A purposive sample of 30 women and 30 older adults was interviewed via telephone during Malaysia's Movement Control Order (MCO) regarding the challenges they faced throughout the pandemic. Thematic analysis was subsequently conducted to identify key themes. The themes identified from the thematic analysis indicated a degree of overlap between both groups. For women, seven themes emerged: 1) Psychological challenges due to COVID-19 pandemic, 2) Family violence, 3) Finance and employment related stress and anxiety, 4) Women's inequality and prejudice, 5) Coping strategies, 6) Professional support, and 7) Women's empowerment. Similarly, there were six themes for the older adults: 1) Adverse emotional experiences from COVID-19, 2) Threats to health security, 3) Loss of social connections, 4) Government aid to improve older adults' psychological well-being, 5) Psychological support from family members and pets, and 6) Self-reliance, religion, and spirituality. The findings provide valuable information on the specific burdens faced by these groups, and support psychological interventions and mitigations that would be appropriate to improve well-being during the recovery phase.

Investigating Intention to Invest in Online Peer-to-Peer Lending Platforms Among the Bottom 40 Group in Malaysia

Investigating Intention to Invest in Online Peer-to-Peer Lending Platforms Among the Bottom 40 Group in Malaysia

Perceptions and practices of self-management among adult patients with gout at a primary care clinic: A qualitative study.

Gout is a chronic disease commonly associated with other comorbidities. Patients' perceived quality of life empowers them in managing their health. Self-management is imparted as part of management among patients with chronic disease. This study aimed to explore the perceptions and practices of self-management among patients with gout from different ethnic groups in Malaysia. A qualitative study was conducted among Malay, Chinese and Indian patients with gout via semi-structured in-depth interviews at the primary care clinic of University Malaya Medical Centre in either English or Malay language. All participants had a gout duration of more than 6 months and were either taking urate-lowering drugs or not using them at all. A total of 20 participants were successfully recruited for the study. Among the participants, 18 were men, while two were women. Further, nine were Malays; six, Chinese; and four, Indians. The age ranged from 29 to 81 years, while the gout duration ranged from 1 to 30 years. From the interviews, three themes emerged: experiences with gout, types of self-management of gout and factors influencing self-management of gout. Diet control is the main self-management practice of patients with gout. Traditional medicine practices include natural methods such as consumption of different types of vegetable juices, pineapple and papaya. Each ethnicity has its own unique beliefs and food cultures. By understanding the self-management practices of patients from diverse ethnic backgrounds, healthcare practitioners can tailor the treatment of gout to individual needs.

Analogi Hadis Terhadap Petua Dan Pantang Larang Penghambat Rezeki Dalam Kitab Ta’lim Wa Al-Muta’llim Karya Al-Zarnuji: Kajian Di Kuala Lipis Pahang

The Malay community represents the largest majority group in Malaysia and is rich in traditional wisdom and practices that are a part of the social fabric and shared in communal life. These traditional wisdom and practices are manifested through various old adages and taboos believed to have an impact on life. Therefore, an analysis of the book 'Ta’lim wal Muta’llim' specifically focuses on the chapter of adages and taboos that hinder one's livelihood, which can be associated with the discussion of hadith analogy and the analysis of the elderly population in Kuala Lipis, Pahang. The use of this book is seen as closely related to the Malay community. From the research, it was found that 34 adages and taboos that invite poverty listed through the work of al-Zarnuji are closely related to elements within the Malay community in Kuala Lipis, Pahang. The results show that out of these 34 adages, 31 are commonly heard among the people of Kuala Lipis, and they can be linked to 21 Hadiths. The remaining ones are not related to Hadith sources. Furthermore, these adages and taboos are seen as beneficial guidance and advice for the community in navigating the course of life, and some are still practiced to this day.

Ethnonationalism and Ideology

Abstract The Japanese occupation of Malaysia during the Second World War has occupied a significant space in national history textbooks in Malaysia. The period has been associated with nationalist movements and independence from colonial rule. However, narratives of the Japanese occupation in school history textbooks have changed in terms of the importance given to the experiences of the three major ethnic groups in Malaysia (the Malay, Chinese, and Indian ethnic groups). This article presents an analysis of the Japanese occupation as portrayed in Malaysian national history textbooks from 1978 to 2020. It demonstrates a link between ideology and the state curriculum in Malaysia, which shows how cultural and ideological factors (namely, the political ideology of Malay dominance, or ketuanan Melayu) explain the changes made to the narratives in history textbooks.

Spirituality Discipline in Building Insaniah Values for Selected At-Risk Youth Group in Malaysia: A Literature Review

Spirituality Discipline in Building Insaniah Values for Selected At-Risk Youth Group in Malaysia: A Literature Review

Testing the validity of a new scale designed to assess beliefs and perceptions about colorectal cancer and colorectal cancer screening in Malaysia: a principal component analysis

ObjectiveTo conduct a cultural adaptation and validation of the Champion Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS) for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening (CHBMS-CRC-M) in order to assess and investigate perceptions and beliefs...

Item Validity and Reliability in Building Insaniah Value for Selected At-Risk Youth Groups in Malaysia

Item Validity and Reliability in Building Insaniah Value for Selected At-Risk Youth Groups in Malaysia

Regional and ethnic inequalities in Malaysian poverty dynamics

Abstract This study employs a synthetic panel approach based on nationally-representative micro-level data to track poverty and income mobility in Malaysia in the period 2004–2016. On aggregate we observe large reductions in chronic poverty and increases in persistent economic security, but note that those who remain poor in 2016 are increasingly likely to be poor in a structural sense. Further, we find that poverty and income dynamics differ notably across geographic dimensions. Such disparities are most striking when we contrast affluent urban Peninsular Malaysia with poorer rural East Malaysia. Although there are important differences in welfare levels between the main ethnic groups in Malaysia, we observe that mobility trends generally point in the same direction. While our findings show that there is still scope for poverty reduction through the reduction of inter-ethnic inequalities, we underscore the importance of taking regional inequalities into greater account when it comes to ensuring a fairer distribution of socioeconomic opportunities for poor and vulnerable Malaysians. Hence, addressing chronic poverty is likely to require additional attention to less developed geographic areas, as a complement to the largely ethnicity-based policies that have historically played a dominant role.

Comparing Elicitation Methods of Risk Preferences in Personal Financial Planning: A Field Experiment among Working Adults in Malaysia

Risk preference is an important input in designing investment types or port-folios in personal finance. Although there are many reported risk elicitation methods, the risk preference measure obtained from these methods has not been associated with any behavioural or psychological reasons underlying the choices made. This association is important in providing the underlying theoretical understanding of risk preferences and establishing the robustness of a measure. The present paper attempted to test the consistency of risk preferences between two widely used elicitation methods: Grable and Lytton (1999, 2003) risk tolerance score and probability weighting function in prospect theory (Kahneman & Tversky, 1979; Tversky & Kahneman, 1992). The risk score captures the self-reported willingness to engage in risky investment, and the probability weighting function shows overweighting or underweighting of the probability. We conducted a series of field experiments involving working adults of three main ethnic groups in Malaysia. The results showed consistency in risk preferences between the two methods: high willingness to engage in risk was complemented by optimistic probability weighting, and respondents with low willingness to engage in risky investment evaluated high probability more favourably. The study is useful to financial professionals when implementing the questionnaire to measure risk preferences.

REKA BENTUK PEDAGOGI RESPONSIF BUDAYA DALAM PENDIDIKAN MORAL: PENILAIAN INOVASI KALENDAR KEBUDAYAAN [DESIGNING A CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PEDAGOGY IN MORAL EDUCATION: AN EVALUATION OF A CULTURAL CALENDAR INNOVATION

REKA BENTUK PEDAGOGI RESPONSIF BUDAYA DALAM PENDIDIKAN MORAL: PENILAIAN INOVASI KALENDAR KEBUDAYAAN [DESIGNING A CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PEDAGOGY IN MORAL EDUCATION: AN EVALUATION OF A CULTURAL CALENDAR INNOVATION

Multivariable Projections of Caries-Free Prevalence and the Associated Factors from 2019 to 2030 among Schoolchildren Aged 6, 12 and 16-Year-Old in Malaysia.

This study identified caries-free associated factors and conducted multivariable projections of the caries-free prevalence until 2030 among six-, 12-, and 16-year-old schoolchildren in Malaysia. It was a secondary data analysis of caries-free prevalence and potential associated factors obtained from the Health Information Management System (HIMS), Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), and Food Balance Sheets (FBS). Multiple linear regression and regression with ARMA errors were employed to determine the associated factors and predict the caries-free prevalence from 2019 or 2020 until 2030 for the six-, 12-, and 16-year-old groups, respectively. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and household income, sugar consumption, and water fluoridation were significantly associated with caries-free status, with the most impactful in all age groups being water fluoridation. With the projected values of the associated factors, the caries-free prevalence in schoolchildren of all age groups in Malaysia is predicted to increase in the next decade. Similar to the past decade, the prevalence trend will remain the highest among the 12-year-olds and the lowest among six-year-olds. Caries-free prevalence was predicted to increase by 9.10%, 15.52%, and 15.10% in the six-, 12-, and 16-year-old groups, respectively. The prevalence multiplied the highest at four times greater than in the past ten years among 16-year-olds, compared with less than 2% in the six- and 12-year-old groups. In conclusion, by factoring in economic factors, sugar consumption, water fluoridation, and age groups, the caries-free prevalence of schoolchildren in Malaysia is projected to increase at different rates in the next decade until 2030. Thus, strategic oral health plans to recognise effective promotion programmes and strengthen others for each age group are crucial.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Low Back Pain in Malaysia: A Scoping Review.

Data on the prevalence and risk factors of low back pain (LBP) in Malaysia remain unclear as they are currently limited to specific settings and occupational groups. Therefore, this study aims to determine the prevalence and risk factors of low back pain in Malaysia. In this scoping review, we had systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar from January 2016 to April 2020. In addition, we had included cross-sectional studies on LBP in Malaysia. Studies without data on the prevalence and risk factors were excluded. The settings, population, design, sample size, evaluation methods, prevalence and risk factors of the studies were summarised. The literature search identified 435 potentially eligible studies; of these, 21 had met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of LBP in Malaysia among various types of the population had ranged from 12.4% to 84.6%. Among the various types of occupation, the prevalence of LBP was the highest among nurses (67.9%), followed by drivers (65.7%). In addition, age, gender, body mass index (BMI), lifting heavy objects, working posture, lifestyle, working hours and mental health were identified as the risk factors of LBP in Malaysia. The current evidence suggests that LBP is a serious health problem among several occupational groups in Malaysia. Therefore, it is crucial to implement the correct interventions for the prevention of LBP among these groups.

SWOT Analysis of Indirect Tax System: From the Perspectives of the lower Income Group in Malaysia

"As the only country that reverted from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to the Sales and Services Tax (SST), Malaysia is circling around a strong rumor that the GST may be re-introduced to the country. Nonetheless, both SST and GST are deemed regressive since they can affect the household consumption expenditures of certain income groups, especially the lower-income group, which may be imposed with a heavier burden than the higher-income group. Hence, this study aims to gain the perceptions of the lower income group to assess their acceptance level towards SST 2.0. In addition, using a quadrant analysis, the study also evaluates what is still lacking in the Malaysian indirect tax system, which requires urgent attention from policymakers. Data were gathered using questionnaires disseminated to the lower income group or Bottom 40 with a household income below RM4,849 and the samples were selected using purposive sampling. A total of 236 usable questionnaires were collected and the quadrant analysis was employed to analyze the data. Overall, the results showed that Malaysia’s indirect tax system is still lacking in terms of public trust in the government, certainty, simplicity, appropriate government revenue, and the effectiveness of tax administration. Drawing from the findings of this study, policymakers can continuously mitigate the public burden by exempting or including more necessities (food) from the consumption tax, and the public should embrace the consumption tax if this could reduce their financial burden in the long run. In addition, it is important that the taxpayers feel assured that the taxes they pay using their hard-earned money are well managed in order to provide quality services to all citizens of Malaysia, especially during uncertain times due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other crises. Tax administrators could also develop adequate approaches to elicit a high public acceptance level by comprehending the good tax policy-public behavior association. In essence, the current study has significantly expanded the body of knowledge on indirect tax acceptance with novel techniques in the methodology section and additional insights into the factors impacting tax acceptance, particularly in indirect taxation."

1299-P: Predictors of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Responses following OGTT in Treatment-Naïve Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus among Three Ethnic Groups in Malaysia

Introduction: Predictors of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) responses following OGTT in treatment-naïve type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have not been fully elucidated. In this respect, we aim to investigate the various predictors of GLP-1 responses following OGTT in treatment-naïve T2DM. Aim: To assess the clinical and biochemical predictors of GLP-1 responses following OGTT in treatment-naïve T2DM among three ethnic groups in Malaysia. Methods : Thirty-one treatment-naive T2DM subjects underwent a 75-g OGTT. Total GLP-1 concentrations were measured at 0, 30 and 120 min. By using area under the curve (AUC) for GLP-1 (AUCGLP-1) as an index of GLP-1 secretory response, predictors of GLP-1 responses following OGTT were assessed using multiple linear regression analysis. Results: Majority of the treatment-naïve T2DM patients were newly-diagnosed (n=28, 96.6%). The GLP-1 levels at 0, 30- and 120-min were 25.59 ± 10.87 pmol/L, 46.86 ± 18.36 pmol/L and 27.02 ± 13.37 pmol/L respectively. There was a positive correlation between increasing age and AUCGLP-1 (Β = 8.55, p<0.001). Male had higher GLP-1 response to OGTT than female (Β = -303.04, p<0.001). The Indian ethnicity exhibited higher GLP-1 secretion than the Malays (Β = 244.17, p<0.001). Fasting insulin was positively correlated with AUCGLP-1 (Β = 8.73, p=0.001). AUCGLP-1 was positively correlated with increased systolic blood pressure (Β = 3.65, p=0.03), total cholesterol (Β = 174.32, p=0.004) and LDL-cholesterol (Β = 202.35, p=0.002). Conclusions: Older age, male and Indian ethnicity were independent predictors of GLP-1 responses following OGTT in treatment-naïve T2DM. The positive correlation between risk factors associated with insulin resistance and GLP-1 suggested that these risk factors are responsible for driving GLP-1 secretion. Disclosure S.Chong: None. N.Sukor: None. S.A.Robert: None. K.Ng: None. N.A.Kamaruddin: Advisory Panel; Zuellig Pharma Holdings Pte. Ltd., Other Relationship; American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, Speaker's Bureau; AstraZeneca, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Novo Nordisk. Funding National University of Malaysia (GUP-2017-066); Malaysian Endocrine & Metabolic Society (L12-MEMS6)

Association of psychological distress with arm morbidity symptoms in breast cancer survivors: outcomes from the use of PHQ-9 and GAD-7 questionnaires.

Although higher survival rates of breast cancer are achieved these days, breast cancer survivors are challenged with unwanted side effects from treatment or management that affect physical, functional, and psychological well-being of an individual. This study aimed to assess psychological distress status in Malaysian breast cancer survivors and factors that affected the condition. A cross-sectional study design was conducted on 162 breast cancer survivors from various breast cancer support groups in Malaysia. Psychological distress status was assessed based on depression and anxiety scores by applying the Malay version of Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7). Both instruments were self-administered along with a set of questionnaires comprising demographic, medical history, quality of life, and upper extremity function assessment. Outcomes from the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were analyzed for severity level of psychological distress, and its association with relevant variables, arm morbidity symptoms, as well as the duration of cancer survivorship. The univariate analysis showed that breast cancer survivors with arm morbidities after breast surgery had a higher score of depression (5.0 vs 4.0, p = 0.011) and anxiety (3.0 vs 1.0, p = 0.026) than those who did not. Besides that, receiving fewer post-rehabilitation treatments (p = 0.049) and having a family history of cancer (p = 0.022) were correlated with higher anxiety level. The level of depression and anxiety was inversely proportionate with quality of life and positively correlated with greater disability of the arm function (p < 0.05). Subsequent analysis showed that arm morbidity symptoms including difficulties in finding a t-shirt that fits and pain in the arm area after breast cancer surgery were positively associated with ahigher level of psychological distress. Our study demonstrated the association between psychological distress with arm morbidities in breast cancer survivors. Given that arm morbidities can affect not only physical, but psychological well-being, continuous or serial assessment on both aspects during cancer treatment may effectively help to address mental health issue experienced by this cancer population.

Essential Goods and Services Needs Among the B40 In the Klang Valley During The COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic created chaos and conflicts in society as there was a disruption in the social and economic spheres of life globally and locally. The pandemic led to the loss of limited economic resources needed to meet the family's daily demands due to job loss, temporary layoffs, or other circumstances. This study intends to determine the importance of necessities among the B40 group in Malaysia's Klang Valley. The study also explored the importance and relationship between essential goods and services during the pandemic. The information came from a survey given to the Klang Valley's B40 group utilizing Facebook (FB) social media and FB Ads. The data were compiled from 363 respondents and summarised using the cross-sectional survey sampling method. The study focuses on the B40 group as Malaysia's disadvantaged, particularly in obtaining essential products and services due to their vulnerability. Several statistical tests investigate this. Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficient test analyzes the descriptive statistics analysis. The factors of food, healthcare, shelter, transportation, and formal education have both positive and negative connections with the demographic variables. The studies' findings revealed that all demographic parameters had positive and negative connections, demonstrating that the B40 Group in the Klang Valley needs all essentials. According to the analysis's findings, 94% of respondents concur that food should take precedence during the pandemic. A majority of respondents (92%) think that healthcare (91%), shelter, and (84%) formal education is the essential goods and services. The most important food is rice, followed by vegetables, meat, milk for children, and other food categories. Vaccines are the highest priority among healthcare products and services, followed by masks and medications.Additionally, many members of the B40 group have experienced decreased income and possibly job losses due to the installation of movement order control (MCO) during the epidemic. As a result, despite being supported by government aid, the household's income is insufficient to meet its demands. Therefore, to efficiently channel aid to those in need, the government still needs to increase the distribution of goods and services based on priorities. According to the study's conclusions, to ensure that everyone has access to their needs, especially in times of crisis, comprehensive, precise data on homes and the availability of necessary commodities and services must be put in place digitally in the future.