Malaysian Managers Research Articles

From a biomonitoring checklist to effective coastal ecosystem management: A study in the selected coastal jetties of west Peninsular Malaysia

The present study aimed to provide a current (2022) checklist of benthic organisms found at the coastal jetties at Sungai Rambai Jetty and Pasir Panjang Jetty, in Negeri Sembilan of Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 10 diff erent species of benthic organisms were collected near the Sungai Rambai fi shermen’s jetty, namely Periophthalmodon schlosseri, Parasesarma sp., Turritella sp., Chicoreus capucinus, Nerita balteata, Littoraria melanostoma, Littoraria scabra, Tubuca rosea, Tubuca sp., and Brachyuran crab. Six diff erent species of benthic organisms were found at the Pasir Panjang jetty. These included the Tachypleus gigas, Mactra violacea, Volegalea cochlidium, Diogenes sp., Murex trapa, and Tegillarca granosa. Although a traditional study, this study is a fundamental current baseline for future references and provided the most basic ground in choosing the potential biomonitors of chemical pollution in the coastal area of Negeri Sembilan. This would be an important information source for eff ective coastal ecosystem management in Malaysia.

The role of general and specific pro-environmental education in household waste management in Malaysia: Evidence from quantile regression

This study uses integrated behavioral model as the guiding framework to examine the role of general and specific environmental education in promoting household pro-environmental behavior. The data collected from a convenience sample of 213 household representatives using self-administered questionnaires were analyzed using OLS and quantile regressions. The results show that specific knowledge, intention, and salience of behavior have positive effects on pro-environmental behavior, while environmental constraints have negative effects. The effects vary across different quantiles of pro-environmental behavior, which imply that different emphasis and strategies should be placed based on different levels of pro-environmental behavior to encourage such behavior. The result of the joint effect of general and specific environmental knowledge shows that specific knowledge is a significant factor of pro-environmental behavior, but not general environmental knowledge. Intention becomes more important in encouraging pro-environmental behavior as the gap between general and specific environmental knowledge widens. The overall result suggests that different strategies should be designed and implemented based on different levels of behavior in encouraging household pro-environmental behavior, especially for those with low-level of pro-environmental behavior but with high intention as they require improved specific environmental knowledge and skills, support and facilities, and recognition of their pro-environmental behavior.

Environmental, Technical, and Resources Challenges Facing Agroforestry: A Case of Sustainable Land Management in Malaysia

Sustainable Land Management (SLM) plays a crucial role in mitigating land degradation and fostering food security. While previous research has primarily concentrated on SLM's scientific application, there remains a lack of insight into the specific challenges encountered in agroforestry practices. Addressing this knowledge gap, our qualitative research employed a multimethod approach, integrating Gioia methodology with case studies, to investigate the obstacles within agroforestry. We utilized diverse data sources, including surveys, interviews, and field observations. A total of ninety-eight respondents contributed to the survey, the results of which underwent descriptive analysis. Furthermore, we conducted three focus group interviews involving stakeholders from government bodies and private plantation sectors. Our findings indicate that agroforestry stands as a vital strategy for food security. However, its implementation faces several barriers, notably environmental challenges such as climate change impacts and soil fertility degradation. Technical hurdles, including deficiencies in expertise and knowledge, were significant, as were constraints in resources like land availability, labor force, and financial investment. Two primary conclusions were drawn from our research: Agroforestry is substantially beneficial for food security, yet it encounters several challenges that restrict its full potential within the agriculture industry. Consequently, there is an urgent need to address the environmental, technical, and resource-related challenges to optimize the advantages of agroforestry in achieving sustainable land management and bolstering food security.

The Path to Judicial Management in Malaysia is Paved with Obstacles: Lessons from Singapore and the United Kingdom

AbstractIn embracing corporate rescue, Malaysia introduced Judicial Management (JM) into its company law framework on 1 March 2018. The mechanism was modelled on Singapore's Judicial Management, which itself was based on the United Kingdom (UK) Administration Procedure. Despite its laudable objective of facilitating the rescue of financially distressed companies, the path to JM is paved with obstacles. This article identifies some of these obstacles and examines the issues that give rise to them. At the same time, the article proposes legislative reforms, drawing on comparative laws in Singapore and the UK. For the purposes of this article, three obstacles are examined: first, the power of a secured creditor or debenture holder to veto the JM application; second, the stringent and prohibitive burden imposed on an applicant company caused by the judicial interpretation, at times conflicting, of the provisions governing the application of a JM order; and third, the higher threshold imposed by legislative requirements on creditors’ meeting to approve the JM proposal. These obstacles are encountered at three stages of a JM application: first, at the initial stage of the application; second, in considering the merits of the JM; and third, when the creditors vote to approve the application.

Sustainability risk management: Are Malaysian companies ready?

The sustainability issues resulting from Malaysian palm oil production have garnered much interest in the palm oil industry. Consequently, Malaysian palm oil industry is indirectly exposed to sustainability risks, including boycott and reputational and regulatory risks. Hence, the industry encounters intense pressure from numerous stakeholders to address sustainability issues. Prior studies propounded that sustainability risk management (SRM) could minimise the adverse impact of sustainability risks by addressing sustainability issues. Nevertheless, the implementation of sustainability risk management in Malaysia remains low as numerous companies are not ready for it. Drawing on contingency theory, the objective of this study is to investigate the influence of contextual factors that can influence companies' readiness in implementing sustainability risk management. Data was collected through the distribution of questionnaires between July and December 2020. A total of 407 questionnaires were distributed, with a response rate of 29 %. Resultantly, sustainability strategy, business size, top management support, and regulatory pressure positively and significantly influenced sustainability risk management implementation. The findings also expanded the current theoretical knowledge with valuable insights for policymakers regarding the factors influencing to companies’ readiness in implementing SRM.

Determinants of housing prices: evidence from East Coast Malaysia

Purpose The purpose of this study is designed to achieve the learning process in producing studies involving economic issues and scenarios in business management in Malaysia. In addition, this study will provide exposure to the integration of managerial skills by using both microeconomics and macroeconomics concepts and theories to aid decision-making in a business environment. Design/methodology/approach The research method comprised qualitative methodology of literature review, case study and quantitative methodology of multiple linear regression (MLR). In this case, seven microeconomics and macroeconomics factors which are believed to significantly affect house price index (HPI) are taken into consideration which includes gross domestic product, consumer price index (CPI), government tax and subsidy on housing, overnight policy rate, unemployment rate (UNEMP), the median income (INC) and cost of production index. Findings This research has resulted in three significant factors affecting HPI from MLR, which include CPI, UNEMP and INC where the increase of these factors will cause a high increment of HPI. The other four factors are not significant. Originality/value Malaysia has been facing the stagnancy in house market these recent years due to issues such as massive oversupply, impacting Malaysia’s economy specifically focusing on domestic direct investment. To avoid oversupply issues, the vitality of future house demand and pricing forecast should be comprehended by involved bodies for more effective planning for the house development industry. To make a better and bigger impact, this research is intended to analyse the microeconomic and macroeconomic factors affecting the HPI to better understand the significance of each of these factors to the changes of HPI to resolve these economic issues.

Cracking the code: uncovering the factors that drive COVID-19 standard operating procedures compliance among school management in Malaysia

Malaysia's government's decision to reopen schools during the COVID-19 outbreak, especially for students taking important exams, has alarmed the public. However, the Ministry of Education has implemented a COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for educational institutions. The school management’s ability to protect children from COVID-19 rests on their understanding, attitudes, and practices regarding COVID-19 SOP compliance. This study investigated Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya school management’s COVID-19 SOP compliance determinants. Multistage sampling was used to sample 740 school management from Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Selangor. A self-administered questionnaire collected sociodemographic, occupational, and lifestyle data, knowledge, attitude, and practice of COVID-19 SOP compliance. The school management had good knowledge, attitude, and practice toward COVID-19 SOP. Monthly income, school location, smoking status, and physical activity differed significantly from KAP (p < 0.05). The correlation between KAP showed a significant relationship with the values (r = 0.348, p < 0.001) and (r = 0.358, p = 0.003). Nine independent variables strongly predicted SOPs compliance practice in multiple linear regression: knowledge, attitude, age, source of knowledge; Ministry of Health, physical activities, type of infectious disease exposed; Tuberculosis and Measles (p < 0.05). The data indicate that school management exhibits good knowledge, attitude, and compliance with SOPs during the pandemic. School management oversees SOPs, and to keep schools safe, management must analyse hazards and take action. Therefore, knowledge and attitude are expected to determine factors of practice toward COVID-19 SOP compliance.

Malaysia Citizen Sentiment on Government Response Towards Covid-19 Disaster Management: Using LDA-based Topic Visualization on Twitter

This paper studies lessons learned from Covid-19 disaster management in Malaysia using machine learning techniques. First, we crawl Twitter data related to ‘covid’ with geo-location bounding-box. Then we contribute to propose LDA topics generated on citizen perception containing negative sentiment towards government response; hence, we represent the data using VOSviewer and D3.js to emphasize topic modeling with respect to timestamp due to pattern analysis. As results, LDA-based topic visualization may recognize the accounts’ pattern that are assumed as the pillars of disaster management in Malaysia. This study gains insights from political science field. Implications of the results are also discussed.

Enhance framework for fresh markets inventory management in malaysia

The fresh market sector holds a vital position in the food supply chain, serving as a crucial link between producers and consumers. This study research examines the inventory management practices within fresh markets in Malaysia. The aim is to identify both common and unique approaches and issues related to inventory management, with the objective of enhancing the efficiency of existing inventory management systems in Malaysian fresh markets. However, one of the key challenges faced by many retail groups in this sector is maintaining a balance between demand and supply. This imbalance often results in the issue of overstocking, leading to significant food loss. Upon thorough analysis of existing literature reviews, this study presents the framework for improving fresh food management and identifying flow-related challenges associated with current inventory management practices. The findings of this research serve to guide policymakers in adopting a comprehensive approach to tackle the issue of imbalanced food supply and address the shortcomings in inventory management within Malaysia.

Patient perspective on psoriasis: Psychosocial burden of psoriasis and its management in Malaysia.

Psoriasis is a chronic erythematous inflammatory skin disorder. The major challenge with psoriasis is delayed diagnosis, resulting in delayed treatment initiation and reduced quality of life (QoL). This patient perspective study aimed to explore the emotional and psychosocial burdens faced by patients with psoriasis in Malaysia and their attitudes toward current psoriasis treatment. Adult patients with mild or moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, preferably with concomitant psoriatic arthritis, participated in a patient advisory board meeting along with a senior consultant dermatologist. Patients had to describe their initial symptoms, time of diagnosis, misdiagnosis, treatment initiation delays, treatment course, flare-ups, psychosocial impact, and QoL associated with psoriasis. The 11 participating patients had a mean age of 46 years with mean age of psoriasis diagnosis and an average year of suffering with psoriasis being 21.9 years and 24.5 years, respectively. The most common initial symptom of psoriasis was itching (62.5%), particularly of the scalp followed by itchiness and red patches on skin. Most patients (90%) reported initial misdiagnosis with other skin diseases by their primary care physicians (PCPs), which led to delayed treatment initiation. Most patients reported an emotional impact of psoriasis, including low self-esteem (18%), lack of confidence (27%), shock (18%), sadness (9%), and outrage (9%). Social discrimination/stigmatization in public places and at work (45%), and even from relatives (18%) was another reported challenge. However, 73% of patients were highly satisfied with the current treatment. Overall, the patients agreed that the lack of public awareness of psoriasis was responsible for the social stigma. The evidence obtained from this qualitative study indicated that psoriasis has a significant emotional and psychological impact on the patients affecting their QoL. Lack of awareness of the disease among PCPs, patients, and the public is a major challenge leading to poor treatment outcomes.

A Study of Waste Generation Prediction using Correlation and Multiple Regression Analyses

Today, governments, policymakers, and the public are deeply invested in waste generation and environmental preservation. Increased volumes of waste generation continue unabated due mainly to rapid population increase, urban migration, economic enhancements, and modern lifestyles. Two significant factors contributing directly to the higher waste generation volumes are population and gross domestic product (GDP). In Phase 1 of this study, a correlation analysis with a Pearson coefficient of more than 93% (r &gt; 0.93) shows a strong positive linear relationship between the amount of waste generation and population and GDP. Phase 2 provides a multiple regression analysis and the development of a regression model. They indicate that a 1-unit increment in waste generation is caused by 0.06 of the population and 0.119 of GDP while ßo remains constant at 124.449. Therefore, the multiple regression model in this study can be applied by solid waste management authorities in Malaysia to forecast future waste generation volumes accurately. However, further investigation on other significant factors is suggested for future work to develop a holistic model for solid waste management in Malaysia.

Flood Mitigation Management Practice: A Comparison Between Stormwater Management Road Tunnel (SMART) and Sponge City Methods

Flash flood in Malaysia urban is no longer a surprise incident as it has become a widespread natural disaster that frequently happened every year. The geographical of Malaysia with equatorial climate experiences consistently high temperatures with high relative humidity and influenced by the northeast and southwest monsoons have provided heavy rainfall during the monsoon season. Although the flood issue has been given an important focus under the disaster management implementation in Malaysia, there is critical demand to improve the present flood mitigation management practice to overcome unforeseen flood disaster issues over the long term. The annual occurrence of floods in Malaysia has caused a very big impacts to the lives of humans and other living beings that requires serious attention and better “solution alternative” measures in urban areas. Commentators have remarked that the current urban flood management method, i.e., Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) has not been proven as the long-term best solution to overcome the unforeseen flood disaster issues over the long term. There have been suggestions from the scholars to explore and adopt a new method, i.e., Sponge City concept that is still scarce in Malaysia but has been substantially adopted in China to overcome the urban flood issues. Therefore, this paper is prepared to present the outcome of the study on the comparison between the present Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) and the newly concept of Sponge City with specific reference to the urban flood mitigation management in Malaysia. This study employs a quantitative research strategy to collect primary data from fifty-eight (58) respondents that approximately represents 73% of the entire distributed questionnaires or a total of 80 potential respondents that was identified to meet the specified criteria, with the objective to get their opinions on the comparison between the two competing methods, i.e., the present SMART tunnel, and the newly Sponge City concept for urban flood mitigation management in Malaysia. The findings revealed that the majority of the respondents chose Sponge City because it is greater advantages than the SMART tunnel method to overcome the issues of flood disaster in the urban areas. Although the Sponge City concept could be deemed appropriate for consideration as the new and better flood mitigation management method in Malaysia, it demands a holistic assessment to view the relevancy of Sponge City implementation and its investment over the life span for achieving economic sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Exploration of a New Zakat Management System Empowered by Blockchain Technology in Malaysia

Purpose — This paper aims to examine the implementation of blockchain technology in zakat management and determine how it will work in the context of Malaysia. Although zakat institutions in Malaysia use technology, confidence in the efficiency of the zakat fund is still an ongoing issue. Therefore, the potential of blockchain technology for improving the zakat management system is examined. Design/Methodology/Approach — An exploratory study involving two informants with expertise in blockchain technology and Islamic finance was conducted to investigate how the application of blockchain in the zakat management system will accelerate the future implementation and potential of zakat management in Malaysia. Findings — This research finds an accord between the features of blockchain technology and the objectives of zakat. The features are transparency, traceability and security, which align closely with the goals of zakat. As such, a new model has been proposed for the zakat management system, one empowered by blockchain technology that harmonises with the existing system and enhances these elements. Originality/Value — This research can motivate zakat institutions in Malaysia to implement blockchain technology in their zakat management systems by using the proposed model. The research shows the synchronisation of blockchain principles with zakat, which would build trust and confidence. Practical Implications — The discussion on how blockchain can be embedded in the existing zakat management system will contribute towards enhancing zakat management in Malaysia and improve the performance of zakat institutions, enabling them to better serve the community. Given the scarce literature on blockchain adoption in zakat management, this study can spur further research and discussion within this area.

New variants of AvrPiz-t identified in Pyricularia oryzae from Malaysia

Rice blast disease (causal agent: Pyricularia oryzae) is an important rice disease worldwide as it can cause significant yield loss. Resistance genes in rice can recognise the corresponding avirulence genes (Avr-gene) of P. oryzae and suppress the attack of the pathogen as proposed in ‘gene-for-gene’ interaction. This interaction is highly specific. The resistance will be rapidly breakdown owing to the plasticity of Avr-gene. The breaking down of disease resistance can cause problem in managing the disease as well as sustaining a resistant rice variety. This paper aimed to study and analyse the sequence variation of AvrPiz-t gene from P. oryzae isolates in Malaysia (Sarawak) together with AvrPiz-t sequences available from National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). This study compared the AvrPiz-t haplotype found with previously reported haplotypes. A total of 20 Malaysian P. oryzae isolates were obtained from six divisions of Sarawak and were verified using internal transcribed spacer. Together with seven Malaysian P. oryzae isolates from a previous study, a total of 27 AvrPiz-t gene sequences from Malaysian isolates were successfully amplified and verified. The AvrPiz-t open reading frame (ORF) of 27 Malaysian isolates were aligned with 123 AvrPiz-t ORF from other countries that were available in NCBI database and 100 AvrPiz-t ORF from a previous study (Total = 250 sequences). Unique sequences were identified and translated into amino sequence. The amino acid sequences were aligned with haplotype sequences from previous studies. In total, there were 19 AvrPiz-t haplotypes, with eight newly identified haplotypes. The AvrPiz-t haplotypes were distributed across 14 countries with haplotype H9 as the dominant haplotype. Neutrality tests were performed for the 250 AvrPiz-t ORF sequences. The 250 isolates of P. oryzae were undergoing directional natural selection.. Detached leaf inoculation using filter paper method of selected Malaysia (Sarawak) P. oryzae isolates carrying one of the new AvrPiz-t haplotypes showed different level of pathogenicity towards Sarawak rice landraces. The data obtained serves as baseline information for disease management in Malaysia, especially for Sarawak state. Additionally, the information is also a reference for future rice breeding program in Sarawak.

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY IN THE ZAKAT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: A CONCEPTUAL RESEARCH

The exponential growth of digitalization leads to the involvement of zakat institutions in using technology in their zakat management. Technology usage, whether in collection or distribution, is necessary to ensure more efficient and systematic zakat management that will contribute to social justice. Generally, zakat affairs in Malaysia are governed and managed by states, leading to technology usage in zakat management depending on the state’s law and governance. Blockchain technology, which will be the main focus of the discussion, can also be used for zakat digitization. Various studies also focus on blockchain technology implementation, which is growingly discussed as an effort for zakat digitalization; many zakat issues still need to be addressed among zakat institutions. This includes ineffective collection and distribution and complicated and unsystematic zakat application for the beneficiaries. Thus, this research will focus on blockchain technology to achieve better and more efficient zakat management in Malaysia. Secondary data for this research is collected through multiple references such as books, theses, journals, proceeding papers, annual reports, and related websites. The data collected were analyzed to develop a conceptual framework for effective zakat management through implementing blockchain technology.

Monitoring of three stages of paddy growth using multispectral vegetation index derived from UAV images

Paddy cultivation in Malaysia plays a crucial role in food production, with a focus on improving crop quality and quantity. With current national self-sufficiency levels ranging between 67 and 70%, the Malaysian government intends to produce higher-quality crops and boost agricultural production. However, the prominent paddy-producing state of Kedah has witnessed a decline in yields over the years. To address this, the study explores the effectiveness of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with vegetation indices (VIs) for monitoring paddy plant health at various growth stages. Researchers acquired aerial imagery during two seasons in 2019, capturing three distinct growth stages: tillering (40 days after sowing), flowering (60 days after sowing), and ripening (100 days after sowing). These stages represent critical points in the paddy plant's life cycle. Agisoft Metashape software processed the images to extract VIs data. The study found that the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Blue Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (BNDVI) exhibited over 90% similarity. In contrast, the Normalized Difference Red Edge Index (NDRE), utilizing near-infrared and red-edge light reflections, demonstrated a unique relationship. NDRE outperformed NDVI and BNDVI with an R-squared value of 0.842, showcasing its superior accuracy, especially for dense crops like paddy plants sensitive to subtle changes in vegetation. In conclusion, this research highlights the potential of UAV-based VIs for effectively monitoring paddy plant health during different growth stages. The NDRE index, in particular, proves valuable for assessing dense crops, offering insights for precision agriculture and crop management in Malaysia.

Developing a home-based pulmonary rehabilitation programme for patients with chronic respiratory diseases in Malaysia: A mixed-method feasibility study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of remote healthcare and home-based interventions, including pulmonary rehabilitation, for patients with chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs). It has also heightened the vulnerability of individuals with underlying respiratory conditions to severe illness from COVID-19, necessitating exploration and assessment of the feasibility of delivering home - pulmonary rehabilitation (home-PR) programmes for CRD management in Malaysia and other countries. Home-based programmes offer a safer alternative to in-person rehabilitation during outbreaks like COVID-19 and can serve as a valuable resource for patients who may be hesitant to visit healthcare facilities during such times. We aimed to assess the feasibility of delivering a home-PR programme for patients with CRDs in Malaysia. We recruited patients with CRDs from two hospitals in Klang Valley, Malaysia to a home-PR programme. Following centre-based assessment, patients performed the exercises at home (five sessions/week for eight weeks (total 40 sessions)). We monitored the patients via weekly telephone calls and asked about adherence to the programme. We measured functional exercise capacity (6-Minutes Walking Test (6MWT) and Health-Related Quality-of-Life (HRQoL) (COPD Assessment Test (CAT)) at baseline and post-PR at nine weeks. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 purposively sampled participants to explore views and feedback on the home-PR programme. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically. We included 30 participants; two withdrew due to hospitalisation. Although 28 (93%) adhered to the full programme, only 11 (37%) attended the post-PR assessment because COVID-19 movement restrictions in Malaysia at that time prevented attendance at the centre. Four themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: involvement of family and caregivers, barriers to home-PR programme, interactions with peers and health care professionals, and programme enhancement. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the home-PR programme proved feasible for remote delivery, although centre-based post-PR assessments were not possible. Family involvement played an important role in the home-PR programme. The delivery of this programme can be further improved to maximise the benefit for patients.

Systematic literature review on Malaysia Zakat studies (2011-2023)

The publication of literature on Zakat Malaysia has significantly grown over the years. This study aimed to systematically review and map the literature on publications related to Malaysian Zakat. The study used the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) system in the screening process of articles that were the subject of the study. Of the 447 zakat research articles indexed in the Scopus database, 51 were selected, making Malaysian zakat publications the primary study material. The results of this study revealed the development of studies on Malaysian Zakat based on the number of publications, authors, countries, subject areas, publication sources, and articles cited. This study succeeded in finding three main segments used by researchers to classify Malaysian zakat studies: Distribution, institutional management, and collection. The survey of zakat distribution examined the success obtained from a distribution with a practical and comprehensive process; the study of zakat institutions focused on improving the quality of institutional services and strategies that influenced the preferences and satisfaction of Muslims in paying Zakat. In contrast, the study of zakat collection in Malaysia emphasized that the digitalization system of zakat collection has great potential to achieve more efficient zakat goals. This study examined several new research development directions from the three segments. It is expected to be a reference for zakat researchers in Malaysia to conduct further research and development of zakat management in Malaysia.

A review of bacterial diseases of rice and its management in Malaysia

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the staple foods in the world including Malaysia. Rice production has been affected due to disease infections that is usually destructive and cause many losses to rice productivity. The common bacterial diseases listed in Malaysia include bacterial leaf blight (BLB) (Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae), bacterial leaf streak (BLS) (Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola), sheath brown rot (SBR) (Pseudomonas fuscovaginae) and bacterial panicle blight (BPB) (Burkholderia glumae). Currently, there is less information on the bacterial disease occurrence of rice in Malaysia. Hence, this study aimed to discuss the current report on the severity and the economic losses of rice production due to BLB, BLS, SBR and BPB in Malaysia and the possible management strategies to control the disease that consequently reduce the losses. In general, management strategies for bacterial diseases are challenging due to the lack of suitable chemical control that is not harmful to the environment and human health. Furthermore, other management strategies can be used to control these diseases such as cultural control and biological control. There is a need for the control method to be upgraded to reduce the occurrence of these diseases. All the information provided in this study may contribute as a useful tool for identification of the bacterial disease in paddy fields and as a source of effective strategies to control the disease before it becomes worse.

Optimizing The Best Practice of Building Maintenance Management System (BMMS): Modern Computerized System at Strata Title Residential Property in Malaysia

Investment in building maintenance management is an effective strategy to control the quality of building performance and its condition. In most countries, maintenance activities are based on the basic management concept, which includes planning, monitoring, and controlling. Thus, building maintenance management system (BMMS) should be applied to various types of properties to allocate the relevant maintenance procedures to the specific building that requires the implementation of maintenance activities. Ordinarily, residential property is more concerned with the building maintenance management system (BMMS) due to the well-maintained assets and facilities, while also retaining the building aesthetically to provide an opportunity for future property investment. The value of buildings really depends on their quality and current condition, and this also points out that accurate maintenance activities for residential property in Malaysia provide maximum benefit to the building's performance. However, building maintenance management in Malaysia is mostly based on the conventional system (also known as a paper-based report) rather than the modern computerized system, which makes it ideally difficult to determine the root causes. This commonly proposes inaccurate maintenance activities for strata-title residential buildings. The weaknesses of the current procedure may affect the overall building performance, besides, building defects can also become more critical without any remedial actions from the building owners. Thus, this research will aid in identifying the fundamental shortcomings of paper-based conventional systems and investigating how a modern computerized BMMS might cope with these challenges. However, this study will focus on strata title properties in Peninsular Malaysia. The variables were measured and assessed using a mixed-methods approach that included both qualitative and quantitative components. Twelve (12) building experts from public and private entities, including the public works department (PWD), local authority (LA), and Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), were interviewed using a qualitative technique. The results from semi-structured interviews were analyzed using descriptive and thematic analyses. Then, 125 respondents were given a questionnaire as part of a quantitative approach, and SPSS version 28 was used to examine the results. The findings are expected to highlight the