Malaysian Academicians Research Articles

Work-life balance mediating stress and quality of life in academics during COVID-19 in Malaysia.

Following the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, academicians from the universities in Malaysia needed to ensure that the quality-of-service delivery to the stakeholders is undisturbed by adopting new challenging norms. This compromises the work-life balance (WLB), causes more stress and potentially affects their quality of life (QoL). This study investigates how perceived stress (PS) impacts the QoL of Malaysian academicians during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the mediating role of WLB. Academics working in Malaysia during COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study, using a voluntary response sampling method, was conducted among 417 academicians from universities in Malaysia in September 2021. A self-reported online questionnaire, measuring PS, WLB and QoL, was distributed. The QoL scored a mean of 50 (standard deviation [s.d.] = 9.84), PS scored a mean of 24.26 (s.d. = 8.19) and WLB had a mean score of 51.12 (s.d. = 18.73). Work-life balance was a significant mediator of PS and QoL (β = -0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.52 to -0.35, p = 0.0001). Perceived stress was a significant predictor of WLB (β = 1.62, p = 0.0001). Institutions should consider implementing flexible working arrangements, and providing workshops on crisis management, time management, and resilience. Stress coping methods are recommended for enhancing WLB among academicians. This study contributes to the pool of evidence to support intervention strategies and policy recommendations aimed to enhance well-being.

Analyzing complaints of arm, neck, and shoulder pain among academicians in Malaysia: a cross-sectional study on prevalence and contributing factors

OBJECTIVES: Complaints of arm, neck, and shoulder (CANS) have been recognized as an important cause of work disability. Therefore, it is essential to identify those health risk factors for the development of CANS before they escalate into a disabling musculoskeletal condition. This study aims to ascertain the association between individual, physical, and psychosocial risk factors and the occurrence of CANS among academics in Malaysia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was adopted, enrolling 296 academic staff working at a private university in Malaysia using a convenient sampling approach. A content-validated questionnaire was distributed among selected academic staff to gather their feedback on the prevalence and contributing factors of CANS, and the survey was conducted for a period of six months. The chi-square test was used to analyze the association between risk factors and CANS, and multiple logistic regression was used to predict the risk factors of CANS. This study links all the health risk factors to CANS in Malaysian academicians. RESULTS: Of the academic staff who participated in this study, 63.5% reported an annual prevalence of CANS. Physical risk factors, including work experience, adopting a static head-down posture, time spent per day in teaching, and the number of hours spent in front of a computer, are associated with CANS (p<0.05). However, the utility of back support (p=0.878) and footrests (p=0.078) does not show any association with the occurrence of CANS (p>0.05). Besides job demand, other psychosocial factors do not show any significant association with CANS. DISCUSSION: The study found that 63.5% of academic staff suffer from arm, shoulder, and neck pain, which is linked to physical risk factors such as work experience, static posture, teaching time and computer use. Back support and footrests had no significant influence on the complaints. Addressing physical risk factors is key to reducing these conditions among academic staff.

Occupational Stress among Academicians between Two Selected Universities in Malaysia and Indonesia During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Study

Occupational stress has become a major concern for both employees and employers globally. Stress leads to a loss of interest among workers as well as unproductive and valueless outputs if not managed well. The education sector is one work setting dominated by stress. This comparative cross-sectional study aimed to determine the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among academicians as well as their work-related stressors and coping strategies between a selected public university in Malaysia and a private university in Indonesia. A total of 82 academicians from universities in Malaysia and 52 from Indonesia were recruited using convenience sampling. Data was collected using a validated self-reported questionnaire via Google Forms. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among Malaysian academicians was 19.5%, 29.5%, and 12.2%, respectively. In contrast, the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among Indonesian academicians was 15.7%, 33.3%, and 9.8%. Career development, research, teaching, and interpersonal relationships significantly contributed to stress at both universities (p-value<0.05). Participants from both universities reported using active coping, planning, venting, self-distraction, positive reframing, acceptance, and religion as coping strategies. In conclusion, determining depression, anxiety, and stress prevalence; major work-related stressors; and coping strategies are essential to maintaining the safety, health, and well-being of academicians, which eventually can encourage university administrators to provide support in enhancing their quality of life.

Occupational Stress among Academicians between Two Selected Universities in Malaysia and Indonesia During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Study

Occupational stress has become a major concern for both employees and employers globally. Stress leads to a loss of interest among workers as well as unproductive and valueless outputs if not managed well. The education sector is one work setting dominated by stress. This comparative cross-sectional study aimed to determine the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among academicians as well as their work-related stressors and coping strategies between a selected public university in Malaysia and a private university in Indonesia. A total of 82 academicians from universities in Malaysia and 52 from Indonesia were recruited using convenience sampling. Data was collected using a validated self-reported questionnaire via Google Forms. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among Malaysian academicians was 19.5%, 29.5%, and 12.2%, respectively. In contrast, the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among Indonesian academicians was 15.7%, 33.3%, and 9.8%. Career development, research, teaching, and interpersonal relationships significantly contributed to stress at both universities (p-value<0.05). Participants from both universities reported using active coping, planning, venting, self-distraction, positive reframing, acceptance, and religion as coping strategies. In conclusion, determining depression, anxiety, and stress prevalence; major work-related stressors; and coping strategies are essential to maintaining the safety, health, and well-being of academicians, which eventually can encourage university administrators to provide support in enhancing their quality of life.

FACTORS DETERMINING BLENDED LEARNING RECEPTIVENESS AMONG MALAYSIAN ACADEMICIANS

This study aimed to reveal the level of blended learning receptiveness among Malaysian academicians strictly during the Covid-19 pandemic, and applied the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) in examining the factors determining blended learning receptiveness among Malaysian academicians. Malaysian higher learning institutions practised blended learning following learning method efficiencies and the significance of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2025. Five independent variables (attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control, organisational assistance, and literacy) were investigated in the study context. Specifically, 250 questionnaires were distributed to respondents during the working hours of chosen private universities. Smart Partial least squares (PLS) analysis tool is employed to examine the model fits and hypothesis testing. Findings show that all variables have a positive and significant relationship with the receptiveness of blended learning among academicians. Thus, this study shows that blended learning receptiveness is high, especially during pandemic and lockdown situations. This study proved essential for Malaysian academicians, specifically regarding blended learning utilisation and implementation. As blended learning was predictably time-consuming and deterred the implementation process, this study strived to promote blended learning among Malaysian educators. The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the complete utilisation of blended learning using digital platforms. Most academicians could not conduct face-to-face classes due to the restrictions on physical contact. Hence, this study proved essential for educators in wholly implementing blended learning amid the outbreak.

Psychosocial safety climate and burnout among Malaysian academicians: The mediating role of job demands

Psychosocial safety climate and burnout among Malaysian academicians: The mediating role of job demands

THE AFTERMATH 14TH GENERAL ELECTION AND THE CHALLENGES OF POLITICAL ECONOMY IN MALAYSIA-TAIWAN RELATIONSHIP

Transition democratization became very interesting in 14th general Election as it portrays another significant transition as it seen as victory for democracy that is from the bottom approach or opposition. Therefore, this article would like to discusss on the analysis of transition of democratization in Malaysia. Hence, by using the Democracy Implementation Model, this article will identify the weaknesses and the strengths pathways of responsiveness democracy in several countries. Implementation of democracy should reflection not only “from the people” such as participation and representativeness measure but also “for the people” such as responsiveness measure. It is important since to put government responsibility to increase life standard through policies impact. The findings will provide a sound and scientific understanding evidence to enrich democracy and political economy literature aspects among Malaysia and Taiwan relationship as a case study. It will give precious knowledge for not only Malaysian stakeholders and academicians but also important lesson learned from Taiwan’s responsiveness democracy.

Revising the warehouse productivity measurement indicators: ratio-based benchmark

Purpose The literature on warehouse performance assessments is mainly focussed on the efficiency and effectiveness of an action or activity due to customer demand and tailored fulfilment, with less attention being given to the performance measurement of each function of the warehouse and its overall productivity. Therefore, this study was aimed at revising the key warehouse performance metrics to a set of productivity measurement indicators that can be adopted internationally for benchmarking productivity performance. Design/methodology/approach A literature review and semi-structured survey questionnaire were used for this study. The importance of warehouse productivity performance was reviewed to revamp the measurement indicators. Through the use of a directed content analysis and descriptive analysis, an extensive study was carried out to analyze existing warehouse productivity indicators. Findings The findings of this study provide comprehensive references for practitioners and academicians for improving the classification of productivity measurements from existing key performance metrics for warehousing. Also, this paper highlights the warehouse resources related to the respective warehouse operation activities. Research limitations/implications The study was limited to productivity performance indicators adapted from Staudt et al. (2015). Furthermore, the samples for this study comprised Malaysian academicians and practitioners in the related field. The findings can be adapted on a global scale as this study implemented general warehouse operation processes. Originality/value Consequently, the contributions of this study are that it provides relevant benchmarks for key productivity performance indicators in the warehousing sector that has worldwide applicability and the developed model provides a conceptual platform from which further theoretical and empirical developments can be carried out.

Application of Rasch Model on Resilience in Higher Education: An Examination of Validity and Reliability of Malaysian Academician Happiness Index (MAHI)

This preliminary study was conducted to examine and verify the validity and reliability of the instrument on the Malaysian Academician Happiness Index (MAHI) on resilience. MAHI could be seen as a tool to measure the level of happiness and stress of academicians before determining how resilient the academicians were. Resilience can be defined as a mental ability of a person to recover quickly from illness or depression. MAHI instrument consisted of 66 items. The instrument was distributed to 40 academicians from three groups of universities which were the Focus University, Comprehensive University and Research University is using a survey technique. The instrument was developed to measure three main constructs which were the organization, individual and social that would affect the happiness and stress levels of academicians. This preliminary study employed the Rasch Measurement Model uses Winsteps software version 3.69.1.11. to examine the validity and reliability of the items. The results of the analysis of the MAHI instrument showed that the item reliability was 0.87, person reliability was 0.83 and value of Alpha Cronbach was 0.84. Meanwhile, misfit analysis showed that only there was one item with 1.46 logit that could be considered for dropping or needed improvement. Therefore, it highlighted that most of the items met the constructs’ need and can be used as a measurement indicator of MAHI. The implication of this instrument can help Malaysian academicians to be more resilient in facing challenges in the future.

A Comparative Study on the Implementation of Corporate Integrity between Malaysian Public and Private Sectors Organization

With regards to fighting corruption and promoting transparency in organization, agency integrity unit was established in 2013 in managing issues related to integrity. In addition, a Corporate Integrity Assessment Questionnaire (CIAQ) has been developed by the Malaysian Institute of Integrity in collaboration with several Malaysian academicians to measure the implementation of the integrity system in their organization. There were 173 respondents from Company A (public sector), and 220 respondents from Company B (private sector) and the findings showed that Company A has integrity level between 75% to 100% . In contrast, Company B integrity level is between 50% to 75%. Keywords: corporate integrity, public sector, private sector, statutory body. eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5iSI1.2329

Inside the Crime of Sex Trafficking in Sabah, Malaysia

ABSTRACT The crime of sex trafficking is a phenomenon that affects almost every region of the world. The crime is fundamentally a process of convergence between different individuals with distinct characteristics at a specific time and location. Often, the victim or aspects of victimization receive more attention in sex trafficking research, while other individuals or elements that initiate the crime get little focus. Hence, the purpose of this article is to examine the individuals as well as elements that initiate the crime of sex trafficking in Sabah, Malaysia using the routine activities theory. The qualitative data for this project was collected through interviews with law enforcement personnel from the various Malaysian government agencies, ex-traffickers, former victims, and academicians, as well as government and news reports. By utilizing the routine activities theory, this study demonstrates the applicability of the theoretical construct in anatomizing the macro-level elements, namely the motivated offenders (sex traffickers), the suitable target (trafficking victims), and the absence of capable guardians (corrupt enforcement personnel) that are involved in the crime of sex trafficking in Sabah. In addition, this study implies that routine activities in the commercial sex industry, particularly the demand for sex labor, could initiate the crime of sex trafficking in Sabah.

Developing Curricula for Signaling and Communication Course at Malaysian Railway Academy (MyRa) through Industrial Collaboration Program

This paper presents the propose development of railway signaling and communication curricula at MyRA. The program commenced on 2016 under Industrial Collaboration Program (ICP) with Technology Depository Agency coordination. Thales Portugal provides the laboratory equipment and teaching module. There are three institutions and one railway operator company participate in the program. The program was conducted due to enhanced strong knowledge on railway signaling and communication among the Malaysian academicians. The universities will be able to develop bachelor and diploma railway programs and able to develop laboratories along with hi-tech railway equipment. The ICP railway signaling and communication, consist of four stages, started with basic Train The Trainer (TTT), advanced training, training installation equipment and training simulator. The trainees have gained a lot of experienced and expose to different kind of railway signaling system during the training. At the end of the program, a module of railway signaling and communication course with a lab railway signaling field equipment and CTC simulator were developed.

THE OUTCOMES OF INDIVIDUAL ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY AMONG ACADEMICIANS IN MALAYSIAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

Purpose of the Study: This paper investigates the ability of Malaysian public universities to achieve high academic standing within the top 100 world ranking universities depending on prolific and multitalented academicians who own multi-skills to support the universities’ academic excellences. Methodology: A total of 800 questionnaires were distributed to all public universities in Malaysia for the purpose of data collection and a total of 342 questionnaires were returned representing a response rate of 42.75 percent. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares (PLS) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Results: This study has contributed to the nations by highlighting the current capabilities of academic workforce that will either influence or hinder the growth of their knowledge acquisition and innovative behavior that will influence the future of Malaysian academic excellences. Implications: Academicians are under pressure to be prolific and versatile to achieve their universities’ goals in addition to their multitasking jobs including teaching, publication, consultation, research, and social welfare. Owing to that matter, the study on individual absorptive capacity, which refers to the ability of Malaysian academicians to absorb knowledge that determines their level of learning capabilities and leads to fulfilling universities’ and national agenda, is worth studying.

Effects Of Innovative Organizational Climate On Organizational Commitment In Malaysian Higher Education Institutions

A recent development which prioritizes on creativity and innovation to compete and survive in the context of higher education propagates organizational climate as a significant concern. As such, studies on innovative organizational climate have grown despite its essence as a multidimensional variable is sparsely examined in empirical researches. This research measures the relationship between innovative organizational climate and organizational commitment among 444 academics in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). This is a cross sectional study which incorporates Life-Span theory, Social Exchange Theory (SET) and Three Component Model of Organizational Commitment (TCM). Data was collected among Malaysian academicians of public and private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and analysed using Smart PLS 3.25. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between innovative organizational climate and organizational commitment. This generate an implication that the experiences of a supportive innovative organizational climate lead academics to affectively feel attached to their institutions, hence, strengthen their obligations to pursue new developments for their institutions, peers and themselves. Improving innovative organizational climate is a strategic decision to enhance the commitment among academics, thus increasing organizational achievement.

Exploring Instructors’ Rationale and Perspectives in Using Blogs as a Tool for Teaching English as a Second Language

<p>Embedding web-based learning systems in education has drawn increasing popularity and growing interest among the contemporary language education community in recent time. In particular, blogs have become a profound phenomenon in the present landscape of online education. However, research addressing the instructor’s perspective about the engagement of blog technology in second language education is still lagging behind. The current study seeks to explore and survey the perspectives of six Malaysian academicians on the use of blogs in teaching English as second language to Malaysian students at higher education institutions. A qualitative approach was adopted to collect responses from the participants via a semi-structured interview. In addition, a checklist of features of the blog was used to investigate the blogging activities in the courses conducted by the participants. The collected data from the interview were analyzed qualitatively, whereas the blog checklist data were analyzed quantitatively. The obtained results indicated that the surveyed instructors had a positive reflection on using blogs in the teaching and learning of the English as second language.</p>

Preferences toward News Sources of International News among Malaysian Academicians

The present world has been influenced and changed very rapidly by the technological development. The electronic media have become as phenomena of transitions which have opened new possibility for delivery of news and information to people.The main objective of this study was to determine the news sources that Malaysian academicians depended on to gain news and information about Arabs World and international world. Another objective is to examine the differences of news source according to the demographic data of the respondents. The study is based on a survey. A total of 300 respondents were Malaysian academicians in five public universities which were located in Klang valley. The findings indicated that the internet was the first or primary source for them to gain news (58.7%) followed by Astro (55%).

Work Attitude among Malaysian Academicians in the Public Universities: A Social Network Analysis

This study dealt with a social network analysis approach to comprehend the work attitude amongst academicians in the Malaysian public universities. This work attitude presented the psychological attachment between the employee and the organization. The organizational commitment and workplace spirituality amongst the academicians were highlighted here. A total of 40 factors were found to represent four groups of workplace spirituality and organizational commitment. The similarity amongst the factors was measured with two different kinds of associations. The best measure of association, which was the Tschuprow’s measure of association, showed better results than the other measure in measuring the correlation amongst the factors. The connections and relationships amongst the factors were studied by using minimum spanning trees (MST). The interpretation of the MST was conducted by using the overall centrality measure.

The Adoption of Blended Learning among Malaysian Academicians

This study reports the adoption of blended learning among academicians in Malaysia. Many higher learning institutions in Malaysia have implemented blended learning because of its effectiveness as a learning approach. However, studies have shown that academicians are apprehensive about teaching in blended learning. The theoretical framework for this study is based on Mezirow's Transformational Learning Theory. Five independent variables representing an individual's frame of reference are studied for their relationship with the attitude of adopting blended learning. The study employed the quantitative method approach. Data are gathered through surveys among academicians in one of the public universities in Malaysia which implemented blended learning. Findings identified that the adoption rate of blended learning is low, as reflected from the result of the study where only 13 percent of the academicians adopted the learning approach. Among the factors which influenced the adoption of blended learning are perceived usefulness of the system, learning goals, and educational technology preference. Findings from this study provided insights on the attitude towards the adoption of blended learning. Its practical contribution includes knowledge which can be incorporated into the e-learning training modules to address the problem of low adoption of blended learning.

Softly Speaking

The Malaysian Government has been taking a radically new approach to national transformation in the past three years. The Government Transformation Programme was initiated in 2009, followed by the New Economic Model and Economic Transformation Programme in 2010, and subsequently political and rural transformation. The “Transformation Budget 2012” announced the “National Transformation Policy”. Presently, transformation can be perceived as the inception stage, as the various programmes will be undergoing a long continuous implementation journey into 2020. In order to make a real significant change to the country, the transformation needs to be driven from a synthesis of economic, managerial, organizational, social and technological dimensions at the multiple levels of the individual, organization, industry, government, society and nation. The author offers another way of seeing and doing transformation using a “theory of everything” based on simplicity and sophistication. The extant national transformation model of “Doing and Being” or Yin Yang is a simplicity model. As Malaysian academicians, we have a significant role to provide thought leadership by combining the “Doing and Being” with a sophisticated model based on an understanding the complexity of human behaviour. The author combines the Pemandu’s model with a model of sophistication based on an enhanced framework of critical practice. The author defines critical practice as an iterative reflexive process, firstly by developing knowledge-for-understanding from a sophisticated model of reality. Secondly, the author provides a critique of underpinning assumptions and presumptions whereby the constraining conditions of the status quo and emancipation become knowable and explicit, that is, knowledge-for-evaluation. Thirdly, the author re-creates, re-defines, re-designs, re-imagines, re-invents and re-visions the pragmatic, doable and implementable programmes from knowledge-for-action. This theory of everything provides a new vigorous theoretical model to review and redesign the practical methodology for implementation success of the national transformation programmes.

Crime Victims Support System and Restorative Justice: Possible Implementation in Malaysia

Victims’ position is increasingly acknowledged in the criminal justice system across the world. Because of that, criminal justice systems in various countries slowly transform from focusing too much on the relationship between offenders and the legal system and to between the offenders and their victims. Several programs are highlighted such as victim-offender mediation, family group conferences, reparative orders and referral orders in this article. Findings from several studies support the effectiveness of the programs on both the victims and the offenders in terms of several measurements such as satisfaction and recidivism. Looking at this revolution, Malaysian academicians and professionals are beginning to recognize restorative justice as a possible revolution to its criminal justice system, but Malaysian criminal justice system first needs to strengthen or build components that support victims of crime, as this is one of the main principles of restorative justice. Currently, Malaysia still focuses on offenders and their relationship with legal system, but not much with their own victims (physical, emotional, and psychological consequences of the crime). Several possible issues before formal implementation of restorative justice are discussed. The issues (culture, training, and attitude of Malaysian people, including the victims, offenders, and those who work with them) can influence the efficiency of restorative justice programs if not identified systematically. These issues can also be the possible research areas to be ventured in the future as these researches can help in implementation.