Issues In Malaysia Research Articles

Sugar taxation policy and sugar consumption in Malaysia

Malaysia has been taking initiatives to combat obesity as well as non-communicable diseases. A sugar-sweetened beverage (SSBs) tax was proposed in 2014 and implemented in 2019 with an excise duty of RM0.40 per litre for ready-to-drink sugar content. This article aimed to spark a discussion about Malaysia's current sugar tax policies to reduce excessive sugar consumption among Malaysians. However, the alarming rise in the number of obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases indicates that the sugar tax control measures are less effective in combating health issues. This study compares Malaysia's neighbours' sugar tax policies and other sugar consumption-related measures. To combat the emerging sugar-related health issues in Malaysia, the government should collaborate with food manufacturers to reduce the amount of sugar in their food production, abate sugar-containing products’ promotion, educate the consequences of excess sugar consumption at all levels of education, apply sugar taxes with lower tax base rate and specific tax rate depends on sugar addition, and form a regional policy between neighbours.

Case Method Teaching, Strategic Storytelling, and Social Change: A Pilot Evaluation of an Online Course to Address Colourism in Malaysia

Colourism is the discriminatory practice of favoring lighter skin over darker skin. It perpetuates social disparities and drives skin-lightening products (SLP) use globally, including in Malaysia. This study presents the results of an innovative 3 week online training course designed to equip health professionals and educators who work with youth in Malaysia with the knowledge and skills to combat colourism and the use of dangerous SLPs through strategic storytelling. We recruited a diverse group of learners ( N = 19) and assessed their knowledge and attitudes of colourism and use of SLP before and after the course. We also assessed student engagement and collected qualitative acceptability data. The course incorporated case method teaching, interactive case delivery, strategic storytelling methods, and team collaboration elements through digital platforms to facilitate course engagement and learning. Our findings indicate significant improvements in learners’ knowledge and concern regarding skin-shade discrimination and SLP usage pre- to post-course. Learners reported their intention to use strategic storytelling techniques for public health advocacy around colourism and use of SLPs. Qualitative learner feedback highlighted the positive aspects of the course, including its realism and the importance of collaborative learning with professionals from diverse fields to combat prevailing sociocultural issues. While this study offers valuable insights into the effectiveness of this innovative training approach, it also identifies areas of future improvements as suggested by learners, such as the need to increase content diversity, enhance communication channels, and extend time for discussion. This course provides a promising model for addressing colourism-related issues in Malaysia.

Best Practices in Facilities Management to Rectify Office Building Performance Issues in Malaysia: Insights From Facilities Management Team

Best Practices in Facilities Management to Rectify Office Building Performance Issues in Malaysia: Insights From Facilities Management Team

MEDIA COVERAGE ON ACTIVITIES OF MALAYSIAN ENVIRONMENTAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS (ENGOs) IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES: A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF SELECTED MAINSTREAM NEWSPAPERS

Climate change is an increasingly significant problem in Malaysia and has attracted the attention of Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations (ENGOs) to advocate climate justice. The activities performed by the ENGOs to tackle climate change issues indicate that their roles are becoming more critical than ever. However, limited academic documents record their activities in the context of climate change issues in Malaysia based on newspaper reports. Therefore, this paper aims to analyse the media coverage of the activities of ENGOs in addressing climate change issues in Malaysia. The study utilised the content-analysis method to analyse relevant articles that portray ENGO initiatives concerning climate actions published in two mainstream national newspapers. The findings from the analysis provide an overview of the roles played by ENGOs in addressing climate change issues and offer insights into the role of newspapers in public awareness about ENGOs’ activism in Malaysia.

FOOD SECURITY ISSUES IN MALAYSIA AND INDONESIA: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Food security is becoming increasingly important as the world's population grows, particularly in emerging countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. In Malaysia, food security is crucial to ensure that Malaysians have access to enough food if the nation experiences any unplanned events. Several critical food security issues have been identified in Malaysia and Indonesia, including a lack of agricultural land, agricultural investment, and appropriate policies and innovative programs for the agriculture sector to boost food production. This study aims to examine food security issues in Malaysia and Indonesia and to analyse the laws, policies, and initiatives implemented in Malaysia and Indonesia to ensure food security. In addition, waqf has much potential to address food security issues. This study adopts a qualitative approach that involves data collection based on primary and secondary legal material. The data collected are comparatively analysed using content analysis. This comparative legal research methodology draws lessons from both jurisdictions. The findings can be used to develop best practices and inform policy decisions on food security issues.

The effectiveness of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in solving railway project management issues in Malaysia

The effectiveness of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in solving railway project management issues in Malaysia

Assessment of low-cost housing provision as government social responsibility towards achievement of sustainable development goal 11: stakeholders’ perspective

Studies show that the government’s role can improve low-cost housing (LCH) to achieve SDGs linked with housing. LCH provision as a government social responsibility to achieving Goal 11 may raise critical issues in Malaysia. Therefore, this study investigated the factors hindering Malaysia’s Government from providing LCH as a social responsibility to achieving Goal 11. The research adopted a qualitative approach via phenomenology. It covered four major cities in Malaysia and achieved saturation at the 35th selected participant. Findings reveal that housing provision for all Malaysia’s low-income earners (LIEs) is an issue. The complexity of the problems, such as government inadequate funding, housing market financialisation, faulty LCH registration system, LCH high development and construction cost, under-declaration of household income by an unqualified person, LIEs collateral lacking, inability to provide 10% down payment, reluctance by mortgage institutions to lend loans to LIEs, entitlement syndrome, and inadequate LCH data sharing between federal and states governments may hinder Malaysia’s Government alone from LCH provision as a social responsibility to the low-income groups. Findings show that achieving Goal 11 may be threatened if these issues are not addressed and suggest measures to improve LCH to achieve Goal 11 via all-inclusive mechanisms.

Management of Khilaf Issues in Malaysia: Selected Case Analysis

Management of Khilaf Issues in Malaysia: Selected Case Analysis

The Effect of Green Technology Policy on Climate Change Awareness of Youth in Sabah, Malaysia

The role to mitigate climate change issue should be embark among youth. This study examines the effects of green technology policy on climate change awareness of youth in Sabah, Malaysia. Using a random sampling method, this study involved 254 respondents from four areas of Sabah namely Tawau, Lahad Datu, Sandakan, and Kota Kinabalu. This study used two approaches which are i) probit model and ii) two-stage least squares method. We find a positive effect between youth’ positive perceptions on green technology policy on their climate change awareness. In addition, the effect becomes five times higher when we address the endogeneity problem in model estimation using the two-stage least squares method and identification strategy based on the prospect theory. This study has highlighted the great impact of youth in implementing green technology to reduce climate change issues in Malaysia in general.

ADVANCES IN WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT USING FUZZY APPROACH: RECENT TRENDS OF THEORY AND APPLICATIONS

Due to the rapid growth of economic development and population, the demand for water consumption and the levels of polluted water in Malaysia have constantly increased and are considered crucial issues in Malaysia. Urbanization has steadily produced great amounts of human wastes, such as domestic and industrial wastes which inevitably end up in the water bodies. The World Health Organization claimed that approximately 2.2 million people die annually from such illnesses caused by ingesting bacteria, viruses, protozoans, and other pathogenic microbes in untreated or poorly treated waters or wastewater. This paper intends to provide insight into the publication trends on water quality assessment using fuzzy approaches from 2015 to 2023. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of 404 scholarly works on water quality assessment as recorded in the Scopus database in September 2023. The data was analysed using a variety of software which are VOSviewer, Harzing’s Publish and Perish, and Microsoft Excel. This paper highlights important contributions, publications, statistics, and current trends of theory and applications in the field. The finding also addresses essential information on present and future developments and critical information for increasing the inclusivity and global reach of water quality assessment which need further attention from the fuzzy research community.

DAVSS: Development of Mobile Application for Documenting and Assessing Domestic Violence

This paper presents the development and evaluation of the Domestic Abuse and Violence Support System (DAVSS), a mobile application designed to address domestic violence issues in Malaysia. DAVSS integrates the essential 27-DASH (Danger Assessment for Separation and Harassment) questionnaire to assess the severity of domestic violence situations. The project follows the phased approach of the Waterfall Model, encompassing requirements, analysis, design, development, and testing stages.Usability testing was conducted to evaluate the DAVSS application, revealing overall user satisfaction. However, this assessment relied primarily on frequency analysis, prompting consideration for enhanced reliability through alternative measurement methods such as median and standard deviation approaches.The DAVSS application's Danger Assessment Test (DAT) algorithm, built upon the 27-DASH questions, represents a significant aspect of the system. Future work includes the validation of this rule-based algorithm using expert evaluation, potentially through Delphi techniques.Given the absence of dedicated domestic abuse mobile applications in Malaysia, DAVSS promises several advantages. It empowers victims to report incidents, locate shelters for protection, and facilitates shelter access through QR code integration. In conclusion, as domestic violence remains a pressing concern requiring increased support, the DAVSS mobile application emerges as a vital system that offers assistance to victims while breaking down barriers that may silence their voices.

Electronic Submission in Construction: Government Approval Practice and Potential Issues in Malaysia

Post-COVID-19 has strongly impacted the construction industry worldwide; many parties took alternatives to facilitate the relatively overdue work arrangements. The Malaysian construction industry has been directly affected and has had to increase the adoption of One-Stop Centre (OSC) electronic submissions. According to the Malaysian online system submission policies, it is necessary to obtain construction approval from the OSC through the implementation by town councils. Not understanding the process and documents involved in this procedure might result in ineffective submissions. Hence, the study objectives are to identify: 1) The current submission process and documents for construction approval to town councils, and 2) Issues related to the e-submission process. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals from twenty town (20) city councils in Malaysia to achieve those objectives. The results indicate that the general process includes submitting the required documents through the OSC, validation of submittals, and meeting approvals. The required documents include planning permissions, drawings, engineering plans, environmental management plans, landowner documents, and approvals by other government agencies. Finally, the issues with the e-submission include technical problems and the lack of experience of all involved stakeholders. These findings can be used by policymakers to improve the submission system and industry practitioners in acquiring construction approvals.

Applying the Concepts of Benefit and Harm in Malaysian Bioethical Discourse: Analysis of Malaysian Fatwa.

Rapid developments in science and technology have resulted in novel discoveries, leading to new questions particularly related to human values and ethics. Every discovery and technology has positive and negative implications and affects human lives either directly or indirectly, involving all walks of life. Bioethical discourse in Malaysia must consider the multiracial and multireligious background of Malaysia and especially the Islamic view as the majority of Malaysians are Muslims and Islam is the religion of the federation. This article discusses several selected bioethical issues in Malaysia by studying the application of maṣlaḥah (the public good) and mafsadah (evil and harms) in Malaysian Islamic rulings (fatwas). This article uses the critical interpretation approach, as this is an ethical, interpretive, textual, and contextual analysis. In a situation when there is a conflict between maṣlaḥah and avoidance of mafsadah, it is preferred to attempt to address both needs. However, if maṣlaḥah and avoidance of mafsadah are mutually exclusive, the decision to choose must be made by weighing (tarjīḥ) and choosing the one which is superior. The maṣlaḥah and mafsadah concepts play vital and significant roles in bioethical discourse to realize human essential interests, namely faith, life, lineage, intellect, and property, thus achieving maqāṣid al-sharī'ah (the ultimate goal of sharia). This concept helps in guiding bioethical discussions, especially in determining the priority between achieving benefits and avoiding harms. The application of this concept will also assist Malaysian authorities in formulating appropriate rulings, especially bioethical issues related to Malaysian Muslims' lives.

Elucidation of the Influence of Construction Waste Causative Factors and Strategies towards Sustainable Construction Waste Management Improvement

The uncontrolled generation of construction waste happened due to the rapid development of the construction industry become one of the significant environmental issues in Malaysia. Therefore, sustainability was applied in construction waste management strategies. Sustainability in construction waste management emphasized the relevance of co-development in the economy, environment, and society and helped to achieve harmony in the economy, environment, and society. Therefore, this research was conducted with the aims to identify the causative factors of construction waste, determine the construction waste management strategies, and discover the relationship between the causative factors of construction waste and construction waste management strategies towards sustainable construction waste management improvement. In this regard, this research was conducted quantitatively using the questionnaire as a research medium to obtain feedback from the construction organizations on the causative factors and management strategies of construction waste towards sustainable construction waste management improvement. The developed questionnaire was distributed via a virtual method among project managers as representatives of construction organizations operating in Penang. As a result, 29.6 percent of the response rate was accepted. The analysis showed that the management factor, regulation factor and prevention strategy was important factors and strategies for sustainable construction waste management improvement and found that there was a strong relationship between them. Finally, this research outlined strategies to achieve sustainable construction waste management improvement in the construction industry and create a better environment.

Divergent Employment Prospects for Graduates of Bachelor's in Corporate Administration and Bachelor of Administrative Science Programs: Narrative Reviews

This study investigates graduate employability issues in Malaysia, focusing on graduates from UiTM Seremban. With a sample size of 2,001 Bachelor of Administration (BAS) and 960 Bachelor in Corporate Administration (BCA) graduates, it aims to understand the challenges and opportunities they face in the job market. The research employed a narrative review method and crafted questionnaires for the study. It also involved a bibliometric analysis search using keywords like 'employment,' 'job,' and 'work' within subject categories such as Social Sciences and Business. Overall, this research offers a comprehensive narrative overview exploring the factors impacting variations in job opportunities among BAS and BCA graduates. Moving forward, it is recommended to explore how universities can promote responsible civic engagement and develop effective advocacy skills among students. Additionally, conducting comparative analyses between BAS and BCA could provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of different educational approaches in enhancing graduate employability.

Governmental Social Media Effectiveness on Mental Health Issues in Malaysia During the Covid19 Endemic Phase

This study aims to investigate the relationship between social media usage and mental health outcomes among the Malaysian public during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research utilizes a quantitative research approach and includes survey responses from 378 individuals in the Klang Valley region of Malaysia. Data was collected through online surveys disseminated via popular social media platforms. The majority of respondents were female, aged between 21 and 30, Malay, and held a bachelor's degree or higher. The study employed frequency distribution, descriptive, reliability, and correlation analyses to explore the association between social media usage and mental health outcomes. The findings suggest a modest positive correlation between social media usage and mental health outcomes during the pandemic. However, after controlling for confounding variables, this relationship lost significance, indicating that social media usage alone may not be a reliable predictor of mental health outcomes. Furthermore, the study identified significant relationships between social media usage and economic factors, government factors, the theory of uses and gratification, and media trends. The study highlights the potential benefits of social media in government communication but recommends further research to assess the effectiveness of government initiatives utilizing social media in addressing mental health concerns during the pandemic.

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ ACCEPTANCE OF INTEGRITY AND ANTI-CORRUPTION TOPICS INCORPORATED WITHIN LANGUAGES AND HUMANITIES COURSES VIA CONTENT BASED INSTRUCTION APPROACH

The objective of the study is to measure the university student; acceptance of the Content based instruction (CBI) approach for The Integrity and Anti-Corruption (IAC) and their understanding on corruption and integrity issues in Malaysia as a whole. This is important as the battle against corruption must be carried out via all means. Thus the CBI approach enables lecturers to emphasize IAC within their existing languages and humanities courses. Data was elicited via survey questionnaires and selective interviews on 90 students who enrolled in the various courses for February semester. The findings show that majority of the respondents were very receptive to the integration of IAC topics via CBI in the languages and humanities courses and they have good understanding on the main aspects of integrity and corruption. However some of the students’ perception on a few micro practices relating to corruption shows somewhat worrying results. Suggestions are put forth to improve the content integration in the courses so that the learning outcomes will be better achieved as the understanding of IAC reach a better level.

The Development of Eco-Luxury Vinyl Plank (eLVP) Flooring: An Innovative Approach Using Recycled High-Density Polyethylene (rHDPE)

Plastics are now widely used materials in many commercial applications and play a significant role in our daily lives. However, one of the primary environmental issues in Malaysia is solid waste management and the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC) into the air during the manufacturing of plastic products that contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC), especially in luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring production. The main goal of this research is to discuss the problems of plastic waste and propose innovation of LVP flooring using recycled HDPE (rHDPE). Thus, this paper review and discusses the components and materials of eco-luxury vinyl plank flooring (eLVP), the manufacturing process, and the market potential for eLVP flooring in the construction industry. eLVP offers new core structure materials using recycled High-Density Polyethylene (rHDPE) replaced PVC in the existing LVP flooring core structure. A simulation method through the application of Google SketchUp Pro 2021 to demonstrate the manufacturing process, enhanced the visual of the potential innovation product of eLVP flooring. The manufacturing process involved raw materials preparation; shredding and melting down the rHDPE; new product shaping and compacted process; resin applying process; wear layer and underlay process; and cutting process. The initiative to utilize rHDPE in this study intends to resolve global environmental and health issues because HDPE plastic is the most environmentally stable of all plastics, and it has widely used especially in food packaging. Recycling this plastic waste will assist to boost the economy by lowering production costs.

Academic Dishonesty Among Health Sciences Postgraduate Students: A Single Center Cross-sectional Analysis

Academic dishonesty/misconduct has been one of the major issues in Malaysia which is widespread in the higher learning institutions. It implies any type of fraudulent act among students such as paying another person to do the task, purchasing a class research paper, getting test questions before the date of an examination, or duplicating the finished work of another student that applies to formal academic exercises. This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the practice of academic dishonesty among postgraduate students in the Faculty of Health Sciences, UKM KL. The McCabe Academic Integrity Questionnaire was adopted and distributed to the respondents. Results show that there is a low frequency of academic dishonesty involved among research and coursework postgraduate students and there are no significant differences between both modes of the study. Age and gender show a significant correlation with academic dishonesty practices among all four demographic factors studied.

Enough or not? Role of Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) as a Focal Point to Deal with Food Security Issues in Malaysia

There are a few reasons that can lead to food security, such as natural disasters, rising food prices, population growth, climate change, and wars between countries. FAMA is one of the government arms under the Ministry of Agricultural and Food Industries (MAFI) assigned to counter this issue. Indeed, FAMA has put forward some initiatives to balance this never-ending issue, but on the other side of the coin, there still exist imperfections that could hamper the initiative earlier if not dealt with carefully. This editorial note intends to examine the initiative and its shortcomings from the grassroots perspective.