Malaysian Community Research Articles

KESAN MODUL PEMBELAJARAN AUGMENTED REALITY AR-MICROC TERHADAP PENCAPAIAN PELAJAR DI KOLEJ KOMUNITI MALAYSIA

Today's technological advancements are influenced by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0), which transforms daily life through digital technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR). This study aims to evaluate the impact of the AR-MicroC Augmented Reality Learning Module on the academic performance of students in the Information Technology Certificate Program at Malaysian Community Colleges as an effort to enhance classroom learning sessions. The study adopts a quantitative approach using a quasi-experimental design. The sample consists of 66 Community College students divided into two groups: 32 students in the treatment group and 34 students in the control group, selected through stratified random sampling. Assessments were conducted using pre-tests and post-tests to evaluate the students' performance in the Introduction to the Internet of Things (IoT) course. The study spanned five weeks, encompassing pre-tests, teaching sessions using the module for the treatment group, conventional methods for the control group, and post-tests. The data collected were analyzed using independent t-tests and paired t-tests. The t-test analysis results revealed a significant difference in student performance. The findings demonstrate that the AR-MicroC Augmented Reality Learning Module effectively enhances student performance. The study's implications are practical, highlighting the use of the AR-MicroC Learning Module as an alternative teaching and learning aid.

Transforming Technical Education: The Effect of the AR-MicroC Augmented Reality Learning Module on Students Achievement

Technological advances driven by Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) have introduced digital technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) that are changing the approach to learning. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of using the AR-MicroC Augmented Reality Learning Module in improving student achievement in the Information Technology Certificate program at the Malaysian Community College. A quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental design was used, involving 66 students who were divided into two groups: a treatment group (n=32) who used the AR-MicroC module and a control group (n=34) who followed conventional teaching methods. Data was collected through pre-test and post-test for the Introduction to Internet of Things (IoT) course. The study lasted for five weeks, involving pre-test, teaching, and post-test phases. Data analysis using independent sample t-test and paired sample t-test showed a significant difference in achievement between the two groups. The results of the study prove that the AR-MicroC module is effective in improving student performance. The implications of this study suggest the use of the AR-MicroC Augmented Reality Learning Module as an innovative alternative teaching tool in the learning process, especially in transforming technical education.

How Malaysian Adolescents Navigate Sexual Health Information on the Internet.

Significant sociocultural barriers to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information influence what is acceptable to discuss and learn within the Malaysian community. To address gaps in their knowledge, adolescents routinely turn to the Internet. This study identifies the ways they navigate SRH information found online. One-on-one interviews were conducted with 17 Malaysian adolescents. The data were analysed with reflexive thematic analysis. Participants navigate SRH information using intuitive strategies, known locally as pandai-pandai. This important cultural concept involves balancing between adherence to social norms and resourcefulness in problem-solving. Pandai-pandai strategies were observed in three domains: (1) navigating SRH sources, (2) evaluating and verifying SRH information, and (3) processing SRH information. Malaysian adolescents' strategies for evaluating SRH information extend beyond traditional critical evaluation models and are driven by emotional, social, and cultural criteria, requiring a reconsideration of what constitutes critical evaluation in this context.

Perspectives of Malaysian community pharmacists on challenges and barriers to smoking cessation programme: a qualitative study.

Smoking remains a significant public health concern, necessitating effective smoking cessation interventions. This study explores the barriers community pharmacists face in delivering smoking cessation services in Malaysia and potential solutions to improve their contribution to public health. This qualitative study employed purposive and snowball sampling to recruit community pharmacists in Malaysia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, exploring pharmacists' perspectives on barriers, counselling approaches, follow-up strategies, and opinions on smoking cessation services. Thematic analysis was employed to identify key themes and sub-themes. Three main themes emerged from the data analysis: barriers, counselling and enhancing follow-up, and pharmacists' opinions on professional fees. Under the theme of barriers, sub-themes included underutilization by the public, poor follow-up by customers, time constraints, lack of educational materials and support, and customer perception. The counselling and enhancing follow-up theme encompassed shared decision-making, motivational intervention, follow-up via phone calls or messaging apps, and providing rebate vouchers. Pharmacists' opinions on professional fees revealed mixed perspectives, with some advocating for fees to recognize the professional service provided, while others expressed concerns about access barriers. Community pharmacists face challenges in delivering smoking cessation services, such as underutilization, poor follow-up, time constraints, and affordability. However, strategies like shared decision-making and proactive communication can enhance effectiveness. Addressing professional fees and collaborative efforts are essential to optimising these services.

How knowledge, awareness and perceptions of pesticide residue risks in fruits and vegetables, influence purchase decisions across Malaysian communities

Understanding consumer perceptions and behaviours toward pesticide residues in food is vital for food safety and public health. This study examines the knowledge, awareness, and perceptions of 303 participants from rural, suburban, and urban Malaysian communities regarding pesticide residue risks in their food purchases, particularly fruits and vegetables. Participants completed adapted questionnaires via Google Forms or in-person interviews, covering sociodemographic information, food purchasing habits, and levels of knowledge, awareness, and perception of pesticide residues. Results indicate that urban communities have the highest knowledge about pesticide residues, followed by rural and suburban areas. Awareness levels are even across all community types, with rural areas slightly higher. Urban participants also show the highest perception levels, followed by rural and suburban communities. Rural communities demonstrate a strong positive correlation between knowledge and perception, while suburban areas show a moderately positive correlation. Urban communities exhibit significant correlations between knowledge awareness and perception, with a weaker relationship with awareness. These findings highlight the interplay between community settings and consumer behaviour in purchasing fruits and vegetables. The study emphasises the need for tailored educational and policy interventions to address the varying levels of knowledge and concerns about pesticide residues across different Malaysian communities.

Social work programs in Malaysian public universities: an analysis of barriers to producing competent social workers

ABSTRACT The University of Science Malaysia (USM) has developed a social work program for in the Social Welfare Department officers since 1975 to produce practically competent social workers. Courses offered at public universities should include relevant knowledge, skills, and field experiences to ensure that students can effectively communicate and resolve clients’ issues. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) listed 10 standards of social work education, namely the profession, ethics, diversity, social justice, populations at risk, human behaviors, social welfare, practices with individuals, groups and communities, research and skill development. The study aims to evaluate effective social work programs by analyzing the obstacles encountered by public university students in Malaysia to fulfill CSWE standards. A total of 279 final-year students from six public universities pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in social work participated, with questionnaires analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 23.0. Results indicated effective social work education, with students encountering moderate barriers. Students demonstrated competence aligned with the Social Work Act, which was crucial for addressing psycho-social and socio-economic issues in Malaysian communities. This study also highlighted the importance of producing skilled social workers to enhance societal well-being, assisting individuals, families, and communities in resolving various challenges.

Developing a Micro-Credential Curriculum in IoT for Malaysian Community Colleges: Key Topics and Projects

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a crucial course in Information Technology programs, merging electronic circuit concepts with programming skills to create interconnected devices. This study aimed to design a Malaysian Community College micro-credential curriculum for IoT by identifying relevant theoretical and practical topics and mini-projects. A need for a micro-credential module with suitable instructional materials was identified, enabling learners to apply theoretical concepts through mini-projects. Using the Fuzzy Delphi (FD) method, data from 19 experts via semi-structured interviews were analyzed to design the Fuzzy Delphi instrument. This instrument was distributed to 30 industry experts and academic practitioners, who ranked the elements on a five-point Likert scale. Fuzzy evaluation to establish consensus for inclusion requires an average expert agreement of 75%, a d-construct threshold of 0.2, and an average fuzzy number of 0.5. Consensus was reached for six out of nine theoretical topics and nine out of 13 practical topics. “Fundamental concepts of IoT” was deemed the most critical theoretical topic with 97% consensus, while "basic connectivity of IoT hardware" was the top practical topic with 100% consensus. For mini-projects, experts accepted two out of nine theoretical topics and nine out of 13 hands-on topics. The top authentic projects were “Air Quality Monitoring” and “Smart Home Security”, with 83% and 80% consensus, respectively. This study lays the groundwork for developing learning outcomes and assessment strategies for a micro-credential course on IoT at Community Collegesto equip TVET students with industry-relevant competencies, thus making them more employable.

Building a sustainable sanitation culture in indigenous people of Malaysia: A systematic literature study

The sanitation challenges faced by indigenous Malaysian communities are driving an urgent paradigm shift in sanitation approaches. This article highlights the journey toward the formation of a sustainable sanitation culture among indigenous Malaysians. Against the background of poor sanitation conditions in these communities, the main problems raised were a lack of access to adequate sanitation facilities and low awareness of hygiene practices. The aim of this study is to identify and analyze normative and empirical approaches that can be used to improve sanitation conditions. The research method uses a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and qualitative analysis to understand the traditional sanitation paradigm of indigenous societies. The process follows the PRISMA circuit, involving the identification, selection, and in-depth analysis of articles from a number of databases, such as Scopus and Google Scholar, focusing on the cultural values and sanitation practices that shape their sanitation paradigm. The results show that strong partnerships between governments, NGOs, and civil society are key to achieving significant changes in the sanitation culture. The recommendations of this article include the need for investment in better sanitation infrastructure, development of inclusive education and public awareness programs, and strengthening of public participation in the planning and implementation of sanitation programs. Thus, this article provides in-depth insights into concrete efforts to create a positive transformation in sanitation culture among Malaysian natives.

Malaysian Community College Graduates Employability Prediction Model Using Machine Learning Approach

Community College, as TVET institution under the Ministry of Higher Education, offers industry-relevant skills training to ensure graduates' employability in the global labor market. However, producing graduates who meet industry demands remains a challenge, and industries continue to face difficulties in obtaining skilled graduates. In Malaysia, there is limited research on predictive models for employability rates among graduates of TVET Malaysian institutions. This research utilizes Python to investigate the significant factors influencing employability among Malaysian Community College graduates, determined by a specific indicator of whether they will be employed. Our contribution lies in developing an accurate employability prediction model using machine learning algorithms such as Logistic Regression, Neural Networks, and Random Forest. The dataset used consisted of 10,427 instances and 14 attributes, from which six significant factors were identified. Among the models, Random Forest outperformed the other machine learning models, and hyperparameter tuning using RandomizedSearch further improved the accuracy of the model to 84.8%. This study aims to identify the most accurate and interpretable model, providing valuable insights for educational institutions to enhance their employability strategies.

Religiosity and the Marital Satisfaction of Malaysian Christians: A Pilot Study

Amid the challenges experienced by married couples and families, the need to examine the factors associated with marital satisfaction is recognised across various communities and backgrounds. Nevertheless, research on Malaysian Christians remains limited, especially concerning religiosity and marital satisfaction. Therefore, this study provides a deeper understanding of marital satisfaction among Malaysian Christians, focusing on its association with the factor of religiosity. 62 participants responded to self-report scales – including the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale and the Religious Commitment Inventory-10 – and open-ended questions on marital satisfaction experience and marital views, values, and attitudes development. A one-sample t-test analysed the marital satisfaction level of Malaysian Christians and some amount of marital distress was indicated. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis established that religiosity significantly predicted marital satisfaction. The open-ended responses were analysed thematically and the identified themes pertaining to how married Malaysian Christians experience marital satisfaction and religiosity complemented the quantitative findings. These findings could inform the development of programmes on marriage and family life and assist marriage counsellors, family therapists and other mental health professionals to work more effectively with the Malaysian community. Couples and families may also gain awareness, insights and inspiration towards enriching their experiences within marriage and family life.

Dietary intake, obesity, and metabolic risk factors among children and adolescents in the SEACO-CH20 cross-sectional study

We investigated the association between dietary intake and metabolic risk factors in children and adolescents within a semi-rural Malaysian community. Using an interviewer-led questionnaire, we surveyed 623 participants aged 7–18 from the South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO). Anthropometric and blood pressure data were collected from all participants, while a subset (n = 162) provided blood samples for biomarker analysis, including fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Metabolic syndrome was determined using the International Diabetes Federation’s Definition of Metabolic Syndrome in Children and Adolescents. Most participants were Malay (66.8%), with a median household income of MYR1,500 and a balanced sex distribution. Cereals, processed foods, beverages, fruits, and vegetables were commonly consumed. Obesity and abdominal obesity were prevalent, affecting more than a third of participants. Adherence to dietary recommendations was generally poor (ranging from 19.9 to 58.1%) and varied across age, sex, and ethnicity. Notably, some food groups displayed unexpected associations with health markers; for instance, fruit consumption was linked to abdominal obesity in children (abdominal obesity vs. normal: 2.4 servings/day vs. 1.6 servings/day). These findings emphasise the necessity of longitudinal studies to explore the complex relationship between diet and long-term health outcomes, including cardiometabolic diseases, while acknowledging the unique challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic on data collection and analysis.

Incorporating Malay Communicative and Cultural Values in Discourse: An Analysis of Mahathir Mohamed’s Orations

The cultural values and beliefs of the Malaysian community play a substantial role in shaping their communication approach and strategies. This study was to investigate how Malay values and beliefs were incorporated in communication in one of the most effective speeches of Mahathir Mohamed as a prominent leader in the Southern East of Asia and how these values were employed to influence his audience. The thematic analysis was used to analyse the selected speech and identify key themes, ideas, and topics that reflected Malay communicative and cultural values including indirectness, politeness, and Islamic beliefs. The findings demonstrated a notable contrast between the way Mahathir communicates and the discourse of indirectness commonly associated with Malay discourse. They showed that Mahathir employed direct language and assertive communicative approach to convey his messages and to avoid confusing his audience. This departure from traditional norms suggests that Mahathir recognizes the importance of clarity and precision in persuasive communication, prioritizing audience comprehension over conformity to cultural expectations. While Mahathir is unlike Malays in terms of indirectness, he employed other Malay communicative values such as referring to Islam principles, rationality and emotionality. He incorporated rationality (akal budi) with emotion (hati budi) to work together to influence his audience.

The Spread and Impact of Inauthentic Hadīth Within the Community in Malaysia: A Systematic Literature Review

This study aims to systematically review past literature concerning the dissemination of inauthentic hadīth within the Malaysian community and its impact on them. The Systematic Literature Review method is used in searching for previous articles that are relevant to the topic of interest. In data analysis, a deductive thematic analysis approach is employed, where specific keywords are selected during the identification process to search for pertinent articles. The study identifies three main themes related to the topic: the spread of inauthentic Hadith, its impact, and efforts to address this issue, with these themes further categorized into 10 sub-themes. The study contributes to the existing literature on inauthentic hadīth by offering insights into recent developments, providing a comprehensive overview, identifying areas for improvement, and enhancing understanding of the study's scope within the field.

Assessing the preparedness and future-readiness of Malaysian community pharmacists in Klang Valley regarding the use of medical marijuana

BackgroundThis study investigated community pharmacists' level of knowledge and attitude towards medical marijuana and its association with sociodemographic characteristics.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from 21 February 2022 to 15 November 2022. Community pharmacists working in Klang Valley were given a self-administered questionnaire. This survey instrument facilitated the collection of information about their sociodemographic attributes, training background, and knowledge and attitude concerning medical marijuana. Through rigorous analysis of the accumulated data, discernible factors correlating with the levels of knowledge and attitudes surrounding medical marijuana were identified.ResultsThe majority (n=149, 53.8%) of participants had low knowledge of medical marijuana. Participants with lower knowledge of medical marijuana tend to have a negative attitude toward medical marijuana. Besides that, male participants showed higher knowledge of medical marijuana than female participants. Furthermore, it was found that atheists had the most negative attitude among other religions toward medical marijuana.ConclusionMost community pharmacists in Malaysia lack sufficient knowledge about medical marijuana. This indicates that Malaysian pharmacists are not future-ready and need to equip themselves with adequate knowledge of the indications and adverse effects of medical marijuana if it is to be legalised one day. Thus, there is a need for improved training and education of pharmacists around cannabis-based medicines.

The Relationship between Age and Level of Income with Understanding of Islamic Digital Banking

The rapid growth of information and communication technology development has driven the Islamic banking and finance industry to digitalize all transactions and Islamic banking products to go fully online. However, there is a hindrance in developing Islamic digital banking which is the lack of understanding about Islamic digital banking among Malaysia community from different age and level of income. This study aims to investigate the relationship between age and level of income of Malaysian community with the level of knowledge about Islamic digital banking. This study employed a quantitative survey questionnaire of 100 respondents. The Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) software version 27 has been used in this study in analysing the data through descriptive analysis. The general finding of this study showed that the young generation and people with lower income have more intention to adopt this new application compared to the older generation and people with higher income. By analyzing these relationships, the research could help Islamic banks tailor their services and products to various demographic groups, enhancing accessibility and understanding. Additionally, the findings might inform policymaking to create a more inclusive financial system, particularly in predominantly Muslim countries. Overall, the study appears to connect the fields of demographics, technology, economics, and cultural studies, potentially providing essential insights for the development and growth of Islamic digital banking.

Green Purchasing Trends: Insights from The Malaysian Community

Green Purchasing Trends: Insights from The Malaysian Community

Integrating design thinking and implementation science principles in delivering a medication review service in the community pharmacy setting-An implementation testing study.

Medication review (MR) services are evidenced-based practices in which a systematic assessment of a patient's medication is conducted, primarily aiming to optimize drug therapy and minimize adverse drug events through pharmacist interventions. Although studies show that MR services are effective, the implementation of MR services in Malaysia has been challenging due to several barriers. An MR services blueprint was developed to be adapted to the Malaysian community pharmacy setting as part of tailoring strategies. Through utilizing the design thinking triple diamond model and implementation science principles, a powerful guide for healthcare researchers and stakeholders to assist with effective service implementation, this study aimed to evaluate the implementation testing and observe the effectiveness of the developed MR service blueprint. The study utilizes an effectiveness-implementation Type 3 hybrid implementation science framework conducted from May 2021 to April 2022. Employing a qualitative ethnographic approach, researchers observed pharmacy study sites during the implementation of MR services. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected across exploration, preparation, testing, and operational phases. Implementation outcomes evaluated include phases, reach, fidelity, acceptability, as well as implementation barriers and strategies. MR intervention outcomes included service characteristics and the number and type of drug-related problems and interventions offered. 17 community pharmacists were invited to pilot the MR service blueprint for six months in their setting. Of this, 78.5% (n = 11) of the pharmacies reached the testing phase, and 36% (n = 4) reached the implementation phase. Fifty-four patients were in the study, giving an implementation reach of 70%. The majority of surveyed patients expressed satisfaction with the service. The total DRP identified was 133, and 64 interventions were provided by the pharmacists. Facilitation strategies such as "Engage stakeholders by creating ownership of the change" and "Equip stakeholders with training" are needed to overcome the barriers. This study marked the beginning of successful MR service implementation at Malaysian community pharmacies. Future studies with multi-level partnered strategies are required to reach full implementation and sustainability.

COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE ON PREVENTION AND CONTROL STRATEGIES OF DENGUE INFECTION IN MALAYSIA

Dengue is a vector-borne disease caused by a rapidly-spreading virus. Dengue vector control is considered the most efficient way for limiting and curbing the spread of the dengue virus. This study aimed to determine the perception of the Malaysian community towards control measures of mosquitoes and the utilisation of biocontrol. A total of 402 respondents in Putrajaya and Selangor participated in the survey. The questionnaire was broadly divided into three sections: Knowledge of biological control, respondent profiles, knowledge of dengue fever prevention, and the utilisation of insecticide for mosquito control. Most of the respondents (83.0%) expressed concern regarding the effects of fogging activities on their health, whereas slightly more than half (56.0%) posited that fogging activities may have adverse environmental effects. The fogging method was reported as the most frequent method (29.2%) employed in controlling the mosquito population. Biocontrol with guppy fish scored (15.5%) and ABATE (mosquito larvae insecticide) (28.9%) were the other control measures utilised. Community perspectives revealed that 5.0% of the respondents were aware of biocontrol as a control method for the mosquito population. The biological method was considered safe for public health while guppy was reported as the most effective biocontrol agent. The introduction of novel and successful community programmes is significantly influenced by the perception of control measures for mosquitoes.

COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE ON PREVENTION AND CONTROL STRATEGIES OF DENGUE INFECTION IN MALAYSIA

Dengue is a vector-borne disease caused by a rapidly-spreading virus. Dengue vector control is considered the most efficient way for limiting and curbing the spread of the dengue virus. This study aimed to determine the perception of the Malaysian community towards control measures of mosquitoes and the utilisation of biocontrol. A total of 402 respondents in Putrajaya and Selangor participated in the survey. The questionnaire was broadly divided into three sections: Knowledge of biological control, respondent profiles, knowledge of dengue fever prevention, and the utilisation of insecticide for mosquito control. Most of the respondents (83.0%) expressed concern regarding the effects of fogging activities on their health, whereas slightly more than half (56.0%) posited that fogging activities may have adverse environmental effects. The fogging method was reported as the most frequent method (29.2%) employed in controlling the mosquito population. Biocontrol with guppy fish scored (15.5%) and ABATE (mosquito larvae insecticide) (28.9%) were the other control measures utilised. Community perspectives revealed that 5.0% of the respondents were aware of biocontrol as a control method for the mosquito population. The biological method was considered safe for public health while guppy was reported as the most effective biocontrol agent. The introduction of novel and successful community programmes is significantly influenced by the perception of control measures for mosquitoes.

Evaluation of Food Safety Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices among Street Food Vendors in the Klang Valley, Malaysia

Street food vendors are proliferating in Malaysian communities because the foods are reasonably priced and accessible since they are typically found in crowded areas. Due to informal observation of food handling practices, street food vendors have been noted as a common cause of foodborne diseases. Hence, the objectives of this study are 1) to determine the level of knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of food safety among street food vendors, 2) to examine the associations between the level of food safety practices and socioeconomic characteristics of street food vendors, and 3) to investigate the relationship between level of knowledge, attitude, and practices of food safety among street food vendors, A purposive sampling method was used, and 268 street food vendors were involved in this study. Several statistical analyses, including descriptive analysis, Chi-square analysis, and Pearson correlation analysis, were used to analyze the data. Out of 268 street food vendors, 219 (81.7%) had adequate knowledge, 239 (89.2%) had a favourable attitude, and 245 (91.4%) vendors implemented good practices in their food handling procedures. Street food vendors’ practices were associated with education level (p=0.069), type of stalls (p=0.030), monthly revenue (p=0.006), license (p=0.027), food safety training (p=0.001), and typhoid injection (p=0.005). The study revealed a positive correlation between the street food vendors’ knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) regarding food safety. This investigation suggests that the street food vendors demonstrated a commendable proficiency in food safety KAP. However, relevant authorities must prioritize rigorous enforcement and educational interventions. This proactive approach is essential to elevate food safety standards further and effectively address the potential risks of foodborne diseases.