Parts Of Malaysia Research Articles

The Quran Manuscripts in Indonesia: A Historical Review

Codicology, the study of written manuscripts, plays a vital role in understanding the history of human civilization, particularly in the context of the development and preservation of Quranic manuscripts. The Nusantara region, which includes Indonesia and parts of Malaysia, boasts a rich tradition of Quranic manuscript production and copying. This research seeks to explore the codicological history of Quranic manuscripts in the Nusantara, focusing on their origins, evolution, regional differences, and significance in the religious and cultural lives of Muslim communities in the area. The research methodology includes analyzing various historical sources, such as existing Quranic manuscripts, historical records, academic studies, and other primary materials. The data collected is examined to identify patterns, trends, and regional distinctions. The findings reveal that the codicological history of Quranic manuscripts in the Nusantara mirrors the region's cultural diversity and the deep-rooted Islamic traditions. These manuscripts originate from various regions and showcase a wide range of writing styles, decorative elements, and materials, shaped by influences such as cultural interactions, technological progress, and local preferences. Understanding this history better can contribute to preserving the cultural and religious heritage of the Nusantara and enhance knowledge of Islamic civilization in the region.

Optimization of Warehouse Operations for Upstream Service Companies in the Oil & Gas Industry: A Case Study of XYZ Company

The oil and gas (O&G) sector drives various parts of Malaysia's economy and accounts for 19% of government revenue in 2021. The volatility of oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic problem in recent years has taught O&G enterprises, especially upstream players, to focus on business needs and employ cost optimization techniques to compete and survive uncertain circumstances. This study seeks to analyze and describe the warehouse operations setup of an onshore supply base service organization that manages and maintains offshore O&G facilities. This study examines space utilization variables from several supply chain perspectives, particularly operations performance. Semi-structured interviews, site observations, and documentation review are used to collect data for the single-case study. The study findings suggest the organization under study has a basic warehouse setup with lean operations staff to complete business functions. In general, the warehouse arrangement for the organization under investigation is comparable to a distribution center, where 70% of warehouse activities comprise, material receiving, handling, and distribution (loading) to several offshore locations. Findings also showed that two factors, namely: material handling flow and movement, and inventory movement affect warehouse space utilization. The volume of material handled by the warehouse based on business demand, as well as the seasonal trend from offshore activities contribute to the frequency of material loading and impact the material throughput and transit time, which were found to have an impact on space utilization too.

The Appreciation of Tattoo Art among Malaysian

Tattoo art, once considered a taboo in many parts of Malaysia, is increasingly being recognized as a form of personal expression and artistic appreciation. This paper explores the evolving perceptions of tattoos within Malaysian society, emphasizing the factors contributing to their growing acceptance. Historically, tattoos were often linked to indigenous rituals, gang affiliations, or negative stereotypes. However, globalization, exposure to different cultures, and the rise of social media have shifted these perceptions, fostering a more nuanced appreciation of tattoo artistry. Through interviews, surveys, and analysis of tattoo-related media content, this study investigates the diverse motivations behind Malaysians’ decisions to get tattoos, including self-expression, cultural identity, and aesthetic appeal. The findings suggest that while conservative views persist, particularly among older generations and certain religious communities, a significant portion of younger Malaysians view tattoos as a legitimate art form. This demographic shift is influenced by the increasing visibility of tattoo artists, both local and international, who highlight the skill and creativity involved in tattooing. Furthermore, the study discusses the role of tattoo conventions and exhibitions in fostering a community of appreciation and learning. These events provide platforms for Malaysians to explore tattoo designs that resonate with their personal and cultural narratives, challenging traditional stigmas associated with body art. The paper concludes by suggesting that as societal norms continue to evolve, the appreciation of tattoo art in Malaysia will likely expand, reflecting broader global trends toward the normalization of body art as a personal and artistic choice.

Road Accident Proneness among Motorcyclist in Malaysia: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Concern has been expressed by people living in all parts of Malaysia regarding the high number of traffic accidents. This study demonstrates that a mix of human qualities may be responsible for the increase in the accident rate experienced by motorcyclists while they are travelling on public roadways. There is a possibility that human factors, such as riding anger, riding attitude, and a lack of mindfulness, are the most common causes of motorcycle accidents. Research on the frequency of traffic accidents in Malaysia is still in its preliminary stages. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between riding anger, riding attitude, mindful driving, and the likelihood of being involved in a road accident. This investigation makes use of a quantitative methodology by means of a questionnaire that is disseminated to customers who are shopping at licenced Yamaha dealers in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. The findings of structural equation modelling indicate that factors such as riding anger, riding attitude, and mindfulness have a significant impact on the likelihood of being involved in a road accident. The explanation of the current study, which includes both theoretical and practical relevance, as well as suggestions for reducing the number of accidents involving people who use roads, is presented here.

Statistical Analysis of Temporal Variations in Patterns of Rainfall and Temperature in the Klang Valley

Malaysia is in the equatorial zone and experiences hot and humid climates throughout the year. During the rainy season, floods may occur in some parts of Malaysia, including the Klang Valley. During the flood occurrences, the residents may need to leave their houses and move to relief shelters. This disaster may happen because of the continuous heavy downpour in the area. Both incidents can be connected to climate change, and one way to investigate this is to examine differences in daily rainfall and daily temperature patterns through time. Climate change is inevitable and one of the causes is known as 'anthropogenic' in which it is caused by human activities. Geological records can provide evidence of climate change. However, there has been little statistical research on climate change in the Klang Valley. Even official organisations like the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia (DID) and the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM) have not conducted this area of study. The goal of this study is to evaluate climate change in the Klang Valley using statistical analysis of temporal rainfall patterns. The data collection and statistical analysis are two critical parts of this study. Rainfall and average temperature data were obtained from their respective departments and websites. These data were sorted and filtered accordingly to get a satisfactory value for the analysis. Then, the correlation test and analysis of variance were conducted to find the relation between these data points. The results of this analysis were used to determine whether the variations in rainfall patterns in the Klang Valley are caused by climate change or otherwise. In addition to this, the statistical outputs indicate that there is a statistically significant finding in both data sets in which the decreasing temperatures may result in increasing rainfall and warmer conditions may lessen the rainfall. Surprisingly, the findings contradicted the expected outcome of this study, and it is believed that external factors are the primary contributors to these findings.

PROJECT-ORIENTED PROBLEM BASED LEARNING (POPBL): AN INITIATIVE TO ENHANCE SELF-ESTEEM AMONG ORPHANS

Self-esteem is embodied by a person when he feels capable of handling life's basic challenges and being worthy of happiness. Countless studies unfortunately indicated that orphans are often deficient of this quality. This paper explores and discusses the implementation of Project-Oriented Problem Based Learning (POPBL) in an orphanage to boost the participants’ self-esteem. The study involved 32 male orphans aged 9 to 16 years old, coming from diverse backgrounds and originated from various parts of Malaysia. Participants were divided into three groups of 11 and 10 members, and each led by a male supervisor or warden. Each group was required to manage and participate in a program called “Sayyidul Ayyam’. The program took place on specified Fridays, and all three POPBL sessions were completed within two months. Each orphan in each group was entrusted with specific roles such as master of ceremony (MC), reciter of the Quran, reciter of the meaning of the Quran, storytellers, Nasyid presenters and finally Doa reciter. Each group was given two weeks to practice prior to their designated Friday and were given the freedom to choose their own roles, their own nasyid etc. Participants’ self-esteem levels were assessed using The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) before and after completing their tasks. To ensure RSES items were understood by minor participants, individual interviews were conducted to collect data. The RSES uses a scale of 0–30, where a score less than 15 suggested low self-esteem. The findings indicated that after completing the POPBL program, 62.63% (N=20) of the participants demonstrated improved self-esteem, 21.22% (N=7) reported no change, and 15.15% (N=5) experienced a decrease in their self-esteem level. The findings were shared with the Pahang Orphan Welfare Association (PEKAYA) aiming to facilitate its members to adopt the Problem-Based Project-Based Learning (POPBL) module as a tool to strengthen their residents’ self-esteem.

Narrative of Malaysian modernity: COVID-19, Malay women portrayals and popular television serials

Academic studies often explore the dynamics between Malay women and popular culture within the context of Malaysian modernity. Researchers commonly investigate resistance to the government’s moral initiatives for women in society. This article examines how popular culture, specifically serial television drama, depicts the portrayal of Malay women during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on the concepts of obedience, disobedience, and control. The government’s “Duduk Rumah” [Stay at home] and “Kita Jaga Kita” [We take care of ourselves] campaigns, initiated by then Prime Minister Muhyidin Yassin to combat the COVID-19 epidemic, placed additional burdens on women, assigning them significant domestic responsibilities as household managers, including the well-being and education of their children, as well as maintaining family cohesion. We argue that these targeted government policies exacerbated the concerns and uncertainties experienced by Malay women during lockdowns. Furthermore, we contend that the government demonstrated less sensitivity, care, or coordination in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to an increase in domestic violence, divorce, depression, and emotional stress among Malay women. These challenges were prominently depicted in Malay television serials, serving as a vital platform for contemplating the impact of the government’s moral initiatives on Malay women. Our research offers insights into the enduring progress, or lack thereof, in the status of women both within and beyond the domestic sphere, as part of Malaysia’s pursuit of modernity.

Kajian Mengenai Tahap Pencahayaan Siang di Pusat Jagaan Demensia di Malaysia

Thoughtful design can provide a therapeutic solution for people with dementia in both assisted and independent living facilities. Considerations that create a dementia-inclusive environment include layout design, incorporation of sensory cues, signage system, levels of visibility, and lighting systems. As those with dementia are prone to wandering, design which facilitates wayfinding is crucial in their daily lives. Hence, visibility and lighting are essential to support wayfinding and promote independence amongst those with dementia besides reducing the risk of falls. Indoor daylight settings and adequate levels of illumination are vital as they compensate for the cognitive deterioration that people with dementia experience. Therefore, this paper aims to study the existing conditions of daylight in dementia care facilities. The outcome of this paper summarizes the current state of daylighting implementation in the Malaysian context through first-hand experiments at three different dementia centres, located in different parts of Malaysia. At each centre, daylight levels are recorded hourly throughout daylit hours within a period of one day. The data recorded is cross-referenced with daylight requirements outlined in Malaysian Standards 1525:2019. The findings of this paper suggest that on the whole, communal spaces, namely dining areas and activity spaces receive sufficient or excessive daylight, while private spaces, such as the bedroom receives either adequate or insufficient daylight levels.

Cost effectiveness of quadrivalent influenza vaccines in the elderly population of Malaysia

The economic burden of influenza is a significant issue within healthcare system, related to higher medical costs particularly among the elderly. Yet, influenza vaccination rates in the elderly in Malaysia were considerably low as it is not part of Malaysia’s national immunization program, with substantial mortality and morbidity consequences. Therefore, we conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis of quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) for the elderly in Malaysia compared with the current no-vaccination policy. A static cost-utility model, with a lifetime horizon based on age, was used for the analysis to assess the cost-effectiveness and health outcomes associated with QIV. Univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to test the effects of variations in the parameters. The use of QIV in Malaysia’s elderly population would prevent 66,326 potential influenza cases and 888 potential deaths among the elderly, leading to 10,048 potential quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained. The QIV would also save over USD 4.4 million currently spent on influenza-related hospitalizations and reduce productivity losses by approximately USD 21.6 million. The ICER per QALY gained from a third-party payer’s perspective would be USD 2216, which is lower than the country’s gross domestic product per capita. A QIV-based vaccination program in the elderly was found to be highly cost-effective, therefore would reduce the financial burden of managing influenza and reduce pre-mature death related to this disease.

Teachers' Behavioral Intention and Acceptance of Technology-Based System Intervention Among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

The fourth pillar of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is 'Quality education' to provide peace and prosperity to the world population; in addition, Special Education Reforms under the Malaysian government scope are influenced by the 'Shared Prosperity Vision 2030'. Special needs education underlines the importance of technological integration in the learning environment to support the communication, teaching, and learning needs of neurodiverse learners. The teachers are an intermediatory link between the learners and their parents and caregivers. Technological advancements assist educators in transforming the educational needs of neurodiverse learners at all academic levels. The early intervention-based teaching and learning process is advocated worldwide, as it has shown positive cues toward neurodiverse learners, especially those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, very little is known about the perception and behavior of teachers toward acceptance of technology-based intervention. Therefore, to bridge the identified gap in academic literature, this study explores the teachers' behavioral intentions concerning technology for teaching children with ASD. A conceptual framework has been developed based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 model (UTAUT2) and other recent studies to address the problem and identify possible stakeholder solutions. The developed hypothesis will be tested later through a survey-based self-administered questionnaire among the special education teachers in different parts of Malaysia and after the data analysis is performed using SmartPLS 3.2.6. The pre-test and pilot study results affirm the positive viability of the study for continued future work.

Soil Detachment Rate of a Rainfall-Induced Landslide Soil

In recent decades, the number of rainfall-induced landslides has increased significantly in many parts of Malaysia, especially in the urbanized and hilly areas. The disturbance of hilly morphology as a result of human activities has increased the potential for erosion on man-made slopes, especially during extreme rainfall during rain events. Most hilly areas in Malaysia are covered by a thick layer of soil, which is known to have a significant impact on soil erosion. However, little is known about how soil erosion and rainfall could be the driving force behind landslide initiation, especially on stabilized slopes. Therefore, this study focuses on the soil detachment rate of landslides triggered by rainfall at different rainfall intensities. A sandbox model is used to represent real slope conditions. The relationship between the soil detachment capacity, soil properties (water content, slope, clay layers and soil compaction), hydraulic parameters (flow shear stress and stream power) and rainfall intensities (low, medium and high) was investigated. The results showed that the hydraulic parameters and the rainfall intensity are directly proportional to the detachment rate of the soil. Water content and slope show a higher soil detachment rate and a lower critical flow shear stress than other soil properties. It can be concluded that high saturation and steep slope increase the risk of soil erosion because the cohesion and friction of the soil are significantly reduced, leading to a weakening of the soil structure at the surface. The results of this study can feed into the existing analysis of slope stability and formulate the onset of a landslide triggered by rainfall, especially in eroded soils.

Fire risk assessment of Malaysia public hospital buildings

Fire risk assessment of Malaysia public hospital buildings

ASSESSING THE VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF ADAPTED QUESTIONNAIRES EXAMINING MALAYSIAN SCHOOL STUDENTS’ E-LEARNING PERCEPTIONS, PARTICIPATION, AND COPING STRATEGIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

This study aims to assess the validity and reliability of research instruments to investigate the level of Malaysian students’ participation in E-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, examine their perceptions towards virtual learning, and propose strategies to increase students’ participation in online classes. The content validity of the research instruments was established by two e-learning experts, while the face validity was examined by seven school students. The adapted questionnaires and interview questions were modified based on the feedback obtained from the two-stage validity process. As for the reliability test, a simple random sampling method was employed, where a Google form was shared with school students with the help of their teachers at a particular school in Tuaran, Sabah, Malaysia. Out of the 43 students, who responded to the questionnaire, 29 were secondary school students while 14 belonged to primary school students; most of them were Year-6 students. Results demonstrated that Cronbach's alpha of the adapted questionnaires is 0.81, which indicates that the instrument is highly reliable and ready for data collection for the real study. This study highlights the need to develop a research scale that can cover the various aspects of e-learning participation among students, including the online and offline modes. Further research is recommended to examine the level of participation in online classes and perceptions towards e-learning among students in other parts of Malaysia as well as other regions.

Hazard Assessment and Modeling of Erosion and Sea Level Rise under Global Climate Change Conditions for Coastal City Management

Sea-level rise in response to climate change and global warming severely impacts coastal cities through increased soil erosion and other hazards. Therefore, simulating threats in coastal locations is critical for coastal city management and planning. The Nonlinear Autoregressive Exogenous-Neural Network (NARX-NN) was used in conjunction with the Bruun model and GIS methods to estimate the rate of sea-level rise, develop a coastal erosion model and coastal hazards maps, and simulate a sea-level increase with a maximum speed of 79.26 mm/year, and an average of about 25.34 mm/year, with a 1.48 m/year average erosion rate simulated from 2013 to 2020 along Merang kechil to Kuala Marang in Terengganu state coastal areas. According to the Bruun model, the areas most vulnerable to shoreline erosion are Kuala Nerus, Pendagan Buluh, and Kuala Ibai. Batu Rakit (Reach 1) has the highest rate of coastal erosion, at 28.16%, compared to 16.5 percent in Kuala Nerus (Reach 2) and 19.1% in Pengadang Buluh (Reach 3). The findings of this study might be utilized to build new coastal hazard erosion maps in a GIS framework, which could then be used as part of Malaysia’s East Coast zone vulnerability assessment. The findings may also aid in the prioritization of conservation efforts in afflicted areas or the decision to adapt to the effects of coastal erosion. This article presents a methodological framework and an erosion management prioritization system to help coastal managers, planners, and developers identify hazardous zones and improve coastal management plans using geospatial models.

Determinants of Financial Risk Tolerance: An Analysis of Psychological Factors

Financial risk tolerance is a complex process that goes beyond the exclusive use of demographic characteristics. Despite the necessity of developing a comprehensive financial risk tolerance measurement model, the psychological factors that might be important have been long overlooked. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of psychological factors on financial risk tolerance level. The sample (n = 1204) comprises university students from different parts of Malaysia. Significant financial risk tolerance differences are found as a function of gender and race. Students with high financial risk tolerance (FRT) are found to be positively correlated with the propensity for regret, the propensity for trust, the propensity to attribute success to luck, the propensity for overconfidence, and the propensity for social interaction, but not with happiness in life. These findings highlight the importance of individual propensities in assessing the financial risk tolerance level of a person. This study will act as an aid to financial advisors in understanding the behavior and attitudes of their clients.

Political & Cultural Synthesis: A New Paradigm of Southeast Asia

According to Croissant & Lorenz, Southeast Asia as a region is an extraordinarily diverse collection of states, which vary widely in history, demographics, culture, economy, political systems, and the political challenges they face. Geographically, Southeast Asia is divided into an insular or maritime region, comprising Brunei, Indonesia, parts of Malaysia, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste, and a mainland or continental part, including Burma, Cambodia, Laos, the Malay Peninsula, and Vietnam (Croissant & Lorenz, 2018). Political and cultural synthesis can be seen in the way that Southeast Asian states have adapted to various external influences and internal challenges over time. Political and cultural synthesis can also be seen in the way that Southeast Asian societies have developed their forms of nationalism, identity, and civil society that reflect their diverse ethnic, religious, and linguistic backgrounds. The paper argues that political and cultural synthesis is a key feature and process of Southeast Asia, which is the result of the historical interactions and influences among different religions, cultures, and regions within and outside Asia. The paper analyzes various examples of cultural synthesis in Southeast Asian literature and cinema, and how they reflect and contribute to the diversity and complexity of the region. The text argues that this is a key feature and process of Southeast Asia, which is the result of the historical interactions and influences among different religions, cultures, and regions within and outside Asia. The text analyzes various examples of cultural synthesis in Southeast Asian literature and cinema, and how they reflect and contribute to the diversity and complexity of the region. Southeast Asia is divided into an insular or maritime region, comprising Brunei, Indonesia, parts of Malaysia, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste, and a mainland or continental part, including Burma, Cambodia, Laos, the Malay Peninsula, and Vietnam.

Developing Ijarah-Sustainable and Responsible Investment Sukuk (I-SRIS) Framework for the Development of Health Infrastructure in East Malaysia

There is still a part of Malaysia that still does not have the privilege to access all the healthcare benefits offered by the Malaysia government. Therefore, there is a demanding need to find alternative model that could help in funding to build the health facilities in East Malaysia. This study will propose a framework using an innovative sukuk model that could help in financing the development of health facilities. This research is using a secondary research method, which adopts desk research. Literature from the past research on the issue of financing health services and accessibility to health facilities in rural areas especially in East Malaysia are critically analyzed to establish the new proposed framework. This paper is developing an Ijarah- Sustainable and Responsible Investment Sukuk (I-SRIS) Framework as a source to financing the development of health infrastructure and facilities in East Malaysia. This study will provide some insights for the government, regulators, health administrators, corporations and policymakers about the alternatives to fund and develop health facilities.

Inter-imperial, Ecological Interpretations of the “Five Coolies” Myth in Penang and Medan

Abstract This article proposes resource extraction politics as a lens to analyze the relationship between Malaysian Chinese (or Mahua) literature and the global literary economy. Rather than ascribe Mahua literature to its present national boundaries and diasporic communities, the article locates its formation in inter-imperial nodes of trafficked labor and art production, as well as a global system of colonial plantations. The article revisits Zeng Huading's 曾華丁 (1906–1942) short story (1928) and Ba Ren's 巴人 (1901–1972) historical drama (1949) about the myth of five Chinese coolies and their execution in 1871 for murdering a Dutch foreman in a Deli tobacco plantation in East Sumatra. The Anglo-Dutch migration corridor, or the cross-straits coolie trade between the two imperial jurisdictions of Penang (Straits Settlements) and Medan (East Sumatra), now part of Malaysia and Indonesia respectively, was one Nanyang connection, but these writers have been discussed separately within Mahua and Yinhua 印華 (Indonesian Chinese) contexts. Ba Ren, in particular, is studied as a leftist writer who contributed artistically to the Indonesian and Chinese revolutions in the 1940s and 1950s. Here, the article rethinks Ba Ren's legacy within a Mahua corpus, and Zeng Huading's fiction within a cross-straits history of labor. This ecological reading of their works also highlights their critique of Mahua's peripheralization within a world economy and global literature.

Potential of rainwater harvesting in wilayah persekutuan Malaysia

Although Malaysia has abundant water resources, some parts of Malaysia are currently facing water shortage problems. The increasing demand for water has sparked initiatives to seek alternative water supplies. Rainwater harvesting has been proposed by governments as part of the solution to alleviate the problem of water scarcity. Literature related to rainwater harvesting is available from a variety of sources. In this study, rainfall was analysed as a crucial factor affecting RWHS efficiency, rainwater potential at different zones for residential, industrial, and commercial. In addition, the study evaluated the rainwater quality that obtain fresh rainfall and roof rainfall. Furthermore, potential of treatment technology for rainwater was suggested to optimate rainwater harvesting.

The Unique Tradition of Timber Shophouses in Sarawak

ABSTRACT Rendered, whitewashed masonry shophouses are a common vernacular type in Southeast Asia’s urban heritage districts. There were, however, parallel vernacular timber shophouse traditions where brick was not available. In much of nineteenth-century Sarawak, local timbers were used for structural frames, joinery, wall cladding and roofing shingles. Even when bricks became available, timber approaches were not completely replaced. Although timber shophouses are now uncommon in Southeast Asia’s large cities due to modernisation and development, outstation Sarawak is a rich repository of pre-1960 examples. Shophouse development in Sarawak was non-linear, with modern and vernacular approaches pursued contemporaneously. While timber construction was necessary due to the lack of bricks outside of the capital, Kuching, it is also because of the government’s unique approach to governance, hygiene, building regulation and approaches to representation before World War Two. Despite their ubiquity and longevity in many parts of Malaysia, timber shophouse types have generally been left out of national architectural historiographies This paper begins to address this gap by interrogating the architectural development of shophouses in Sarawak, within the context of the history of the type’s architecture and construction in Malaysia and Singapore.