Locations In Malaysia Research Articles

The Influence of Spatial Variability of Critical Conversion Point (CCP) in Production of Ground Level Ozone in the Context of Tropical Climate

ABSTRACTCritical conversion point (CCP) is a very crucial step in production of the ground level O3 chemistry. Thus, a multivariate analysis was applied on the dataset of nine selected locations in Malaysia from 1999 to 2010. It incorporated hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis (HACA) to explore the spatial variability of CCP and principal component analysis (PCA) to determine the major sources of the air pollutants that influence ozone CCP. High variability in CCP was observed between the monitoring stations that occurred during critical conversion time (CCT) from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The HACA results grouped the nine monitoring stations into three different clusters, based on the characteristics of ozone concentrations during CCT period. Results of PCA for the three clusters showed that the contributions to O3 level variation during CCT by meteorological variables (UVB, temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed) are higher at 51.6%, 48.5%, and 33.3% than that of primary air pollutants (NO2, SO2, PM10) at 19.2%, 21.4%, and 15.2% for cluster 1, cluster 2, and cluster 3, respectively. Therefore, applying a targeted spatial control strategy for ground level O3 precursors during the CCT period is a crucial step.

Factors affecting medical tourism destination selection: A Malaysian perspective

The study aims to assess the factors for medical tourism destination selection from medical tourist’s perspective and to determine the satisfaction level of medical tourists in Malaysia. Field survey was conducted with the structured questionnaire to medical tourists admitted at 11 public and private hospitals in Kuala Lumpur region during September and October, 2013. A nonprobability convenience sampling technique was used and 72 response were collected. Geography of Malaysia was found to be an important factor having direct and positive impact on patient’s destinations selection and satisfaction level. Results also confirms that Malaysia is famous destination for Indonesians as a medical tourism destination. One of the apparent limitations of current research is the sample size, which is very small and also limited to hospitals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A study with different sample size and several locations in Malaysia may provide fruitful results for the evaluation of medical tourism destination selection. Finding of the current research are very much beneficial for the health ministry, tourism ministry and practitioners to improve the service level and in attracting big number of medical tourists to Malaysia. Several countries are offering medical tourism in Asia Pacific region and attracting big number of tourist every year. This Research was conducted to find out the factors, which are very much important to attract medical tourists to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and their satisfaction level to improve the performance level in future. Different aspects are involved like organization’s functions, and Malaysian circumstances related to medical tourism in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

Pharmacognosy and Chromatographic Analysis of Piper Nigrum Linn. Fruits

Dried Piper nigrum Linn. fruit, also known as black pepper, is an economically valuable medicinal plant that has diverse pharmacological activities. The current study was aimed to establish a research on P. nigrum fruits that can be used as a tool for quality control and standardisation of this plant in Malaysia. Black pepper specimens were collected from three different locations in Malaysia; namely Johor, Malacca and Sarawak. Various tests were conducted in the present work to obtain detailed pharmacognostic and chromatographic profiles of P. nigrum fruits, including plant morphology, taxonomy characteristics, phytochemical screening, physicochemical properties and chromatographic analysis. Using a validated high performance liquid chromatography method we quantified piperine in the samples and the highest content was obtained for the specimen from Malacca. It can be concluded that the proposed analytical methods could be applied for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of P. nigrum fruits to control the quality of Malaysian black pepper.

Emotional Experiences and Regulation in the Workplace: The Effects of Culture

The present research aimed to investigate the experienced emotions and emotional regulation in the workplace particularly in child and family social work practice in a Malaysian context. The interrelationship between emotion and emotional regulation and cultural context were explored. The overall research strategy was ethnographic. The researchers used a mixture of methods including individual interviews, participant observation, and a questionnaire. The research was conducted in three locations in Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, Petaling and Kota Kinabalu. Participants consisted of child protectors and rehabilitation officers from the Malaysia Welfare Department and medical social workers in hospitals. This paper presents an analysis of individual interviews in the three locations. A total of twenty-five interviews were conducted (12 male, 13 female; age range 29-51). Data were analysed using thematic analysis . The research findings show that societal and professional cultures have influenced how child social workers regulate their experienced emotion when dealing with clients.

Phytochemical constituents and biological activities of different extracts of Strobilanthes crispus (L.) Bremek leaves grown in different locations of Malaysia.

BackgroundStrobilanthes crispus is a well-known herb in Malaysia with various pharmaceutical properties. S. crispus is known to contain several biologically active chemical constituents which are responsible for its pharmaceutical quality.MethodsStrobilanthes crispus leaves grown in three different locations in Malaysia [Kelantan (North-east), Selangor (Central), and Penang (North)], were investigated for differences in the content of secondary metabolites [total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC), and total saponins content (TSC)] as well as for their antioxidant and anticancer properties. Phenolic acids and flavonoids were identified using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC). Ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays were used to evaluate the antioxidant activities. The anticancer activity of extracts against HeLa cancer cell line was evaluated using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay.ResultsSamples from the three different locations when extracted with two solvents (aqueous and ethanol extracts) yielded significantly different results for TPC, TFC, and TSC as well as for antioxidant activity. Aqueous extract of S. crispus leaves collected from Kelantan exhibited the highest values: TPC [12.62 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry matter (DM)], TFC (7.44 mg quercetin equivalents (QE)/g DM), TSC (44.7 mg diosgenin equivalents (DE)/g DM), DPPH (73.8 %), and FRAP (267.5 μM of Fe (II)/g) activity with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 44.1 μg/mL compared to the extracts of leaves collected from the other two locations. The most important secondary metabolites identified in this study, based on concentration, were phenolics classified as followed: caffeic acid>ferulic acid>gallic acid>chlorogenic acid>trans-cinnamic acid; flavonoids: quercetin>rutin>catechin>apigenin>naringenin>kaempferol. Extracts of leaves collected from Kelantan exhibited better anticancer activity against HeLa cancer cell line with an IC50 of 182.5 μg/mL compared to the extracts of leaves from Selangor (IC50 = 266.4 μg/mL) and Penang (IC50 = 331.5 μg/mL) and to tamoxifen (IC50 = 63.4 μg/mL). S. crispus leaves with the highest content of secondary metabolites exhibited the most potent antioxidant and anticancer activity.ConclusionsTherefore, based on the potent antioxidant and anticancer activity of leaves extracts, it appears that S. crispus grown in the North-east of Malaysia (Kelantan) is a potential source of anticarcinogenic therapeutic compounds.

Normative data for hand grip strength and key pinch strength, stratified by age and gender for a multiethnic Asian population.

Hand strength is a good indicator of physical fitness and frailty among the elderly. However, there are no published hand strength references for Malaysians aged > 65 years. This study aimed to establish normative data for hand grip strength (HGS) and key pinch strength (KPS) for Malaysians aged ≥ 60 years, and explore the relationship between hand strength and physical ability. Healthy participants aged ≥ 60 years with no neurological conditions were recruited from rural and urban locations in Malaysia. HGS and KPS were measured using hand grip and key pinch dynamometers. Basic demographic data, anthropometric measures, modified Barthel Index scores and results of the Functional Reach Test (FRT), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT) were recorded. 362 subjects aged 60-93 years were recruited. The men were significantly stronger than the women in both HGS and KPS (p < 0.001). The hand strength of the study cohort was lower than that of elderly Western populations. Significant correlations were observed between hand strength, and residential area (p < 0.001), FRT (r = 0.236, p = 0.028), TUG (r = -0.227, p = 0.009) and JTHFT (r = -0.927, p < 0.001). This study established reference ranges for the HGS and KPS of rural and urban elderly Malaysian subpopulations. These will aid the use of hand strength as a screening tool for frailty among elderly persons in Malaysia. Future studies are required to determine the modifiable factors for poor hand strength.

Wave Transmission over the Low-Crested Sand Container Breakwaters

Breakwaters made of sand container is one of the most economical options for wave protection at coastal areas. These breakwaters have been adopted with mixed success at several locations in Malaysia. Nevertheless, the performance of these structure has not been properly studied and documented to date. This study is undertaken to study the wave transmission ability of the submerged sand container breakwater with respect to its width and height as well as the water depth. A number of experiments have been conducted in a wave flume to quantify the wave transmission coefficient of the test models of different layouts when exposed to regular waves. The experimental result has shown that the breakwater is effective in arresting the shorter period waves, particularly in shallow water. The height of the breakwater has to be increased in order to arrest the longer period waves.

Secondary metabolites constituents and antioxidant, anticancer and antibacterial activities of Etlingera elatior (Jack) R.M.Sm grown in different locations of Malaysia.

BackgroundEtlingera elatior is a well-known herb in Malaysia with various pharmaceutical properties.MethodsE. elatior flowers grown in three different locations of Malaysia (Kelantan, Pahang and Johor), were investigated for differences in their content of secondary metabolites (total phenolics [TPC], total flavonoids [TFC], and total tannin content [TTC]) as well as for their antioxidant, anticancer, and antibacterial properties. Phenolic acids and flavonoids were isolated and identified using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC). Ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays were used to evaluate the antioxidant activities. The anticancer activity of extracts was evaluated using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay.ResultsWhen extracted with various solvents (aqueous and ethanolic), samples from the different locations yielded significantly different results for TPC, TFC, and TTC as well as antioxidant activity. Aqueous extracts of E. elatior flowers collected from Kelantan exhibited the highest values: TPC (618.9 mg/100 g DM), TFC (354.2 mg/100 g DM), TTC (129.5 mg/100 g DM), DPPH (76.4 %), and FRAP (6.88 mM of Fe (II)/g) activity with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 34.5 μg/mL compared with extracts of flowers collected from the other two locations. The most important phenolic compounds isolated in this study, based on concentration, were: gallic acid > caffeic acid > tannic acid > chlorogenic acid; and the most important flavonoids were: quercetin > apigenin > kaempferol > luteolin > myricetin. Extracts of flowers from Kelantan exhibited potent anticancer activity with a IC50of 173.1 and 196.2 μg/mL against the tumor cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 respectively, compared with extracts from Pahang (IC50 = 204.5 and 246.2 μg/mL) and Johor samples (IC50 = 277.1 and 296.7 μg/mL). Extracts of E. elatior flowers also showed antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ranging from 30 to >100 μg/mL.ConclusionsIn general, therefore, based on the potent antioxidant and anticancer activity of flower extracts, it appears that E. elatior grown in the North-east of Malaysia (Kelantan) is a potential source of therapeutic compounds with anti-cancer activity.

Differentiation between house and cave edible bird's nests by chemometric analysis of amino acid composition data

A total of 60 pieces of house and cave edible bird's nest (EBN) samples were randomly collected from different locations in Malaysia and Indonesia. Amino acid compositions of the EBN samples were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Data obtained was analyzed by Pearson Correlation analysis, Principal Component analysis (PCA) and Orthogonal Partial Least Square-Discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). There were highly significant different correlations seen among amino acids in house- and cave-EBN samples. The model constructed by OPLS-DA was found to be a promising tool with high predictive power of 76.1%. Robustness of the model was validated and blind test samples were correctly assigned to their respective cluster. Tyrosine (TYR) and glutamic acid (GLU) were proposed as the promising markers for differentiating between house and cave EBN.

Assessment of Wind Energy Potential in Three Different Locations of Malaysia

In this study, wind energy potential in three different stations in Malaysia in period of 5 years is analyzed. Base on Weibull distribution parameters, the mean wind speed, wind power density and wind energy density is estimated for each defined location. Although there are many works about wind potential in Malaysia, however a few of them have been provided a comprehensive study about wind power in different places in Malaysia. According to the findings, the annual mean wind speeds indicates that the highest wind speed variation is about 2 m/s and is belonged to the Subang station and the highest wind speed is 3.5 m/s in in Kudat. It is also found that the maximum wind power densities among these three sites are 22 W/m2, 24 W/m2 and 22 W/m2 in Kudat station in January, February and September respectively. The results of the study show that as the second parameter for Weibull model, the highest wind energy density has been 190 kWh/m2 per year in Kudat and the lowest one has been about 60 kWh/m2 in Kuching.

Utilization of STMS markers to verify admixture in clonal progenies of Acacia mapping populations and relabelling using assignment tests

Clonal propagation is widely used for Acacia breeding and commercial planting. When a large number of clones are handled, problems with mixings are commonly confronted. Detection of admixture in Acacia clones based on morphology particularly at seedling stage is not feasible. However, molecular markers are commonly used to test the genetic fidelity of planting materials. This paper reports the detection of mislabelling in Acacia clonal progenies using a sequence tagged microsatellite (STMS) genetic marker system. Progenies from two mapping populations were clonally propagated and field planted for phenotypic and genotypic evaluation at three locations in Malaysia: (a) Forest Research Institute Malaysia field station at Segamat, Johor, (b) Borneo Tree Seeds and Seedlings Supplies Sdn, Bhd. (BTS) field trial site at Bintulu, Sarawak and (c) Asiaprima RCF field trial site at Lancang, Pahang. During field planting mislabelling was reported at Segamat, Johor and similar was suspected for Bintulu, Sarawak. Screening revealed mislabelling events in both populations. A total of 18.52% mislabelling incidences were detected from both sites, of which 17.39% of mislabelling was detected for fibre length cross and 20% for wood density cross. The assignment test efficiently reestablished the mislabelled ramets to the respective clones. Future studies should be focused on the utilization of a higher number of markers, e.g. SSR or SNPs to increase a discrimination power. A high number of SNPs can be generated within a short period of time compared to SSR, but SNPs could be cost inhibitory. Multiplexing microsatellite combinations along with sample bulking will further reduce the processing time when screening large populations. The use of assignment test would efficiently as - sign mislabelled individuals to the respective clones. It is concluded that checking for mislabelling is imperative for future breeding and for analyses such as QTL mapping where a correlation between genotypic and phenotypic data is determined.

Model of Sustainable Community Participation in Homestay Program

Tourism is one of the important sectors contribute to the world economic growth according to the World Tourism Organization (UNTWO). The increase of international tourists arrival from 438 million in 1990 to 940 million in 2010 or 114.6 percentage show that the tourism sector has become a potential sector in providing a huge job market to the people. Referring to (UNWTO, 1998) the tourist arrivals are expected to increase 4.4 percent between years 2010 to year 2020. The aim of this study is to develop model of sustainable community participation in homestay program. A total of 306 respondents were selected using a stratified random sampling based on number of participants in the homestay program from several locations in Malaysia. All the data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). This study successfully developed fit model between community participation and sustainable development among the homestay participants. Finding from present study indicate that community participation in community-based tourism has influenced to the sustainable development among the homestay participant in the study area. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3s2p539

Returns to Education and Wage Differentials in Malaysia

The main objective of this study is to estimate the effects of education on earnings of Malaysians. To achieve the objective, a Mincerian earning function has been estimated using Malaysia’s Household Income Survey 2009. Apart from considering levels of qualification, factors such as age, marital status, ethnicity, occupational types and geographical locations have been considered in the estimations. The results show that the rates of return in Malaysia are high and positive, especially at the upper secondary and university education levels. Male workers, on average, received 40.3% higher than their female counterparts, holding other factors constant. There is also significant evidence of wage differential attributable to regional/urban-rural locations in Malaysia. By occupational activities, our estimates suggest that employers received the highest income, followed by those in public service, private sector, and then self-employed workers. Wage differential in Malaysia is also explained by ethnicity.

Genotyping of Tropical Bed Bugs, Cimex hemipterus F. from Selected Urban Area in Malaysia Inferred from Microsatellite Marker (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

A total of 9 populations of tropical bed bug (Cimex hemipterus) collected from urabn area in Penang and other locations in Malaysia. The populations involved in this study included Sungai Ara, Taman Brown, Desa Permai Indah, Tasek Gelugor and Lahar Tembun in Penang, Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya, Pahang and Seremban, Malaysia. Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) was extracted from total 5 individual bed bugs each location and used as a template for the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to amplify 5 different genomic microsatellite loci. PCR products were resolved by agarose gel electrophoresis and visualized with ethidium bromide staining. The genotyping data from the sample sites revealed that PCR-based genotyping reliably separated the samples into genotypic groups corresponded to the location.

Trip Generations at “Polyclinic” Land Use Type in Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Transportation planners need to estimate the trip generations of different land use types in the travel demand forecasting process. The Trip Generation Manual of Malaysia, similar to the Trip Generation Manual of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, USA, provides the trip generation rate at “Polyclinics” as a function of the Gross Floor Area. However, the data for this rate have no line of best fit resulting in the lack of confidence in the prediction. This study considered ten locations in Malaysia and verified the significance of different parameters, i.e. Number of Doctors, Number of Staff, Gross Floor Area and Density of Similar Clinics within 0.5 kilometre radius in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The study developed regression equations for estimating the peak hours and daily trips at polyclinics in terms of “Number of Doctors”. The developed models can be used in estimating the number of trips generated by the polyclinics in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

Influence of Darkness on Motorway Traffic Flow Characteristics

The study is aimed at estimating the influence of darkness on motorways during dry weather. In a ‘with- and-without’ impact studies, motorway traffic flow characteristics at two different locations in Malaysia were investigated. Travel speed, traffic flow and headway data were obtained continuously for six weeks at selected sites and supplemented with darkness and daylight data culled from Malaysian Metrological Department website. Start of pitch darkness time was given as 19.45 pm. The study used 22:00 pm as start of pitch darkness. Results show that maximum flow rate, optimum travel speed, critical density and optimum headway did not differ significantly. The study concluded that motorway traffic flow characteristics are not influenced by darkness significantly.

Diversity of freshwater red algae (Rhodophyta) in Malaysia and Indonesia from morphological and molecular data

:Both Malaysia and Indonesia have high biodiversity for a variety of organisms, including freshwater red algae. The type localities of over a dozen freshwater red algal taxa are located in Malaysia and Indonesia. These species were described prior to the advent of molecular systematics, and no molecular data were available for specimens from these two countries. Therefore, the goal of this study was to visit type and other locales in Malaysia and Indonesia to recollect freshwater red algal taxa for both morphological and molecular studies. A total of 11 previously published species were identified, with eight taxa belonging to the Batrachospermales, and one each in the Compsopogonales (Compsopogon caeruleus), Ceramiales (Caloglossa beccarii) and Thoreales (Nemalionopsis shawii). The rbcL gene provided numerous insights including two new species, Batrachospermum phangii sp. nov. from Malaysia and Kumanoa celebes sp. nov. from Indonesia. The placement of Batrachospermum cylindrocellulare in section Aristata rather than section Batrachospermum was clarified. Specimens from Malaysia identified as Sirodotia delicatula were distantly related to specimens from South America, suggesting a cryptic species in South America. Likewise, Balliopsis prieurii from Malaysia was distantly related to Balliopsis prieurii from South America. A gametophyte specimen and numerous chantransia stage specimens were conspecific with Batrachospermum macrosporum from South America, and this is a new record of this taxon in Malaysia. Chantransia stage sporophyte specimens from Indonesia had a similar sequence to Sheathia arcuata from Hawaii. The sequence placement of N. shawii from Indonesia points to the need for further systematic research on this genus. Although Kumanoa gibberosa was not recollected at the type location in Malaysia, it was found in Indonesia; likewise, the type locality in Indonesia did not yield S. delicatula but this species was present in Malaysia. Given the previously described diversity, the two new taxa proposed in this study and the insights gained from the present molecular data, we suggest that future focus on freshwater red algae from Southeast Asia will yield considerable knowledge of the flora of the region and freshwater red algal diversity in general.

Phylotype classification of Ralstonia solanacearum biovar 1 strains isolated from banana (Musa spp) in Malaysia

During 2011–2012, 15 bacterial isolates were obtained from wilting banana plants from seven locations in Malaysia. Characterisation of the Malaysian isolates was determined by biovar determination, pathogenicity test, phylotype-specific multiplex PCR (Pmx-PCR) and endoglucanase (egl) gene amplification. Based on the genotype, phenotype and pathogenic characteristics, all isolates were identified as Ralstonia solanacearum. Pmx- and egl-PCRs indicated that all isolates belong to phylotype II of Ralstonia species complex hierarchical classification. The neighbour joining phylogenetic tree of egl sequences also verified the results where the isolates were all clustered into phylotype II, together with the reference sequences strains, UW070 and UW162. Therefore, the results of our study may provide a better understanding on the taxonomy of R. solanacearum species occupying banana plantations in Malaysia. This study is indeed the first report of phylotype II classification of R. solanacearum biovar 1 strains isolated from banana plants in Malaysia.

Young Consumers’ Attitude towards Halal Food Outlets and JAKIM's Halal Certification in Malaysia

The attitude of Muslims on halal food is imperative in determining the Muslims’ behavior towards consuming halal food. There are several studies on consumers’ attitude in purchasing halal food in Malaysia focusing on consumers in general. But less attention is given to young Muslim consumers’ on their attitude of halal food outlets and Malaysia's Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM)’s halal certification. Therefore, this paper focuses on young people who will determine the future of halal industry in this country. The main objectives of this paper are a) to indentify the attitude of young Muslim consumers towards halal food outlets, b) to determine their attitude towards halal certification issued by JAKIM and c) to identify the relationship between subjective norm and perceived behavioral control towards the attitude of young consumers in choosing halal food outlets. The framework of consumers’ attitude in this study is based on the Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior which postulates three conceptually independent determinants of behavioral intention: attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control. Data were collected through self administered questionnaires and the respondents comprised of Muslim students between 16 and 35 years old from Higher Learning Private Institutions. The findings of this study revealed young Muslims’ positive attitude towards halal food outlets and JAKIM's certification. However, the subjective norms have less significant influences compared to attitude and behavioral control of young consumers in choosing halal food outlets. The study suggests that to increase positive attitude of Muslim consumers, relevant bodies and media should augment the promotion and publicity of halal certification issued by JAKIM to increase awareness among young Muslim consumers in Malaysia. Future research may look into the relationship between the three independent variables of the Planned Behaviors Theory towards young consumers’ intention to choose halal food products in different geographical locations in Malaysia.

ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF RHIZOBIA AND PLANT GROWTH-PROMOTING RHIZOBACTERIA AND THEIR EFFECTS ON GROWTH OF RICE SEEDLINGS

Biofertilizer is a relatively safer, environmentall y friendly and cost-effective approach as an altern ative to reduce chemical fertilizer usage. The selection of bacterial strains with multiple beneficial characte ristics are important to maximize the effectiveness on the host plant. Due to aforementioned interest, several Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacterial (PGPR) and rhizobial strains were isolated from rice and legume roots, respectively, at four locations in Malaysia namely Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, Selangor; Besut, Terengganu; Tunjung, Kelantan and Sik, Kedah. Bacterial isolations were undertaken to select th e best isolates which exhibit multiple beneficial eff ects to the rice plant and a total of 205 bacterial strains were isolated and categorized as follows; 94 rhizos pheric and 107 endophytic bacteria from rice roots, one rhizobial strain from soybean and three from Mimosa pudica . These isolates were screened for their abilities to fix N 2 and solubilize phosphate; 52 were positive for bot h tests. The selected isolates were then tested for IAA production and other biochemical tests such as pota ssium solubilization, hydrolyzing enzymes (cellulas e and pectinase) and iron siderophore productions. Four i solates, namely UPMB19 (rhizospheric PGPR from Tunjung, Kelantan), UPMB20 (endophytic PGPR from Besut, Terengganu), UPMR30 (rhizobia from soybean) and UPMR31 (rhizobia from Mimosa ) were selected for subsequent plant inoculation te sts with UPMB10, a PGPR isolated from oil palm root, as the reference strai n. Based on 16S rDNA gene sequencing, these bacterial strains were identified under several genera: Lysinibacillus , Alcaligenes , Bradyrhizobium , Rhizobium and Bacillus , respectively. Results of plant inoculation test ind icated that UPMB19 significantly enhanced the seedling height at the early growth stage (7 days after tran splanting, DAT) which could be attributed to the hi gher N 2 fixation rate of this strain as compared to the oth er strains, except UPMB20. UPMB10 and UPMR31 also showed significant effects with increased seedling height and Total Dry Weight (TDW) at the later stage (14 DAT) possibly due to the higher bacterial populatio n and IAA produced as observed in the residual nutr ient solution without addition of fertilizer-N. This stu dy has successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of locally isolated PGPR and rhizobial strains with multiple b eneficial characteristics on early growth and vigor of rice seedlings under controlled condition. The result pr oved to be a vital information in the development o f a liquid biofertilizer for rice; thus further studies will b e done to evaluate the effectiveness of these isola tes under glasshouse and field conditions on growth, tillerin g and yield of rice.