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Purpose: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is common among populations globally, and in Asia and Malaysia. The purpose of this Position Paper is to propose recommendations for both clinicians and non-clinicians to promote vitamin D sufficiency in Malaysian adults. Formation of a national multisector, multidisciplinary alliance is also proposed to progress initiatives relating to safe sun exposure, adequate vitamin D intake through food fortification, and vitamin D supplementation for high-risk groups. Methods: Literature reviews were undertaken to inform summaries of the following: vitamin D status globally and in Asian and Malaysian populations, vitamin D status among individuals with common medical conditions, and current recommendations to achieve vitamin D sufficiency through sun exposure, food intake and supplementation. Recommendations were based on the findings of the literature reviews, recent European guidance on vitamin D supplementation, the 2018 road map for action on vitamin D in low- and middle-income countries, and research recommendations proposed by the Malaysian Ministry of Health in 2017. Results: Recommendations on assessment of vitamin D in the adult Malaysian population include using serum or plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration as a biomarker, widespread participation by Malaysian laboratories in the Vitamin D Standardization Program, adoption of the US Endocrine Society definitions of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, and development of a comprehensive nationwide vitamin D status study. Specific high-risk groups are identified for vitamin D assessment and recommendations relating to loading doses and ongoing management are also made. Conclusion: This Position Paper provides individual clinicians and national stakeholder organisations with clear recommendations to achieve vitamin D sufficiency in the adult population of Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, bio-bibliometric analysis has been carried out among prominent figures in different fields. However, no such analysis was done for researchers from the Institute for Medical Research (IMR), Ministry of Health, Malaysia. This paper seeks to fill the void by examining Dr. Lim Boo Liat, who began his career as a temporary lab technician at IMR and went on to become a prominent zoologist in Malaysia. The search for his publication was carried out through an online search using the Google Scholar, Scopus Web of Science, and ResearchGate databases, in addition to the investigation of the second document in the Institute for Medical Research and Wildlife and National Parks Department of Peninsular Malaysia (PERHILITAN) library. The study found that in his 70 years of research experience, he had published more than 350 publications as scientific papers, books, proceedings, and technical reports. However, this study is limited to only 312 research articles written in English and published in scientific journals. These scientific articles consist of three domains: medical ecology, parasitology, and zoology. He published his papers in 69 journals in developed and developing countries. More than half (n=160, 51.3%) of the papers was published in the local journals, while the remaining was published in international journals. He was the first and last author of more than 80% of the papers published. He mainly published his articles in the Malayan Nature Journal (n=46, 15%) and South-East Asia Tropical Medicine and Public Health (n=44, 14%). Most of his papers had fewer than 3 authors. The coefficient of collaboration of the papers was less than 0.5, indicating his expertise in writing papers. Based on the findings, this study shows that the late Dr. Lim Boo Liat had published scientific papers continuously throughout his life and contributed immensely to the body of knowledge, particularly in medical entomology and zoology in tropical countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous prior studies claimed that social enterprises had a beneficial effect (social impact) on addressing society's social problems. However, there is little evidence to support that statement. How well is this enterprise able to give an impact on solving social problems? Does it have any indicators that can prove the validity of its social impact? Therefore, this study aims to explore the literature review on social enterprise and their social impact, as well as to identify a few measurements to assess the social impact. Hence, the writing of this article was conducted based on reviewing the published literature including articles and journals which are relevant to the topic that can be accessed through online databases. Scopus, Science Direct and Google Scholar have been used for searching the articles needed. The search terms include "social enterprise" OR "social business" OR "social entrepreneurship" AND "Social impact" OR "measuring impact" OR "social impact measurement". This conceptual paper was motivated to get a deeper understanding of the social impact measurement employed by social enterprises. From the discussion, we have clearly defined the definition of social impact from different perspectives, including the importance of measuring the social impact among social enterprises has also been discussed briefly. Reviewed articles revealed that there is a wide range of methods for measuring social impact but in this article, we are focusing on three approaches only there are: balanced scorecard (BSC), social return on investment (SROI), and cost-benefit analysis (CBA) in this paper. This study summarises that measuring the social impact is becoming an essential determination for social enterprises as the key indicators of their performance to the communities or to the potential investors or funders. The study also suggests recommending further study of the social impact measurements that need to be discussed in depth and detail. This study's hope can attract more academicians to stimulate more research on this topic, specifically in measuring methods from Malaysia's perspective. The implication of this study forms a clear understanding of the social impact and a few of the measurements that can be used in measuring the impact of social enterprise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic writing is one of the genres of writing which considered complex as it requires high language skills and the appropriate methodology in its production. One of the skills required is paraphrasing skills. However, paraphrasing is not an easy task especially if it involving a third language. Students may make various forms of errors in paraphrasing which need full attention, understanding, and techniques. Therefore, this study aims to identify the forms of mistakes and the weaknesses of students in making Arabic paraphrases, then, proposing method to address it. This study is a qualitative study and using samples taken from students' final coursework in the subject of Arabic for Academic (BAA4022). The corpus of the study involved 50 samples randomly selected among the students of the semester I session 2020/2021, Faculty of Major Language Studies (FPBU) and Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences (FPSK), Islamic Science University of Malaysia (USIM). This sample was analysed using the content analysis method. The finding shows that the main errors of students in paraphrasing are comes from the semantic aspect due to weakness in understanding the original reference text. In addition, the errors from grammatical aspects, especially in the use of al-idhofah, the use of dhamir and fi'il are consequences of the weakness in mastery of syntax and Arabic morphology. Both of these forms of weaknesses affect the quality of paraphrases made especially in the aspect of semantic completeness. Thus, this study is hoped to provide enlightenment and helps teachers and students in strengthening the quality of writing academic papers in Arabic Language through the use of accurate and correct Arabic paraphrasing techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noise is an unpleasant and unwanted sound for every human and animal. Noise can also interfere with one's communication and concentration. Nowadays, many sound absorber panels have been produced to overcome arising noise issues. A sound absorber panel works to absorb sound either in low or high frequencies. Usually, in Malaysia, synthetic materials are used for producing sound absorber panels. Glass fibre and minerals are the most common examples of synthetic materials used to produce sound absorber panels. In particular, glass fibre has a good result in sound absorption. However, it also brings negative effects to humans' health, such as skin inflammation, redness, cough, breathlessness, and others. Therefore, for this study, natural materials from recycling have been used to produce sound absorber panels, which are egg trays, papers, and plastics. The panels were tested with the impedance tube test to obtain the sound absorption coefficient (SAC) and the noise reduction coefficient (NRC). The values of sound absorption of plastics and papers are good at the frequency of 2,000 Hz (i.e., 0.75 and 0.74, respectively). However, the value of SAC for papers increased to 0.86, compared to the value of SAC for plastics that decreased to 0.67. Furthermore, the value of NRC for papers is better than plastics. Next, the reverberation room test was also performed on the panels to obtain the echo time value (RT) in the current unit. The comparison of echo time for this test is between the values for a room with and without panels. The results from the test showed that the value of echo time for the room with the panels is better than the room without panels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to analyze the questions of the Arabic language examinations of Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) for three years from 2013 to 2015 in the light of Bloom's Taxonomy levels. In this study, the researchers relied on the analytical descriptive approach. The number of exam questions for grammar and morphology in Malaysia's STAM certificate was 222. The study found that the questions on the level of understanding came first in the exam questions for grammar and morphology, with 93 questions or 42% of the total. While the level of remembering came in second place with 62 recurrences or 28%, followed by the questions on the level of analysis, with a frequency of 34 questions or 16%. The level of application came last, with 33 recurrences or 14% of the total. The two levels of evaluation and creativity were not showing any frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper is written to provide a hypothetical study on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model by Venkatesh et al. (2003); framework on Microsoft OneDrive usage acceptance in one of the established professional college in Malaysia. Questionnaires were distributed to 130 staff and lecturers at one of the branches with 107 returned, an 82.3% return rate. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 has been used to analyse the data collected. Five variables involved in this study which are Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Norm, Facilitating Conditions and Usage Acceptance. The study recommends future studies should include a bigger scale of the sample that consists of all the professional college branches and add more variables such as trust and security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of digital technologies as teaching and learning materials supports and enhances science learning, encouraging students to develop valuable inquiry skills and knowledge. In response, this paper seeks to explore digital inquiry-based learning as a useful aid for teaching the elementary school science curriculum on plants in Malaysia. There is a strong rationale for this work, as (i) this curriculum has received less attention compared to the equivalent on animals, and (ii) students have developed misconceptions about plants, typically in the areas of plant nutrition and photosynthesis. Thus, the paper describes a 5E Instructional Model lesson plan, which uses various digital technologies to tackle different inquiry elements at each instructional model stage. The goals of the activities are to help students: (i) assess their preexisting knowledge and engage with a new concept, (ii) create predictions and document their observations, (iii) display their conceptual understanding, (iv) gain a more profound and broader understanding through new experiences, and (v) examine their understanding and abilities with the aid of digital technology resources. The suggested activities are further discussed in relation to different types of digital technologies and evidence-based practice, thus encouraging other educators to integrate digital inquiry-based learning into their work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China–Malaysia economic engagement has deepened since the 1990s. The scale and scope of this relationship has also expanded significantly following the 2013 announcement of the Belt and Road Initiative. Offering a context-rich, historically-nuanced perspective, this paper analyses how Malaysian policymakers have engaged with economic opportunities opened up by the burgeoning Chinese market. In particular, it examines how Chinese foreign direct investment has contributed to industrial upgrading trajectories in Malaysia. The paper makes two inter-related arguments. First, it uncovers a correlation between closer Chinese–Malaysian economic integration and services liberalization, which results in Malaysia's lower emphasis on manufacturing and 'proper' industrialization. In other words, structural transformation has occurred, but it is geared towards the services sector. Relatedly, Chinese investment entering Malaysia, notwithstanding its relatively recent status, is composed primarily of service industries. The services-heavy nature of Chinese investment results in a relatively modest economic multiplier effect, potentially exacerbating some societal tensions and inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negara-Bangsa Proses dan Perbahasan (Malay for Nation-State: Process and Debate) by Abdul Rahman Embong, is a book that brings together nine essays on nation-state discussions written from 1995 to 2000. Five essays developed into Chapters 2, 4, 7, 8 and 9 were essays published in the Pemikir journal published by the Utusan Melayu Group while Chapters 5 and 6 were conference papers presented by Abdul Rahman in a seminar. All these essays have been updated and improved for the purpose of publishing this book. Additionally, Chapters 1 and 3 are new chapters written specifically for this book, which also debate on and discuss nation-states. Through this work, Abdul Rahman offers a continual, inclusive and semi-controversial perspective on important issues of Malaysia and its nation in particular and the world in general. The book also aims to promote deep discussion of the world of thought with the nation-state of Malaysia and the Malaysian nation as the main focus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly cited papers serve as a proxy for excellence. In this paper, we identify Malaysia's highly-cited papers and explore the characteristics of these papers. The research question posed is "What characterizes Malaysian highly cited papers?" This study adopts the definition by Thomson Reuters Essential Science Indicator, i.e. the highly cited papers are papers that received enough citations to be placed in the top 1 percent of the academic field of each 22 subject areas based on a highly cited threshold for the field and publication year. As a small scientific nation, Malaysia has a rather limited number of papers being highly cited, and we observed nine characteristics of highly cited papers based on 708 datasets obtained from the Web of Science. Malaysian highly cited papers are largely represented by articles, but reviews have higher impact. Typically, these papers have a low self-cited index and they are published in the First Quartile of the science discipline publications. The papers are mainly the outcome of national funded research; involve multiple co-authorship and international collaboration; affiliated to Malaysian research universities and Malaysian authors often play a dominant role as first or reprint authors. Partnership with scientists from Iran, Australia and UK may increase markedly the possibility of a Malaysian paper becoming highly cited. This investigation has shown that these are the characteristics of Malaysian highly cited papers, but to what extent can these be used as indicators need further investigation and discussions among the scientific community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionospheric scintillation is a common phenomenon in the equatorial, auroral, and polar areas, posing a threat to the Global Navigation Satellite System's (GNSS) operation. This ionospheric effect is thought to impact satellite signal propagation, hence, lowering positioning accuracy. Therefore, detecting ionospheric scintillation is critical in enhancing GNSS performance, particularly at low latitudes with severe amplitude scintillation. This paper investigates the effects of ionospheric scintillation on GPS signals at UNIMAS station, the East part of Malaysia. This study aims to identify the occurrence of ionospheric scintillation by calculating the index of scintillation strength during solar maximum 2014. The amplitude scintillation, which is measured in the S 4 index is obtained and classified accordingly from the data recorded at the UNIMAS station. The results have shown that strong scintillation (S 4 ≥ 0.5) occurred in the spring (April) and autumn (September and October) seasons, reaching 8 incidents. This paper also presents the diurnal, seasonal, and solar activity dependence of ionospheric scintillation. It is evident that the occurrence of amplitude scintillation is influenced by variations in solar activity, including solar flares and sunspots, as well as diurnal and seasonal changes. These findings provide valuable insights into the behaviour of the ionosphere and its impact on space-based communication and navigation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This paper investigates Thailand and Malaysia climate governance policy in practice within their multi-level governance structures. Thailand presents a unique case of a unitary state with a degree of deconcentration and decentralization, while Malaysia showcases a federal state with a high degree of centralization. Methodology: The paper collected and analyzed both primary and secondary data. Indepth interviews with government officials, NGOs, and international organizations were conducted online and onsite in Thailand and Malaysia from May 2022 to September 2023. Interview data was triangulated with secondary data from key national policy documents on climate change and related issues. This paper examines the contributions and hindrances of multi-level governance on climate governance and highlights some lessons learned from both countries. Results: It concludes that multi-level government systems provide opportunities for various stakeholders to engage in decision-making and create policy innovation. However, the administration of decision-making in these systems can be constrained by tensions within these systems, between tendencies towards the centralization of decision-making, and little engagement between subnational governments and local-level stakeholders. Conclusions: Overall, we assert that clear direction and guidance at the national level complemented by mechanisms that engage local stakeholders in administration and civil society is essential to achieve overarching climate action goals regardless of the administrative system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Project-based learning (PjBL) is a student-centred approach focusing on experiential learning. The approach has been widely used in the field of sciences and mathematics but not in social sciences, particularly in English writing skills. As PjBL gains popularity as one of the 21st century teaching and learning approaches, there is a need to identify the trends, key authors, significant countries, and findings related to PjBL in writing. This paper presents a systematic literature review (SLR) conducted on 17 articles from the year 2018 to 2023 from the Scopus database following the PRISMA guideline. The study focused on PjBL and English writing, employing a systematic literature review to analyse trends, countries, authors, and journals. The analysis reveals dynamic trends of PjBL in the writing field. While the publication output fluctuated over the years, Indonesia emerged as a major contributor, signifying a global interest. A diverse distribution of articles across journals and countries underscores the global impact of PjBL, with notable contributions from Malaysia, China, and Russia. This paper synthesises the key themes from the literature review, emphasising the improvement in writing skills through PjBL and its challenges. The findings underscore PjBL's potential in transforming English writing education, emphasising the importance of addressing challenges for effective integration. The study contributes to the literature through a systematic analysis, providing insights into the trends and recommendations in PjBL in English writing research. Further research should delve into refining PjBL methodologies to maximize its innovative potential in English writing instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) is a relatively new industrial crop which has been identified as an alternative source of fiber in the papermaking industry in Malaysia. In this study, experimental unbleached kenaf kraft paper samples were used as a substrate to produce water-resistant paper by employing a special coating. In the preparation of the coating formulation, commercially precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) was used as the filler, in addition to 0 to 0.32 w/w g of hydrophobic stearic acid (SA). Polymer latex (PL) was added at 0.4 to 0.16 w/w g into the coating compound to control the surface roughness of the samples. The paper morphology was examined by employing a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Hydrophobic kenaf kraft paper prepared in this study had water contact angle (θ) greater than 90°. Hydrophobic paper made with formulation PL4c resulted in the highest value contact angle of 147°. The process of surface coating by dipping increased the water contact angle and this treated paper achieved a high hydrophobic level. For mechanical properties, the coated kenaf paper showed decreasing tensile strength as the addition of stearic acid increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Driven by the evidence from the literature on the significance of mobile (m-)payment in economic growth and productivity and at the same time the relative dismal adoption of this service, the purpose of present paper is to elucidate the merchants' m-payment adoption from the perspective of trust, drawing upon the game theory framework, in the Malaysian context. Design/methodology/approach: An online survey consisting of 302 respondents was carried out to investigate the impact of trust and opportunism on merchants' perceived trustworthiness using a two-staged structural equation modeling–neural network approach to determine the significance and relative importance of variables. This study also applies a game-theoretic approach to analyze the impact of trust on the relationship between merchants and m-payment service providers. Findings: The results indicate a positive and statistically significant relationship between merchant trust, merchant opportunism and perceived trustworthiness, and a statistically significant negative relationship was found between m-payment provider opportunism and perceived trustworthiness. The findings from the prisoner's dilemma two-player model indicate that the scenarios of mutual trust and mutual opportunism as paradigmatic of cooperation and defection produce the best and worse outcomes, respectively. An intriguing result was the positive impact of merchant opportunism on perceived trustworthiness, which indicates a very calculative orientation of merchants in m-payment contracting. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is among the first attempts to propose a game theory approach to the interaction between merchants and m-payment providers under the framework of trust and opportunism. A game theory study in the context of m-payment adoption can contribute to the theoretical literature by providing insights into the decision-making processes of merchants. By incorporating trust and opportunism into the game theory model, we can gain a better understanding of how they affect the decision-making process and overall adoption rates. The conclusions and implications provide useful insights for managers of both m-payment platforms and merchants in this relational exchange. The results of the present research can provide insights into the factors that influence merchant decisions and guide them toward suitable partnerships for successful adoption and can guide authorities for policy interventions and supporting adoption efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most countries are still nations of homeowners, i.e. owning-centric despite home ownership being an economically irrational tenure due to its long-term financial risk. Seemingly, pre-existing social and institutional factors also shape people's tenure decisions, which supports a cultural explanation of tenure decisions. This paper frames the examination of tenure decisions from a cultural perspective in Malaysia, a Southeast Asian country with a strong home ownership tradition characterised by inflated house prices in its major cities and high household debts. A qualitative approach was adopted, involving a focus group discussion (FGD) and an open-ended online questionnaire survey (OQS). Two input categories (parental and societal) and five cultural determinants (filial piety, parental care, emulation, virtue signalling and status symbol) of tenure decisions were discerned. Considering the current trajectory of the global economy and local housing market, an honest reconsideration of the home ownership culture in Malaysia is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The first "1000 days" is a critical period of opportunity for interventions to prevent stunting and other health problems. This paper describes a study protocol of a mobile phone-based nutrition education (MiNd) intervention on maternal, infant and young child nutrition. Methods: This is a six-months quasi-experimental intervention consisting of three phases; (i) Phase 1 - development of MiNd intervention modules, (ii) Phase 2 - evaluation of the effectiveness of MiNd intervention, and (iii) Phase 3 - a qualitative study exploring perceptions and experiences of the intervention. Discussion: Assessment of anthropometry, dietary intake, food security, mental health, knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of food intake during pregnancy and breastfeeding will be evaluated during pre and post intervention. This is the first comprehensive mobile phone-based nutrition intervention study on pregnancy, lactation, and infant growth in Malaysia. The findings will be useful in modulating health intervention programme to prevent stunting and other health issues nationwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine angiosperms could inevitably offer considerable potential resources for their fiber, yet little research has been conducted, especially in Malaysia. Fiber characteristics of five species of seagrass - Enhalus acoroides, Cymodocea serrulata, Thalassia hemprichii, Halophila ovalis, and Halophila spinulosa - were evaluated. Fiber dimensions were studied to determine slenderness ratio, flexibility coefficient, Runkel's ratio, and Luce's shape factor species selection. The seagrass species have the potential in papermaking production as they possessed slenderness ratio >33 (98.12 to 154.08) and high Luce's shape factor (0.77 to 0.83); however the species exhibited low flexibility coefficient <50 (30.07 to 35.18) and >1 Runkel's ratio (1.11 to 1.60), which indicate rigid fiber. The five seagrass species have high cellulose >34% (40.30 to 77.18%) and low lignin content <15% (5.02 to 11.20%), which are similar to those encountered in non-wood plant species. Handmade paper sheet of Enhalus acoroides using pulp subjected to mechanical blending exhibited the highest tensile strength (4.16 kN/m) compared to hand-beaten pulp (3.46 kN/m). The highest breaking length (3.43 km) was achieved by a paper sheet of Thalassia hemprichii using hand-beaten pulp. Based on their physical and chemical composition properties, seagrass have potential as sources of fibrous material for handmade papermaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Many studies have been conducted on cyberbullying discourse in Malaysia, but religious-based cyberbullying discourse has received comparatively less attention. Malaysia's second place ranking in cyberbullying practices among Asian countries in 2018 is striking, and it is worth highlighting that many public figures in the country have encountered cyberbullying upon deciding to remove their hijab. This paper examines how the first dehijabed Instagram posts by local celebrities, Uqasha Senrose, Emma Maembong and Liyana Jasmay incited religious-based cyberbullying. Methodology: This paper employs a mixed-methods approach. We examined the initial postdehijabbing captions, along with a total of 300 comments on these posts. Through a two-tiered coding and categorization process, we identified 168 religious-based comments containing religious-related terminologies, Arabic expressions, Quranic verses, and Hadith. From this subset, 70 of them exhibit cyberbullying characteristics: Defamation, Defense, Encouragement, Exclusion, Sexual Talk, Insult and Threat/Blackmail. The most prevalent categories, Insult (n=29) and Threat/Blackmail (n=18) were further qualitatively analysed using Laclau and Mouffe's discourse framework and Halliday's transitivity analysis. Findings: The findings reveal that public figures who have removed their hijab have created a hegemonic intervention that challenges Malay Muslim hegemonic practice. Meanwhile, cyberbullies have created a hegemonic closure to counter the hegemonic intervention created by the dehijabed celebrities through the implementation of "Insult" and "Threat". Nevertheless, the effects of the hegemonic closure, which involves the stabilization of myths as objective reality and the rearticulation of the transgressors' identities as the sinners, have reproduced the power imbalance between the dominant group and the antagonists. Contributions: This paper demonstrated that while such practices allow cyberbullies to reinforce their dominance and hegemonic practices by manipulating religion, it is crucial to problematize religiousbased cyberbullying discourse as yet another form of hegemonic intervention that appears to be a natural articulation in contemporary discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Though the takaful industry is undergoing a period of rapid development and growth, it has been seen to be too commercialised and the mutual spirit was seen disappeared. On the other hand, it faces many critics for imposing terms and conditions that benefitted takaful operators and were not sufficient to cover the needs of the participants. Therefore, the study aims to analyse an alternative model to the takaful industry in Malaysia using the cooperative takaful model by analysing the mutuality and cooperative concept and discussing a few controversial issues related to the existing takaful model. Design/ methodology/approach: The study applied the qualitative research method in achieving all objectives through document analysis, focus group discussions and interviews. Findings: The finding proposed the cooperative takaful model as an alternative to current models. The advantages of the cooperative takaful model are its ability to uphold the cooperative and mutuality concepts and its ability to reduce over-dependence on the tijari based takaful. Besides, it offers several benefits to participants compared to the existing takaful models. By participating in cooperative takaful, the participant also became the owner of a takaful company where some of the monthly takaful contribution will be utilise for acquiring the company's share. However, there are some limitations of this model such as high paid-up capital to set up the business, the existing legal system not suit for the cooperative takaful model, creating dormant member issues, the issue of conflict of interest between management and participant as well as existing takaful operator worried to establish new model due to small market penetration. Research limitations/implications: The proposed models have not even been tested yet in the Malaysian market. Practical implications: This paper is able to help the takaful operators in considering cooperative and mutual models as an alternative to the current models. Originality/value: This paper is to explore a new game changer of the takaful industry in fulfilling the research gap by exploring the suitability of a cooperative and mutual model for the Malaysian context and redefining takaful as a social concept that is welfare-based and member-focused. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The government has set an ambitious target of renewable energy development in Malaysia. As a promising renewable energy source, wind energy plays an important role in the Malaysia renewable energy roadmap. Compared to onshore wind energy, offshore wind resources with better quality can be provided in the areas away from the coast, which has greater potential to contribute to electricity generation. Wind and bathymetry conditions are two important factors that determine the feasibility and economics of offshore wind turbines. In this paper, an investigation is conducted on wind and bathymetry conditions around Malaysia. The data source mainly originates from the Global Wind Atlas. The conditions of the coastal areas in different states and federal territories of both Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia are analysed, with a specific focus on wind speed, wind energy density, and bathymetry conditions in high-wind-speed regions. The data and survey are verified and compared with the past published literature. This paper aims to investigate the wind and bathymetry conditions around Malaysia, assess the potential of offshore wind energy, discuss the feasibility of offshore wind turbines, and provide references for offshore wind development in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first 1000 days of life, encompassing the period from conception to a child's second birthday, represents a pivotal phase in human development. This review paper highlighted the importance of this critical window with a comprehensive analysis exploring the multifaceted impact of nutrition during the three distinct phases: the pregnancy-intrauterine period, early infancy-breastfeeding period, and early childhood-complementary feeding period. Within the pregnancyintrauterine period, the maternal body mass index emerges as a crucial factor, directly affecting the well-being of both mother and child. Optimal nutrition, including essential micronutrients such as folic acid, iron, iodine, and vitamin D, are imperative to mitigate the risk of neural tube defects and related disorders, which remain a concern in Malaysia. Exclusive breastfeeding during the initial six months of life is identified as a cornerstone of infant development, nurturing both the child's cognitive abilities and immune system. Timely introduction of complementary foods is equally vital, acting as a safeguard against childhood obesity and undernutrition. This review paper provided an in-depth examination of the importance and critical role of nutrition in the first 1000 days of life. It further outlined the current status, recommended strategies and interventions to improve child nutrition during this crucial phase in the Malaysian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a thorough review and analysis of solar photovoltaic (PV) home systems in Malaysia, offering a comprehensive exploration of their implementation, challenges, benefits, and future potential. As a nation striving to embrace sustainable and renewable energy solutions, Malaysia's adoption of solar PV systems at the residential level is of paramount importance. The study delves into the current state of solar PV deployment, government initiatives, and policy frameworks that influence adoption trends. It examines the economic, environmental, and societal advantages of solar PV home systems, outlining their contribution to reducing electricity costs, carbon emissions, and energy dependence. Addressing barriers to wider acceptance, the paper scrutinizes challenges encompassing cost, awareness, intermittency, and regulatory constraints. Furthermore, the study evaluates the socio-economic implications of solar PV home systems, including potential job creation and energy independence. Technological advancements, such as enhanced efficiency and smart grid integration, are also explored for their role in surmounting obstacles. Drawing insights from practical case studies, the paper underscores successful installations and the lessons they offer. In examining policy and regulatory frameworks, it analyzes existing incentives while suggesting improvements to accelerate adoption. Finally, the paper offers a visionary perspective on the future trajectory of solar PV home systems in Malaysia, envisioning increased affordability, advanced energy storage solutions, and seamless integration with emerging technologies. This holistic analysis contributes valuable insights to propel Malaysia's sustainable energy transition and inform strategic decision making for stakeholders across sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The level of defence industrial innovation success has been modest in Malaysia, despite continuous investment into research and development (R&D). The authors use the Defence Research and Development Stakeholder Engagement Framework (DRDSEF) to argue that strategic collaborative engagement between stakeholders is critical for successful industrial and technological innovation. This paper has two aims: to describe the role of the stakeholders in managing defence R&D funding and to evaluate the challenges faced by these stakeholders in managing government defence R&D allocation for industrial and technological innovation. This is an exploratory case study using a combination of interpretivist and pragmatist philosophical approaches. Analysed data consists of secondary resources and primary resources included surveys in the form of open-ended semi-structured interviews and participatory observation. This paper concludes that successful defence R&D stakeholder engagement requires an open and independent platform, enhanced industry-academia cross-sector fertilisation and collaborative data analytics management tools to share information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass gasification technology has gained significant attention as a potential solution for circular economies by converting organic waste into valuable energy and products (Waste-to-Power-to-X). This paper comprehensively evaluates biomass gasification technology from a techno-economic-policy perspective, providing valuable insights for circular economies. It examines technical aspects such as processes, feedstocks, and syngas production, assessing advancements that would improve efficiency and environmental performance by addressing key challenges like tar removal and gas cleaning. Economic feasibility is analysed through a techno-economic assessment, considering capital costs, operational expenses, revenue streams, and potential markets. Real-world examples and case studies offer insights into economic viability of these processes. The paper emphasizes the significance of supportive policy frameworks, discussing stimulus measures like feed-in tariffs, tax incentives, and regulatory reforms to promote biomass gasification adoption. By combining technological, economic, and policy perspectives, this paper provides a holistic reality check of biomass gasification technology, identifying opportunities, challenges, and pathways for leveraging as a sustainable and economically viable solution for waste management and energy production. The findings and insights presented in this paper can assist policymakers, investors, and stakeholders in making informed decisions regarding the implementation of biomass gasification projects in the future. [Display omitted] • These findings serve as valuable insights for exploring the market potential. • Waste materials are transformed into valuable resources. • Effectively managing by-products is crucial in unlocking their economic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Melaka Portuguese are descendants of unions between the Portuguese, who conquered Melaka in the early 16th Century, and locals. The language and culture of this minority hybrid community have survived to this day in Malaysia. Over the last decade, there has been a push to distinguish their food, and hence, cultural identity, from other communities in Malaysia. However, there has not been much focus on the cultural representation of this "homegrown" group of people in discourses related to food. To begin addressing this gap, this paper addresses the question of cultural identity represented in four Melaka Portuguese cookbooks. The focus of this paper is on the use of linguistic and visual elements related to food heritage in four Melaka Portuguese cookbooks to examine how they are used in the construction of cultural identity among the community. These elements were analyzed using a social semiotic approach. The linguistic elements in the texts were found to be related to the cultural identity of the Melaka Portuguese people through inclusion of their family narratives and stories in the cookbooks. Visual elements were also used to portray the Melaka Portuguese culture through depictions of traditional kitchenware and food preparation techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollution haven hypothesis (PHH) assumes that polluting industries will move to regions with lesser rigorous environmental regulations. On the other hand, pollution halo hypothesis presumes that industries transfer their clean technologies through FDI inflows to the host countries. Following these theoretical perceptions, this paper empirically examines how foreign direct investment (FDI) affects pollution (CO2 emissions) for four selected Asian countries (Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand) over the period 1971-2014. This is done by applying the autoregressive distributed lags (ARDL) model of Pesaran et al.. The ARDL model is employed under two scenarios: without and with structural breaks. The long-run findings, for both scenarios, suggest support for the pollution haven hypothesis (PHH) for the Philippines only. Whereas, the findings lend support for the pollution halo hypothesis for Malaysia and Singapore. In addition, the paper explores the causality direction between FDI and pollution (CO2 emissions) using the Vector Error Correction model (VECM). The results show mixed long- and short-run Granger causality findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the qualitative results of a larger mixed-methods study that examined teachers' experience transitioning to online teaching and learning (OTL) in Malaysian higher education (HE) institutions to understand how academics perceived their OTL readiness and what competencies were perceived to be central during the Covid-19 pandemic. Data collected from twenty-two teachers (n = 22) (three public; three private HEs) through semi-structured in-depth interviews revealed that OTL readiness was perceived through course design, communication competence, time management, and technological competence. Additionally, agentic competence emerged as crucial in shaping resilience and adaptability during the transition to OTL. The paper makes two contributions. First, the study contributed to the literature on online teaching readiness in that reconceptualisation needs to be holistic and inclusive due to the unique HE context. Second, it provides valuable insights to those who devise training exercises and universities required to respond to them in enhancing teacher agency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Due to the increasing rate of drug prices and overall healthcare inflation, stakeholders from the pharmaceutical industry and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are voicing their concerns about the possible reciprocal effects in the long run. Drug price controls (DPCs) regulation is crucial to ensure affordability and indirectly reduce congestion in public healthcare facilities. This study aims to identify the SWOT analysis of the DPCs in Malaysia and how it will impact the drug supply chain. Methods: The study adopted a subjective environmental scanning method and a SWOT analysis tool to examine the Malaysian pharmaceutical DPCs in the healthcare supply chain (HSC) ecosystem through both intrinsic and extrinsic perspectives. Results: The immediate effect of DPCs would be beneficial, especially to the patients and the government. Balancing the right amount of control and liberalization of the market is seen to be the biggest factor contributing to the policy's effect on the drug supply chain. The main concern would be the long-term effect as mixed results are coming from a group of countries that had implemented a similar policy. Conclusion: Notwithstanding the qualitative methodology of the paper, the findings could provide a better understanding of the price of drugs in Malaysia's HSC and serve as a foundation for future studies. This paper proposes a new way to diversify the DPCs economy by entering the HSC chain industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine, from the perspective of investors, the factors that predict Islamic unit trust (IUT) investment intentions. Additionally, this paper examines the moderating effect of fintech self-efficacy (FSE) on the relationship between attitude and investment intention. A total of 392 data were collected from IUT investors in Malaysia and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The findings reveal that subjective norms have the highest impact on investment intention, followed by attitude and FSE, while religiosity is not significantly associated with investment intention in Islamic unit trust funds. Attitude significantly mediates religiosity-intention and Islamic financial literacy-intention relationships. FSE significantly moderates the attitude-intention relationship. The results shed light on the key factors that increase investing behavior and have direct managerial implications with regard to marketing strategies and target markets. These findings suggest that IUT service providers should take the lead in attracting customers through effective and targeted marketing initiatives, particularly by enhancing customers' FSE and capabilities. This study provides empirical evidence on the interrelationships between Islamic financial literacy, religiosity, and FSE in examining investors' behavior using the Theory of Planned Behavior framework. The study explores the moderating role of FSE on the relationship between attitude and investment intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to (1) translate and validate the PEACH + Rating Scale in Malay and (2) establish normative curves as a function of age and examine test-retest reliability for the Malay and English versions of PEACH+. This is a cross-sectional study that used a convenient sampling technique. One hundred and fifty-seven parents of typically developing children aged between 4 months and 7 years participated in the study. Forty-nine completed the Malay PEACH + in a pen-to-paper format (Aim 1). One hundred and eight parents completed PEACH + online (69 completed the Malay version and 39 the English version), and 20 of them completed the questionnaire twice (Aim 2). The PEACH + in Malay showed high internal consistency and item-total correlation. The normative data revealed that scores for frequency of auditory behaviour increased rapidly with age until about 20 months and reached an asymptote of around 90% by about 40 months of age. A similar trend was observed for ease of listening scores, which asymptoted around 85%. The validated Malay PEACH + Rating Scale can be used as a guide to monitor auditory functional performance and listening efforts of Malaysian children in real-world environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media can provide important and useful information to communities in their fight to prevent crime. However, this capability has its downside. For every affordance social media provides, the platform presents an equally important constraint, which researchers and the public often ignore. Using an in-depth case study of social media crime prevention communities in Malaysia, this paper intends to provide a rich understanding of the information provided by social media in crime prevention. The study adopts the technology affordances and constraints theory to make sense of and explain how the information provided by social media affords and constrains the communities' efforts to fight crime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue presents a set of four selected papers from 8th International Forum on Industrial Bioprocessing (IBA-IFIBiop) 2019. The forum itself was held in Miri Sarawak, Malaysia from 1st to 5th May 2019. This symposium was co-organised by Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) Malaysia, Curtin University Malaysia and International Association of Bioprocessing-An International Forum on Industrial Bioprocessing (IBA-IFIBiop). Since the theme of 8th IBA-IFIBiop 2019 is "Bridging Sustainability and Industrial Revolution through Green Bioprocessing", its papers are related to the latest advances and global development in the areas of bioenergy/biofuels, food technology and engineering, industrial biotechnology, environmental biotechnology, and upstream & downstream bioprocesses. This special issue collects four best papers presented at 8th IBA-IFIBiop 2019 focusing on food technology and engineering. Each paper in this special issue had undergone peer reviews to ensure its quality. We believe that this issue will serve as an essential literature leading to scientific and engineering progress in food engineering. We express our gratitude to the authors, reviewers and editors of this journal who make the publications of these papers possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Biomedical Engineering Maintenance Services (BEMS) is a comprehensive maintenance program that ensures the safety and reliability of medical devices. Significant and crucial devices are identified and prioritized for best practice prior to the equipment life cycle to mitigate functional problems, alarmed by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) underlying the modernization agenda. A model of multi‐criteria decision‐making (MCDM) to prioritize medical devices according to their criticality is presented in this paper, with the utilization of quality function deployment (QFD) and fuzzy logic in the development of the model through a quantitative survey of experts from all regions in Malaysia. As a result, a customized version of the Asset Criticality Assessment (ACA) is developed and is recommended for use in more than 144 Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals. Subsequently, real data of four selected devices are pulled from the Asset and Services Information System (ASIS) to demonstrate a relevant and comparable end‐result using the QFD and fuzzy logic. In essence, the key contribution of the customized ACA model is that it assesses a promising evaluation with a broader range on both the performance of medical devices and the appropriate asset replacement choices. This leads to an effective maintenance strategy for each device and the modernization of reliability computation metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review aimed to evaluate the impacts of oil palm-cattle integration systems on food security and environmental sustainability. We reviewed more than 100 papers and selected those that reported the advantages of these systems. Oil palm-cattle integration has been implemented in some Southeast Asian countries, especially in Malaysia and Indonesia, but it is not widely adopted by oil palm plantations. These systems are mainly driven by policies to enhance food security and reduce environmental impacts. Oil palm-cattle integration can contribute to several Sustainable Development Goals, such as (SDG 1 and 2) no poverty and zero hunger, because it allows for more and diverse food production on the same land, and it increases the income per hectare by up to 15% due to higher oil palm yield (up to 4 t FFB/ha) and lower weed control costs (up to 60%) with rotational grazing. It can also support (SDG 6, 12, 13) responsible production and consumption, clean water and sanitation, and climate action, because it can decrease herbicide use, enhance biodiversity (understory and beneficial species), and improve soil quality. Moreover, it can mitigate the risk of indirect land use change associated with deforestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pipe jacking is a trenchless technology used to install buried pipelines, such as sewer lines in wastewater management systems. Existing mechanistic approaches based on geomaterial strength parameters (i.e., friction angle and apparent cohesion) can provide an estimation of the potential jacking forces during construction. However, extracting intact rock cores for strength characterisation is challenging when dealing with highly weathered 'soft rocks' which exhibit RQD values of zero. Such was the case for a pipe jacking drive traversing the highly weathered lithology underlying Kuching City, Malaysia. Furthermore, mechanistic approaches face limitations during construction when jacking forces are dependent on operation parameters, such as jacking speed and lubrication. To address these knowledge gaps, the primary objectives of this study are the development of rock strength parameters based on in situ pressuremeter testing for the purpose of estimating jacking forces. Furthermore, this study investigates the influence of various pipe jacking operation parameters, with a particular focus on their impact on jacking forces in weathered 'soft rocks'. To achieve this, a novel deep learning model with an attention mechanism is introduced. The proposed methods of rock strength parameters derived from pressuremeter testing and the utilisation of deep learning will help to provide insights into the key factors affecting the development of jacking forces. This paper successfully shows the use of in situ pressuremeter testing in developing Mohr–Coulomb (MC) parameters directly from the site. In addition, the developed deep learning model with an attention mechanism successfully highlights the significance of pipe jacking operation parameters with an accuracy of 88% in predicting the jacking forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of a reflector can increase the solar radiation on the photovoltaic module (PV) surface, whereby the energy output can be improved. However, the economic feasibility may need to be considered too. This study is conducted, for the first time, due to the lack of studies regarding the economic feasibility assessment of implementing reflectors under the Malaysian meteorological conditions. The outcome will give information about the suitability for implementing a PV reflector in Malaysia through an experimental setup at a sewage treatment site, for two months in 2022. The Malaysian meteorological data, which include daily solar radiation, ambient temperature and wind velocity, were collected to study the output energy, efficiency and the economic perspective of a PV. In February 2022, the PV was operating without a reflector and the averaged values for the monthly solar radiation, ambient temperature and wind velocity were 539.9 MJ/m2, 28.4 °C and 2.2 m/s, respectively, which resulted in an output energy of 106.43 kWh. On the other hand, for April 2022, the PV was operating with a reflector. With the respective averaged input parameters 544.98 MJ/m2, 28.9 °C and 1.51 m/s, the output energy was 121.94 kWh. It is thus shown that the PV with a reflector increases the PV's output energy by 14.57%. Also, it is shown that the cost-effective factor value is 0.955 which means that the PV reflector is economically feasible to be implemented under the Malaysian meteorological conditions. Hence, extensive research should be conducted to improve the performance of PV reflectors. The findings of this paper maybe useful for researchers and/or manufacturers of PV reflectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global environmental concerns have garnered significant attention in recent times. Concerns about encouraging more ecologically friendly production to lessen the effects of pollution have been raised by industrial operations that cause environmental pollution. The adoption of an environmental management system in Malaysian firms, however, has received little attention. This paper explores the mediating effect of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework on the relationship between ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) and ESG performance of Malaysian companies. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) using SmartPLS 4 was employed to assess the relationship through a conceptual model developed for this purpose. A total of 86 completed responses were collected from the targeted respondents in Malaysia of different industries. With ESG framework as a mediator, ISO 14001 EMS has an insignificant relationship with ESG performance, and the R2 value of ESG performance is 0.243. When the ESG framework is removed, ISO 14001 EMS has a significant relationship with ESG performance, and the f-square value is 0.176. This effect size is considered medium. The results provide an empirical proof for Malaysian companies to adopt the ISO 14001 EMS as a business tool, with ESG framework as a mediator in order to enhance their ESG performance. The study's conclusions highlight the implications of using ISO 14001 EMS as a tool for businesses in Malaysia to improve ESG performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the association between religious identity, religiosity (internal vs external), and psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from two cross-sectional surveys were used to test these associations among Malaysians from the three major religious groups—Muslims, Christians, and Buddhists—as well as mixed qualitative coding on illness beliefs and helpful resources. During the pandemic, higher religiosity was associated with less perceived stress, external religiosity was negatively associated with stress, and internal religiosity was positively associated with life satisfaction among young adults. Thematic coding also confirmed a variety of illness beliefs and helpful resources relevant to social and religious norms. Different pathways of religious coping were utilized during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatments for skin injuries have recently advanced tremendously. Such treatments include allogeneic and xenogeneic transplants and skin substitutes such as tissue-engineered skin, cultured cells, and stem cells. The aim of this paper is to discuss the general overview of the quality assurance and quality control implemented in the manufacturing of cell and tissue product, with emphasis on our experience in the manufacturing of MyDerm®, an autologous bilayered human skin substitute. Manufacturing MyDerm® requires multiple high-risk open manipulation steps, such as tissue processing, cell culture expansion, and skin construct formation. To ensure the safety and efficacy of this product, the good manufacturing practice (GMP) facility should establish a well-designed quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) programme. Standard operating procedures (SOP) should be implemented to ensure that the manufacturing process is consistent and performed in a controlled manner. All starting materials, including tissue samples, culture media, reagents, and consumables must be verified and tested to confirm their safety, potency, and sterility. The final products should also undergo a QC testing series to guarantee product safety, efficacy, and overall quality. The aseptic techniques of cleanroom operators and the environmental conditions of the facility are also important, as they directly influence the manufacturing of good-quality products. Hence, personnel training and environmental monitoring are necessary to maintain GMP compliance. Furthermore, risk management implementation is another important aspect of QA/QC, as it is used to identify and determine the risk level and to perform risk assessments when necessary. Moreover, procedures for non-conformance reporting should be established to identify, investigate, and correct deviations that occur during manufacturing. This paper provides insight and an overview of the QA/QC aspect during MyDerm® manufacturing in a GMP-compliant facility in the Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Mosques, like every other religious organisation, have financial, human, and physical resources. As a prominent symbol of Islam, it also serves the community as a service provider, not only to their congregations but also to the public. The purpose of this article is to examine and analyse the challenges surrounding mosque's financial governance. In Malaysia, the mosque's function and potential have not been fully realised and utilised to continuously impact on society. Even though Malaysia has been a Muslim country since the 15th century, mosques still have concerns. Fund management, regulatory compliance, and facility management are noted issues. Since State Religious Councils are the sole trustees of mosques, it is proposed that mosque governance practices in Malaysia vary and differ according to the laws provided by each state. It was discovered that previous research has mostly focused on fund management because of its potential to raise funds through financial contributions. Methodology: This paper looks at concerns surrounding mosques' existing financial governance practices in Malaysia. The paper aims to raise awareness among mosque committees and the public about the necessity of good financial governance practises in religious institutions, particularly mosques. Contributions: As this is a conceptual paper, findings are expected to lead to a comprehensive study on issues and their relationships that will enable us to identify necessary measures to enhance the Malaysian mosque institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Integrated reporting (IR) is to convey the integrated thinking (IT) process in creating value for organisations. Drawing from the framework of Maqasid Shariah, the paper seeks to propose a framework for measuring value creation for Shariah-compliant Companies (ShCCs). Methodology: Based on the existing literature on the performance of companies, this paper explores the measurements of value creation, which is arguably the consequence of integrated reporting and integrated thinking in an organization that matches the framework of Maqasid Shariah. This issue is examined by looking at the context of ShCCs in Malaysia. Findings: The findings support the contention by Shariah Enterprise Theory, which is the extension of legitimacy and stakeholders' theory. The various measurements of value creation can be classified under the broad classification of Abu Zahrah (1997)'s Maqasid Shariah framework. Contributions: This paper enhances the understanding of value creation from the perspective of Islam, thereby contributing to meeting the initial aim of ShCCs classification, which is to fulfill the need of Muslim stakeholders. Additionally, the proposed framework provides measurements of value creation based on the Maqasid Shariah framework that can be used in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread adoption of the tawarruq contract by Islamic banks in their deposit and financing offerings has spurred the emergence of mushārakah mutanāqisah as an alternative for Islamic property financing. Affin Islamic Bank Berhad is among the Islamic banks that offer mushārakah mutanāqisah as the core Shari‘ah contract in their Islamic property financing services. This type of financing is offered to customers for completed properties and those that are under construction. In the context of Islamic property financing, mushārakah mutanāqisah refers to a structure where the customer assumes the role of the registered property owner while the bank holds ownership shares in the form of beneficial ownership. Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has released multiple Policy Documents regarding Shari‘ah contracts as guidelines to ensure uniformity in the application of Shari‘ah contracts across Islamic financial products and services. Islamic banks are required to adhere to these guidelines, including the mushārakah mutanāqisah. Thus, this paper intends to study the application of mushārakah mutanāqisah in property financing based on Affin Islamic Bank’s experience in adopting the related Policy Documents issued by BNM. The findings from this paper would shed light and provide valuable insights into implementing the related guidelines to mushārakah mutanāqisah and its impact on the Islamic finance industry in Malaysia. Document analysis approach was used to analyse library data gathered from previous studies and relevant policy documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the paper is to examine the financial health of selected public universities in Malaysia. The study assessed the performance of Malaysian research universities, on the primary reserve ratio, viability ratio, return on net asset ratio and net operating revenue ratio, as well as the Hirschman-Herfindahl Index for revenue diversification from 2010 to 2020. Results suggest poor financial health, high dependence on government funding and revenue volatility. Several universities recorded consecutive financial deficits in recent years. Third-stream revenues are low, and the universities are struggling to generate the 25% self-generated revenue target set by the government. This paper provides longitudinal empirical data on the financial health of public universities and has important implications for policymakers and university management in budget allocation and financial management decisions, particularly given the adverse financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to investigate errors in citation practices of postgraduate student teachers. This research examines the various types of citations according to bibliographic forms in relation to course options, language use and underlying reasons for the student teachers' citation behaviors. The study involved 154 postgraduate student teachers from a Teacher Education Institution in East Malaysia. The citations used in a process based term paper submitted as part of their final course evaluation submitted to the Education Department were analyzed. Findings revealed that only 62.24% of the total population included a reference list in their assignment, and this was despite being provided with explicit instructions regarding the need to attach a reference page. From the total of 489 citations analyzed, 77.5 % were from text books. Materials from seminar papers and theses made up less than 3% of the total sources used. It was found that 3 most frequently cited authors accounted for a third of the total citations, and the authors were writers of the pedagogy text books used by the course lecturers. More than 83% of the sources employed were from local publications written in the Malay Language. The numbers of missing and inconsistent citations in the participants' term papers were exceptionally high. Only 12.67% of the total citations were found to be correct. The trainees placed the blame on (a) lack of emphasis by course lecturers; and (b) ignorance of citation format leading to such errors. The findings suggest a need for deliberate and concerted efforts from course lecturers or teacher trainers to inculcate student teachers to accustom themselves to a variety of reference sources and instill a culture of avoiding citation errors. Exclusion of reference list in academic writing should not be tolerated as it has implications for the level of professionalism among trainees and their lecturers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission published a discussion paper on Regulating Unsolicited Commercial Messages in early August 2003. It was undertaken as a precursor to a law to control the problem of junk mails or spam on the Internet and other electronic media. In this article, I intend to explore the problem of regulating spam from an economic point of view, and to discuss the Commission''s findings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]