Malaysian Public Research Articles

The Impact of Online Learning on Mental Illness Among Physical and Health Education Students at Malaysian Public University

The Impact of Online Learning on Mental Illness Among Physical and Health Education Students at Malaysian Public University

The Relationships between Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Effectiveness in Selected Malaysian Public Sectors

Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to an individual's capacity to effectively manage and regulate their emotions, enabling them to recognize and understand the potentially beneficial influence their emotions can have on others. The present study was conducted based on the assumption that emotional intelligence plays an important part in determining the effectiveness of administrative leaders within an organizational context. This is because leadership serves as the important driving force within an organization, guiding employees in their tasks and ensuring the overall success and prosperity of the organization. The main objective of the study was to find out the relationship between emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness. 50 questionnaires were distributed to all administrative leaders who have a minimum of five years of working experience in any position, and a total of 50 questionnaires were returned. Hence, the data collected was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The result indicated that there is a significant correlation between emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness among administrative leaders, and strongly supports the previous research finding. It is anticipated that leaders are going to demonstrate an impressive level of emotional intelligence to effectively guide and influence people. Consequently, emotional intelligence empowers leaders to exert a positive influence on the work environment within which they function, since it enhances their self-awareness and their ability to perceive and understand the emotions of others.

Strength Characteristics of Clay Soil Admixed with Sand and Ca-based Stabiliser for Reduced Carbon Emissions

Clay is exhibited as plastic and sticky when a large amount of water is added to it. A stabilisation trial was developed using mixes of clayey sand and chemical stabilisation for the soil. Clayey sand samples were prepared by mixing different sand-clay ratios (5S5C, 7S3C, 9S1C and 10S0C). Then, chemical stabilization was applied by adding Ca-based binding agent at different ratios of 0%, 2% and 4% of the total weight of the clayey sand samples. A series of Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) tests were performed on the clayey sand samples at four curing times (3, 7, 14 and 28 days). The materials utilised in this study were river sand, lateritic clay and Ca-based binding agent. The results showed that the UCS of clayey sand increases with stabiliser content and curing time. The UCS of 5S5C with 2% stabiliser was found to be increased significantly from 135.25 kPa to 977.41 kPa after 3 curing days. It complies with the Malaysia Public Works Department (MPWD) standards, i.e. the minimum UCS requirement of 800 kPa. In addition, the elastic modulus of clayey sand increased with cement content, indicating that the soil’s stiffness increased with increasing cement content. It is recommended to add Ca-based binding agent at 2% to the 5S5C due to economic cost. Nearly 50% of quantity, cost and number of transportations could be saved by using the Ca-based binding agent.

The Assessment of Corporate Social Responsibilities Reporting among Malaysian Public Listed Companies in Consumer Product and Services Industries based on Bursa Malaysia CSR Framework

The Assessment of Corporate Social Responsibilities Reporting among Malaysian Public Listed Companies in Consumer Product and Services Industries based on Bursa Malaysia CSR Framework

Antecedents of AGM Shareholder Activism in Malaysian Public Listed Companies and the Role of MSWG Activism as a Moderator

Shareholder activism and awareness of their rights at Annual General Meetings (AGMs) is one of the most contentious problems related to corporate governance. This study examines the relationship between company size, performance, directors' remuneration, and AGM shareholder activism. Using financial reports year 2021, stratified random sampling of 256 Bursa Malaysia Main Market listed companies was adopted. The Bursa Malaysia website provided all the annual reports and the AGM minutes. Findings reveal no correlation between company size, performance, director remuneration, and AGM shareholder activism. The study also found that MSWG activism does not moderate the association between these variables.

Preliminary study: Readiness of WLAN Infrastructure at Malaysian Higher Education Institutes to support Smart Campus Initiative

Smart campus initiative enables higher education to enhance services, decision-making, and campus sustainability. The initiatives are being actively implemented globally by higher education, including in Malaysia. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need for the education sector to explore a digital revolution. The adaptation of digital technologies has improved many aspects, including the teaching and learning experiences and administration tasks, which results in more efficient task handling. This study investigates the readiness of the WLAN infrastructure at Malaysian Public Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) in implementing smart campus initiatives and measures readiness based on the availability of WLAN Infrastructure, WLAN logical architecture and WLAN populated coverage area. This study administered a questionnaire to 19 respondents, all of whom are IT personnel from Malaysian public HEIs to gather preliminary data on the readiness of WLAN infrastructure at Malaysian Public HEI to support the adaptation of smart campus initiatives in their teaching and learning activities. This study is a preliminary study concerning the readiness of WLAN infrastructure at Malaysian Public HEI in adapting smart campus initiatives. The findings show that, even though WLAN service is available at all Malaysian Public HEI, it is essential to enhance the adopted logical architecture and WLAN coverage to prepare HEI to become smart campuses. The findings of this study can provide the fundamental guidelines for the Ministry of Higher Education in determining the baseline of WLAN infrastructure required by Malaysian HEI to support smart campus initiatives.

Women Academic Voices on Organisational Climate Leader's Views in Malaysia's Public Universities

Higher education institutions in Malaysia should be able to provide an ecosystem that is conducive to the career development of women's leadership. Diverse and inappropriate leadership styles make a female leader less effective when appointed to a leadership position. Furthermore, when the organizational climate of the university is not supportive and positive toward women leaders' development, it demotivates them from assuming leadership. As a result, the type of organizational climate deemed appropriate is required.The goal of this study is (i) to investigate the dimensions of organisational climate among women academic leaders & (ii) to examine the link between organisational climate and transformational leadership. This study used a mixed method, which is a sequential exploratory design involving six informants from top management and 365 respondents from middle management in 20 public universities. Atlas Ti version 23 and SEM PLS version 4 are being used to analyze data. The findings of the study reveal that the organizational climate is perceived as supportive and constructive by women in academic careers. The thematic analysis also listed 12 themes and dimensions for the organizational climate construct. The research findings also found that the organizational climate and transformational leadership are positively correlated. This research also listed several initiatives that need to be taken by university management to improve the organizational climate and empower women's leadership, especially involving women academic leaders. This research also fulfills the SDG5 agenda regarding women in leadership and decision-making at the top management level.

Factors influencing professional virtual communities towards public service efficiency

Communities of practice, which are often a central component of KM, are considered to be used to facilitate information sharing, resolve internal obstacles, and enhance mutual learning. The extensive use of ICT has enabled their transformation into a virtual environment – Professional Virtual Communities of Practice (VCoPs) – which is creating ideal conditions for collaborative information sharing and learning. This research examined factors predicting usage of the VCoP and how Malaysian public sector organisations, through their adoption, can influence their service efficiency. Based on the synthesis of the UTAUT2 and the DeLone & McLean Model of IS Success, a quantitative approach was adopted for this research. 313 valid respondent data was collected using a questionnaire from public sector organisations that had adopted a VCoP as a knowledge sharing tool. A logical sequence of methods, encompassing descriptive and inferential analysis, followed by using Structured Equation Modelling (SEM), and the SmartPLS software was conducted to determine relevant statistical tests. The findings suggest that the Malaysian Public Sector will benefit from improving their knowledge sharing environment with a VCoP system. Establishing appropriate facilitating conditions, quality knowledge and an enjoyable and up-to-date digital tool will ensure continuous usage.

Educational Insights from Bibliometric Patterns: Examining Depression Research in Malaysia

Bibliometric analysis has emerged as an indispensable tool for interdisciplinary researchers seeking to comprehend the intricate terrain of scientific knowledge. In this present study, bibliometric analysis was employed to investigate depression-related studies in Malaysian publications. The bibliometric datasets were obtained from the Scopus and Web of Science databases, which were utilized in the analysis of the acquired data using SciendoPy and VOSviewer. The results indicate that Malaysia's remarkable increase in the number of papers has enabled it to rank among the top countries beyond Australia and the United Kingdom. The University of Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, and Universiti Putra Malaysia played crucial roles and were found to be active institutions. Social sciences, healthcare sciences and services, as well as Geriatrics and Gerontology, were the primary fields related to this domain. Future research endeavors could focus on delving deeper into these topics and scrutinizing novel areas of interest in depression-related studies in Malaysia.

Mapping Levels of Palliative Care Service Development in Malaysian Public Hospitals Using the WHO Public Health Model of Palliative Care.

This national audit involving Ministry of Health (MOH) Hospitals aimed to map out the levels of development of palliative care services and essential palliative medication availability in Malaysia. An online survey coupled with manual follow up was conducted throughout all MOH hospitals in Malaysia. Data collected described elements of the palliative care service(PCS) based on the WHO public health model. Data was computed using a novel matrix to determine three key indices which were the 1) palliative care development score (PCDS), 2)essential medications availability score (EMAS) and 3) opioid availability score (OAS). These scores then allowed mapping of PCS according to scores of 1-4 (1=least developed, 4=most developed). Out of all 140 MOH hospitals 88.6% (124) completed the PCDS survey, 120(85.7%) for the EMAS survey and 140 (100%) for the OAS survey. A total of 32(25.8%) hospitals had formal PCS with 8(25%) having resident palliative physicians (RPP), 8(25%) visiting palliative physicians(VPP) and 16(50%) no palliative physician (NPP). Out of these services, 17 (53%) had dedicated palliative care beds. In the PCDS survey, hospitals with PCS had significantly higher mean PCDS of 2.59 compared to 1.02 for non-PCS hospitals (P<0.001). The EMAS survey showed 109(90.8%) hospitals had EMAS of four and the OAS survey showed that 135(96.4%) hospitals had oral morphine available. This study shows that palliative care service development in MOH hospitals is still very limited however, majority of MOH hospitals in Malaysia have all the essential medications and oral morphine available.

Factors Impacting Professional Accounting Students' Satisfaction with Distance Learning: Evidence from a Malaysian Public University

Distance learning is a means for delivering teaching through the internet, with the use of various technologies and resources to provide material and engage students. This study examined students' perceptions of the opportunities and difficulties of distance learning, as well as their satisfaction with a distance learning experience. The data was gathered from a public university in Malaysia and analyzed using Partial Least Squares (PLS) structural equation modeling. The results revealed in terms of the students' perceived opportunities for distance learning, ICT skills and lifelong learning had a significant effect on how satisfied students are with distance learning, while the educational structure hadno significant effect. In terms of perceived challenges, students saw plagiarism and deviation from the primary goal as having a major impact on their satisfaction, but not the educational expenses. The findings aid institutions in providing better knowledge for the development of future distance learning programs for accounting qualification and provide a better understanding of the success of distance learning towards academic performance for students. Limitations and recommendations for future studies are also discussed. Keywords: distance learning, opportunities, challenges, satisfaction

Does Maternal Instinct Matter in Child-Friendly Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Amongst Malaysian Public Listed Companies?

Does Maternal Instinct Matter in Child-Friendly Corporate Social Responsibility Practices Amongst Malaysian Public Listed Companies?

Tinto’s Explanatory Model of The Dropout of Doctorate Students in a Malaysian Public University

Tinto’s Explanatory Model of The Dropout of Doctorate Students in a Malaysian Public University

The Perception on Gender Stereotype among Students in Malaysian Public Universities

The Perception on Gender Stereotype among Students in Malaysian Public Universities

Internship after Covid-19 Pandemic: An In-Depth Interview among Journalism Program Interns of a Malaysian Public Higher Learning Institution

This paper intends to explore the challenges encountered by journalism undergraduates while undergoing their internship after the Covid-19 pandemic. The Covid-19 pandemic has interrupted students’ learning; thus, causing concern about their performance when undergoing industrial training. Poor performance by students during industrial training can create a negative perception among industry players toward a university. The study aimed to achieve in-depth interview sessions with a small group of final-year journalism program students at a public university in Malaysia who underwent a 14-week internship at various Malaysian companies after a series of nationwide lockdowns spanning almost 2 years. The findings of this research hopefully will provide rich insights into internship experiences, especially regarding the challenges faced by the students, which in turn will benefit the stakeholders, including the students, employers and educational institutions.&#x0D; Keywords: journalism, internship, industrial training, students’ experience, post-Covid- 19 1.

Students’ Interests, Purposes, and Attitudes towards Learning French at the Malaysia Public Higher Education Institutions

Students’ Interests, Purposes, and Attitudes towards Learning French at the Malaysia Public Higher Education Institutions

Knowledge Management Strategies and Green Innovation Practices: Empirical Evidence from the Malaysian Public Sector

This research study aimed to investigate the impact of knowledge management strategies, specifically knowledge creation, knowledge acquisition, knowledge sharing, and knowledge application, on green innovation practices. Knowledge management strategies encompass processes within organizations that involve the development and dissemination of knowledge to enhance business performance. Harnessing knowledge is crucial not only for competitiveness but also for fostering innovation in support of sustainability. Green innovation practices have garnered attention from scholars and policymakers due to their ability to address environmental concerns. Furthermore, organizations increasingly recognize the importance of green practices, prompting globally competitive entities to continuously enhance their competencies to mitigate environmental degradation and improve overall organizational performance. Therefore, this study identified knowledge management strategies as variables that can support green innovation practices. To conduct the study, a quantitative research approach was adopted, and data collection utilized a closed-ended questionnaire adapted from a prior study. The questionnaire was distributed among employees in the public sector within the Klang Valley region of Malaysia. Purposive sampling was employed to select participants, resulting in the successful collection and analysis of 256 data sets. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed using SPSS software. The findings indicate that knowledge management strategies, encompassing knowledge creation, knowledge acquisition, knowledge sharing, and knowledge application, positively and significantly influence green innovation practices. Among these factors, knowledge sharing was found to have the most substantial impact on green innovation practices. These results confirm the importance of knowledge management practices for organizations seeking success in green innovation practices. Therefore, it is recommended that organizations support knowledge management activities to enhance the adoption of green innovation practices.

Designing Strategies Framework for Effective Funding Formula Implementation at Malaysian Public Universities

Over the past few decades, Malaysia's higher education system has undergone significant evolution and growth. With notable achievements in areas such as student enrolment, research publication, patents, and institutional excellence, the system has earned a global reputation and become a preferred destination for international students. However, the Ministry of Higher Education recognizes the need for the system to continue to evolve in order to stay current with global trends. A crucial element in this evolution is the provision of long-term funding to support and enhance the country's capacity to deliver high-quality education that meets international standards. In response to this need, the Ministry of Higher Education has proposed a change to the funding formula for Malaysian public universities, with the goal of improving the relationship between performance and outcomes. To this end, this study was conducted to design a strategy for the effective implementation of this new funding formula in Malaysian public universities. By providing a deeper understanding of the strategies required for successful implementation, the study's findings will be invaluable to both the Ministry of Higher Education and Malaysian public universities.

The Role of Fund Managers in Diversifying Endowment Investment Portfolios of Malaysian Public Universities

Endowment is one of the most important sources of income globally for higher education institutions, and it should be invested for permanent use. Unfortunately, such funds are not optimally managed in Malaysia’s public universities. Therefore, this study was conducted to find ways to manage funds effectively among universities with the highest recorded collection of endowment funds. The participating universities in the study were: Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Interviews were conducted with representatives from their financial divisions. This study found that endowment funds in Malaysian public universities can be better invested with the appointment of dedicated fund managers. Their role is to assess the assets in which to invest with their expert knowledge to enhance the investment portfolio of endowment funds.

Teachers’ Followership Behaviours and Principals’ Leadership Effectiveness in Malaysian Public Secondary Schools: A Case Study in Sarawak Southern Region

Improving leadership effectiveness in schools is a crucial priority across organizations. However, ineffective attempts to enhance leadership effectiveness often led to wasted resources and fail to improve student performance. These failures are typically attributed to an excessive focus on leaders while neglecting other organizational factors, including followers. Unfortunately, few studies have examined the impact of followership on leadership effectiveness in schools. This study aimed to investigate the followership behaviors of teachers and the leadership effectiveness of principals in Malaysian public secondary schools, using a follower-centric approach. The study employed a quantitative survey method, utilizing Google Forms to collect data. Respondents were selected from five public secondary schools in Sarawak's Southern Region through purposive sampling. A total of 108 valid questionnaires were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 27.0 statistical software. The findings indicated that teachers exhibited high levels of followership behaviors, including Assuming Responsibility, Serving, Taking Moral Action, and Participating In Transformation. However, their levels of Challenge were only moderate. Additionally, teachers reported that their principals demonstrated all five components of effective leadership: Modeling the Way, Inspire A Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, And Encourage the Heart, at a high level. These findings provide valuable insights for academics and practitioners interested in understanding how followership actions can contribute to the success of leadership development efforts. The study contributes significantly to the field of educational leadership and management by exploring the emerging concept of educational followership. It serves as a reliable reference for those seeking to enhance leadership effectiveness in schools, offering new perspectives in this area of research.