Pulau Pinang Research Articles

Fostering Nurses’ Support in the Workplace: Addressing Job Burnout Among Malaysian Medical Doctors Working in Public Hospitals

Job burnout in employees is caused by individual factors, including demographic characteristics and nurses’ support. This study analyzed the relationship between nurses’ support and job burnout among medical doctors in Malaysian public hospitals. This research was a correlational study with a cross-sectional design. The research sample was 471 employees, using the non-probability sampling method with the purposive and quota sampling techniques. Data collection used the Abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory (aMBI) and nurses’ support items. The data in this study were analyzed using the Statistical Package Social Science (SPSS) and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) software. Findings suggest that 77 medical doctors who participated in the study were from Hospital Pulau Pinang, from the Emergency Department, mostly female, ranging from 24-56 years old, single, and have an MBBS education level. The study assessed the measurement model’s loading, average variance extracted (AVE), and composite reliability (CR) where the loadings were above 0.60. AVEs were greater than 0.50 and CRs were greater than 0.708. Additionally, the bootstrap BCI LL (-0.079) and UL (-0.002) for nurses’ support and job burnout were not straddled a 0 in between. Job burnout had a negative association with nurses’ support. In particular, nurses’ support towards medical doctors lowers their risk of job burnout, which has a substantial impact on medical doctors’ overall well-being. The findings indicated that medical doctors who had complete support from their nurses performed their jobs more efficiently, displayed good task performance, and experienced less job burnout.

Strategy To Manage Finance For Pertubuhan Masyarakat Indonesia (Permai) In Pulau Pinang Malaysia

Indonesian citizen workers who are members of Pertubuhan Masyarakat Indonesia (PERMAI) in Pulau Pinang Malaysia, which is the object of this community service activity, needs to be equipped with an understanding of how to managing finance properly and correctly as well as how to evaluate financial management. In this way, it is hoped that the participants will be able to improve their standard of living and have sufficient savings for their future. For this reason, the Community Service team from Mercu Buana University Jakarta held Community Service activities. This activity will be carried out offline by making direct visits to Indonesian citizens who are members of the Pertubuhan Masyarakat Indonesia (PERMAI) in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Keywords: manage finance, evaluate financial management.

The Impact of Food Quality and Price Fairness on Re-Patronage Intentions at UiTM Hotel Restaurants

This research delves into the intricate interplay between the quality of food and price fairness and explores how these elements impact customers' inclination to return to UiTM hotel restaurants at the Shah Alam (Selangor Branch), Permatang Pauh (Pulau Pinang Branch), and Dungun (Terengganu Branch) locations. By examining the connection between these factors, this study aims to distinguish the individual influence they have on the likelihood of customers revisiting these establishments. To achieve this, a quantitative methodology was employed, involving the distribution of survey questionnaires to a sample of 366 participants who were patrons of UiTM hotel restaurants. Analysis of the data was conducted using SPSS software, specifically through the application of multiple regression analysis. By analyzing the perceived quality of food and fairness of pricing, this study seeks to illuminate the connections that shape customers' decisions to return to UiTM hotel restaurants. Understanding these relationships is most important for both practitioners and researchers in the hospitality industry, providing insights that can inform strategies for enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty. The findings contribute valuable knowledge, offering a comprehensive understanding of the factors that drive repatronage intentions in the context of UiTM hotel restaurant experiences. Finally, this exploration serves as a foundation for refining business practices and developing stable relationships between restaurants and customers.

Acceptance of Korean Food Culture among Young Generations in Malaysia: Health and Authentic Taste Perspectives

The Korean Wave, also known as Hallyu, has significantly impacted global culture, and has affected people around the world. This influence has also become a trend in Malaysia, where Korean cultural products are widely embraced, especially by the younger generation. The authenticity of Korean flavors is essential for maintaining its unique culinary identity while health-conscious markets around the world have led to a surge in demand for Korean food Therefore, this study aims to assess the consumer acceptance of Korean food in Malaysia, particularly in Sungai Petani, Kedah, and Pulau Pinang. The Korean Wave, which represents the global popularity of South Korean culture since the 2000s, has exerted a considerable influence on various cultural aspects, including cuisine. Through a quantitative survey, data were collected from 150 participants in the northern area, specifically targeting Generations Y and Z through convenience sampling. The collected data was then analyzed for descriptive statistics, and the correlation to test the hypotheses. The results indicate a significant positive correlation between consumer acceptance of Korean food, health perspectives, and authentic taste variables. The findings of this study suggest that increased exposure to Korean culture through the Korean Wave boosts consumer acceptance and purchase intentions for Korean food culture in Malaysia. This information is valuable for marketers and restaurateurs seeking to capture the growing demand for Korean cuisine. This study offers a localized perspective on the global phenomenon of Korean cultural influence and provides practical recommendations for future research.

Exploring Factors Impacting Student Engagement and Performance Towards Work-Based Learning Among Culinary Students

This study explored factors affecting student engagement and performance in Work-Based Learning (WBL) among culinary students at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Cawangan Pulau Pinang Branch, using a qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews with six (6) Diploma Culinary Arts students from the 2019 and 2020 WBL programs were analyzed through thematic analysis. The findings revealed crucial factors influencing engagement and performance. Positive aspects included a strong knowledge base, high discipline, effective time management, and proactive behavior. However, significant barriers such as sexual harassment and unfair treatment by supervisors were identified. The study also highlighted the importance of industry involvement and feedback for successful WBL experiences. To improve the WBL program, it is recommended to enhance collaboration with industry partners, systematically gather feedback, and adopt flexible program designs. Addressing these issues could significantly boost learning outcomes, performance, and overall student engagement in the WBL program.

Incidence of Root-Knot Nematode on Misai Kucing (Orthosiphon stamineus) in Peninsular Malaysia: A New Discovery

A survey was conducted over one and half years to estimate the occurrence of root-knot nematode infestation on Ortosiphon stamineus (misai kucing) in selected locations around Peninsular Malaysia. Infestations were monitored in ten misai kucing plantation areas in Pulau Pinang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Johor, Terengganu, and Kelantan. The survey indicated that misai kucing grown on sandy clay-type soil tends to be more susceptible to heavy root-knot nematode infestation. The highest frequency of disease incidence in which almost all the roots of misaim kucing have a knot-like appearance (100%) was reported from the Batu Kurau area. The other two locations, Ipoh and Pantai Baru, had mild infestations, and these were reported as 16% and 4% incidence. The methodology for access the damage caused by the root-knot nematodes in misai kucing, Meloidogyne gall index and its egg-mass index were calculated and these were found in the range of 1-4. The average egg mass from ten randomly selected stunted misai kucing plants from Batu Kurau was recorded as 599.4, with the highest number of 2274 egg mass per plant. Sampled plants showed the significant presence of Meloidogyne incognita. The root-knot nematodes were morphologically identified based on the perineal patterns of females and the head morphology of both Meloidogyne females and males.

Factors Influencing Employees’ Performances: A Case of Bahang Bay Hotel, Pulau Pinang

Performance is crucial for organisational success. Employees’ performances refer to employees’ abilities to effectively carry out their job obligations and responsibilities. Businesses in the hotel industry often rely on their employees to deliver high-quality services to maintain a competitive advantage. Bahang Bay Hotel in Pulau Pinang received many complaints regarding their staff performance, including unfriendly staff, terrible check-in service, poor customer service responses, and unsatisfactory housekeeping service. Customers’ complaints can harm the hotel’s reputation, causing a decline in the number of hotel guests and increasing the risk of business closure. Effective employee management is essential to prevent employees from feeling overburdened and to motivate them to provide excellent service. Therefore, this research aimed to identify the factors influencing the operational employees’ performance and to determine the most important element that had a major impact on the performance of Bahang Bay Hotel’s employees. A quantitative approach was utilised. An online survey was conducted on 44 hotel employees from various operational departments, including the front office, housekeeping, food and beverage, and food production departments. The study analysed five factors: training, transformational leadership, teamwork, work environment, and performance appraisal. Results showed that transformational leadership and performance appraisal significantly impacted hotel employees’ performances. This finding indicated that transformational leadership is the most important element and has a major impact on performance. In conclusion, these findings provide insights for improving employee management strategies in the hotel industry.

The Stigma and stereotype notions of community towards the urban homeless at Komtar, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

The Stigma and stereotype notions of community towards the urban homeless at Komtar, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Build a Better Personal Abilities for a Sustainable Motivation: a Community Services in Penang, Malaysia

The aim of this community service is to empower informal workers and learning sector facilitators by strengthening the individual potential of the Indonesian Community Association (PERMAI) Pulau Pinang with a differentiated learning approach that favors the informal sector workers themselves, as well as an effort to adapt the adjustment process to the work community which exists. With minimal levels of education and skills, these job seekers have to compete with each other. To alleviate poverty, the government implemented a program to place Indonesian Migrant Workers (TKI) abroad. The government's role in this program is focused on aspects of training, protection and providing various conveniences to related parties, especially TKI and Indonesian Migrant Worker Placement Services Companies (PJTKI). Stage 1: Map and collect data on initial partner conditions; Stage 2, Socialization through discussions with partners regarding implementation preparations, implementation time, members involved and service topics at Partners; Stage 3: Training and empowerment of differentiated learning and learning pattern approaches that focus on increasing productivity levels; Stage 4: Assistance in implementing learning approaches to learning patterns that favor increasing productivity levels; Stage 5: monitor and evaluate all partner activities; Stage 6: Follow-up on program implementation

Data safety prediction using YOLOv7+G3HN for traffic roads

Pulau Pinang has introduced several measures to enhance traffic safety and promote sustainability, including the installation of CCTV systems and the implementation of smart solutions and green technology as part of the Penang 2030 vision, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, despite these efforts, road accidents persist due to non-optimised detection models, incomplete data from manual reporting, and technological constraints in real-time video analysis and predictive modelling. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the YOLOv7+G3HN framework for vehicle detection and near-miss analysis, with a focus on the influence of video quality on detection performance. The research aims to understand how high- and low-quality video inputs affect the accuracy and computational efficiency of detection algorithms. High[1]quality videos resulted in significantly faster computation times for vehicle detection than low-quality videos, highlighting the importance of video resolution in optimising detection processes. Despite the robustness of the algorithm, with no errors detected in both video qualities, higher miss detection rates in low-quality videos suggest that lower resolution may compromise detection accuracy and the effectiveness of monitoring systems. Near-miss analysis revealed that high-quality videos had a lower probability of near-miss occurrences than low-quality videos, highlighting the importance of video resolution for detection efficacy. These findings emphasise the critical role of high-resolution video inputs in enhancing detection accuracy and reliability, advocating for their implementation to optimise vehicle detection and improve road safety. Additionally, YOLOv7+G3HN outperforms YOLOv7 in both accuracy and speed. The study concludes that the YOLOv7+G3HN framework is effective for vehicle detection and near-miss analysis, provided that video quality is considered in system design and implementation.

How Do You Measure Up? Exploring students' perceptions of peer- and self- assessment

Self-and-peer assessments have been shown to be effective in improving the writing skills of ESL learners. In this study, 87 pre-diploma students at Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Pulau Pinang completed a self-and peer-assessment checklist for an essay writing assignment. A survey and a focused group discussion of 5 students found that they felt the checklist helped them to be critical, independent, confident, and better organized when writing essays. Although some students found the checklist challenging and time-consuming, most of them felt that the checklist is beneficial and enjoyable to use.

Enhancing Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Health and Well-Being) through Timely HIV Case Presentation: A Study in Pulau Pinang, 2017–2021

Enhancing Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Health and Well-Being) through Timely HIV Case Presentation: A Study in Pulau Pinang, 2017–2021

Yoga for Adult Health

ABSTRACT Yoga is an exercise that combines mind, spirit and body. This yoga combines breathing techniques, physical postures, relaxation and meditation. The aim of this community service is to improve the health of teenagers. This community service activity starts from the preparation stage, distributing questionnaires for pre-tests, explaining the purpose, benefits of yoga, steps for yoga exercises, and doing yoga exercises. Next, participants were given a questionnaire to assess the post-test. This activity was carried out in collaboration between the University of Muhammadiyah Malang and UiTM Cawangan Pulau Pinang Bertam Campus at the Az Zahra orphanage in Bandar Laguna Merbok, Sungai Tani, Kedah, Malaysia. Showed significant resultsthat teenagers understood the importance of yoga for health and they carried out the steps of yoga exercises. Yoga is very beneficial for the health of teenagers. It is best to do yoga every day to maintain both physical and psychological health in teenagers, so that health is maintained well. Keywords: Yoga, Adult, Physic, Psychology

Pemberdayaan Peladang dalam Peningkatan Kompetensi dan Strategi Bisnis di Kawasan Seri Pulau, Penang, Malaysia

The partners in this international community service program are representatives of farmers who are members of the Regional Farmers Association (PPK) Seri Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. The issues that partners have identified as requiring attention are as follows: (1) There is a lack of understanding among partners of how to improve existing competencies in order to develop a business; (2) There are no business strategy seminars conducted by international universities with the specific aim of empowering farmers; (3) There is no forum for discussion between academics and business actors. The aforementioned partner problem was addressed through the implementation of three proposed solutions, namely: (1) the organization of high-quality competency improvement seminars for farmers; (2) the organization of an international community service seminar for farmers in collaboration with PPK, UiTM Cawangan Pulau Penang, and 12 Indonesian universities that are members of the ASEAN Academic Association; and (3) the establishment of discussion forums at PPK Seri Pulau Penang and several business centers for farmers.

The Business of Governing Penang: Workarounds as Remedy?

The state of Penang, including city councils for island Pulau Pinang (with urban-core George Town) and mainland Seberang Perai, has negotiated at least a degree of political marginalisation since independence. Ruled previously by a secondary partner in the ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front), and since 2008, by the Democratic Action Party and its coalition partners, the economically powerful state has negotiated constrained autonomy and resources. While to some extent, these governing challenges are common to all states in Malaysia's highly centralised federation, in other ways, they reflect Penang's specific political position. Penang's leadership has sought in particular ways to circumvent inertia or divided loyalties among bureaucrats from the federal, rather than a state-level, civil service. Central to that solution has been reliance on an array of state government-linked corporations, facilitating administration, but at possible cost to clear accountability, transparency, and promised empowerment of civil society.

Awareness of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Education among Primary & Secondary School Students in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Awareness of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Education among Primary & Secondary School Students in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

THE IMPACT OF “PERISIK KECIL” A GAME-BASED LEARNING ON STUDENT’S SELF-EFFICACY TOWARDS SCIENCE LEARNING

Self-efficacy plays a crucial role in academic success and overall well-being. This study investigated the potential of game-based learning (GBL) to enhance self-efficacy in Form Four students from a secondary school in Seberang Perai Selatan, Pulau Pinang. By gaining insight into students' self-efficacy profiles, educators can adapt their teaching strategies, provide targeted support and create a positive learning environment that promotes self- confidence and performance in science tasks. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics and, Pearson’s correlation. Following a GBL activity, 59 students completed a general self-efficacy (GSE) survey. Descriptive analysis revealed an average GSE score (M = 3.10, SD = 0.65), indicating that students have average self-efficacy when trying to solve the game’s problems. Pearson’s correlation analysis identified significant positive correlations between items focussing on confidence in academic and non-academic tasks, suggesting a holistic strengthening of self-efficacy through GBL. This study lays the groundwork for further research exploring how specific GBL design elements impact different aspects of self-efficacy and contribute to long-term learning outcomes.

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS ON GOOD QUALITIES OF AN EDUCATOR AND ONLINE LEARNING

Educators’ competence and teaching quality have positive correlations with students’ academic performance. Nonetheless, the ideal educators’ personal and teaching qualities within the landscape of Malaysian tertiary education setting remains elusive. Effective characteristics of online teaching also warrant exploration given the future widespread use of online and distance learning (ODL). This study aimed to (1) determine university students’ perceptions on good qualities of an educator and (2) explore ideal traits of an educator while implementing ODL during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study using pre-validated questionnaire was conducted virtually using Google form between May and August 2022 among students attending Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Pulau Pinang. A total of 126 respondents completed the survey. Findings revealed unanimous agreement among students on educators needing to be credible, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, considerate, unbiased, and equipped with a systematic lesson plan. Overall, 64.3% of respondents (n = 81) were satisfied with the ODL implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most likely contributing cause to students’ satisfaction was due to the flexibility of ODL. In contrast, poor internet connection and overwhelming assignments which compromised students’ well-being were the major contributing causes of dissatisfaction in ODL. Furthermore, most students valued the educators’ interpersonal characteristics namely compassion and empathetic as well as approaches such as providing continuous motivation and moral support essential in encouraging their online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study had successfully revealed university students perceived good personal and teaching qualities of an educator. The findings also shed light on educators’ ideal interpersonal characteristics that were deemed essential in helping students to cruise through the ebb and flow of virtual learning during a pandemic. Additionally, the study highlighted both positive and negative perspectives on ODL implementation, providing valuable insights for educators to enhance both physical and virtual learning experiences.

KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES OF SKIN CARE AMONG PHARMACY STUDENTS

Skin care is integral for maintaining skin health and functionality, involving routines like cleansing, moisturising, and appropriate photoprotection. Pharmacy students, as future healthcare providers, play a crucial role to influence public perceptions and behaviours regarding skin health. Furthermore, an efficacious skin care regimen can have a positive impact on students’ quality of life which in turn can potentially affect their academic performance. To evaluate the awareness and practices related to skin care, a cross-sectional survey was conducted online among 154 Diploma of Pharmacy students at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Cawangan Pulau Pinang. The survey employed a mix of close-ended and open-ended questions to assess participants' knowledge regarding skin care, with data analysed using IBM SPSS software version 22. Among the 154 respondents, 80.5% were female, and the remaining 19.5% were male, with ages ranging from 19 to 23 years. A notable 95% of students recognised the importance of appropriate skin care for cleansing and moisturising, while 67.5% reported adhering to a proper daily skin care routine. Most agreed that improper practices could lead to various skin issues. Additionally, while 33.8% were unaware of the ideal sunscreen protection, 66.2% knew it should range between SPF 30 to 50. The majority relied heavily on the internet (95.5%) and influencers (74.7%) for skin care information. In terms of practice, students commonly washed their hands before skin care, and a significant portion (66%) believed that ideally, the face should be washed twice or more daily. Furthermore, 75.3% used cosmetic products, with the primary skin care products being cleansers (92.9%), sunscreen (84.4%), and moisturisers (77.9%). In conclusion, the study indicates satisfactory levels of knowledge and practice regarding skin care among participating students. Nonetheless, there is an opportunity to introduce additional educational programs aimed at enhancing students' understanding of appropriate skin care practices.

Comparison of Grain Corn Production Performance Between Zero-Tillage and Conventional Tillage at MARDI Seberang Perai

Grain corn is one of the ingredients for formulating animal feed, especially for poultry. Recently, Malaysia has given a higher priority for grain corn to be produced locally due to high import costs. Malaysia imported 3.7 million metric tonnes of corn worth approximately RM 3 billion in 2020-2021. However, locally produced grain corn faces high production costs. The main contributors to the high costs are mechanisation services and agricultural input. Agricultural input costs, such as seeds, fertilisers, herbicides, and pesticides, are very dependent on market prices that can go up or down and are difficult to control. Tillage, or land preparation, is the most expensive mechanisation service for grain corn production. Conventional tillage involves three operations; ploughing, harrowing, and rotary tillage. These operations cost at least RM900 per hectare. A zero-tillage planting system does not require any tillage. Therefore, a study was conducted to see the performance of zero-tillage as compared to conventional tillage in terms of final yield produced at MARDI Seberang Perai, Pulau Pinang. A randomised plot design experiment with 3 replications on plot sizes of 20 × 15 m each was used. All agronomic practices such as fertiliser requirement, pest and weed control, and irrigation were the same for both. The difference was only in the tillage practice where conventional tillage involved 3 tillage operations, ploughing, harrowing, and rotary tilling while there was no tillage operation needed for a zero-tillage planting system. The final yields were analysed using T-test statistical analysis. The yields recorded at 14 % moisture for zero-tillage and conventional tillage were 6.32 ± 0.9 and 6.62 ± 0.6 metric tonnes, respectively. No significant differences were found by t-test analysis with a p-value of more than 0.05. This shows that zero-tillage has the potential to be implemented in Malaysia to reduce the cost of grain corn production by eliminating tillage operations which can save up to RM900 per hectare. Further study for various types of soil shall be conducted to categorise suitable soil for the planting system.