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Purpose: There are major gaps in our knowledge of hereditary ocular conditions in the Asia-Pacific population, which comprises approximately 60% of the world's population. Therefore, a concerted regional effort is urgently needed to close this critical knowledge gap and apply precision medicine technology to improve the quality of lives of these patients in the Asia-Pacific region., Design: Multi-national, multi-center collaborative network., Methods: The Research Standing Committee of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology and the Asia-Pacific Society of Eye Genetics fostered this research collaboration, which brings together renowned institutions and experts for inherited eye diseases in the Asia-Pacific region. The immediate priority of the network will be inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), where there is a lack of detailed characterization of these conditions and in the number of established registries., Results: The network comprises 55 members from 35 centers, spanning 12 countries and regions, including Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. The steering committee comprises ophthalmologists with experience in consortia for eye diseases in the Asia-Pacific region, leading ophthalmologists and vision scientists in the field of IRDs internationally, and ophthalmic geneticists., Conclusions: The Asia Pacific Inherited Eye Disease (APIED) network aims to (1) improve genotyping capabilities and expertise to increase early and accurate genetic diagnosis of IRDs, (2) harmonise deep phenotyping practices and utilization of ontological terms, and (3) establish high-quality, multi-user, federated disease registries that will facilitate patient care, genetic counseling, and research of IRDs regionally and internationally., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Copyright of Gestión y Análisis de Políticas Públicas, Nueva Época (GAPP) is the property of Instituto Nacional de Administracion Publica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Amid ever-growing global value chains (GVCs). a major controversial topic relates to the extent to which developing economies benefit from participating in such value chains. To measure these gains, this paper examines data pertaining to value-added in exports from three Southeast Asian economies-Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The study estimates the sectoral income elasticities of the export demand of each country over the period 1980-2017, revealing that the highest income elasticities are observed in low value-adding sectors such as primary products, resource-based goods and low-tech industries. This implies that the three countries have been involved in simple and not high-skill tasks within GVCs. The paper also examines the sectoral domestic share of value-added (DVA) and foreign share of value-added (FVA) of exports of the three economies using the OECD Trade in Value-added (TiVA) database over the period 2005-15. We find that DVA in the medium- and high-tech industries that add greater value is smaller than FVA in atl three countries. Overall, these results suggest that developing nations need to step up their participation in GVCs through process and/or function upgrading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional bitumen pavement is no longer suitable for handling increasing loads and weather variations, which cause road deterioration, Thus, the modification of bitumen has been suggested to counter this issue. This study provides a detailed assessment of various additives for modifying natural rubber-modified bitumen used in road construction. This work will focus on the use of additives with cup lump natural rubber (CLNR), which has recently started to gain attention among researchers, especially in rubber-producing countries such as Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Furthermore, this paper aims to briefly review how the addition of additives or modifiers helps elevate the performance of bitumen by highlighting the significant properties of modified bitumen after the addition of modifiers. Moreover, the amount and method of application of each additive are discussed further to obtain the optimum value for future implementation. On the basis of past studies, this paper will review the utilisation of several types of additives, including polyphosphoric acid, Evotherm, mangosteen powder, trimethyl-quinoline and sulphur, and the application of xylene and toluene to ensure the homogeneity of the rubberised bitumen. Numerous studies were conducted to verify the performance of various types and compositions of additives, particularly in terms of physical and rheological properties. In general, additives enhance the properties of conventional bitumen. Future research should investigate CLNR because studies on its utilisation are limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper traces the East Asia-Pacific (EAP) region's participation in the global value chain (GVC) for electronic products over the past 20 years, with particular attention to trade in intermediate goods and recent foreign direct investment (FDI) into the region. During this time, China has been the principal driver of the GVCs for electronic products. However, recent increases in China's production costs have created opportunities for other countries in the region-such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam-to increase their participation in the sector's GVC. In discussing these trends, this paper uses the World Bank's Measuring Competitiveness in Global Value Chains (MC-GVC) database and provides a case study on the development of the semiconductor industry's presence in the EAP region to illustrate the region's role in the GVC for electronic products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organized crime syndicates are fuelling the dangerous and profitable world of drug trafficking making Southeast Asia suffered the consequences for centuries. The spread of opium by Chinese immigrants in the 1700s led to a devastating increase in drug addiction and trafficking. Uncontrolled opium smuggling was rampant, forcing the British government to act and ban the drug in 1952. Since Malaysia's formation in 1963, the government has fought back with legal and enforcement measures, but drug trafficking from Thailand's Golden Triangle has remained a serious threat to national security. This research paper investigates the drug trafficking situation in Malaysia and exposes the sinister threat that illicit drug entry poses to the country's safety. Drawing upon primary data from interviews with enforcement officers, drug research experts, and academics, this qualitative study demonstrates that despite efforts to stop drug smuggling from the Golden Triangle, these criminal activities persist and endanger Malaysia's political security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates fiscal sustainability in Indonesia and draws comparisons with Malaysia and Thailand. The analysis encompasses an evaluation of fiscal rules, fiscal performance, and an assessment of fiscal sustainability across these three countries. Given that the Coronavirus Disease (COVID‐19) pandemic affected budget deficits in each country starting in 2020, the empirical assessment utilizes data from 2010 to 2019. Despite persistent fiscal deficits in each country, the results suggest that all three countries maintain fiscal sustainability. A more detailed analysis of the Indonesian case focuses on government revenue and expenditure. The discussion addresses challenges in these areas, aiming to identify feasible policy options for enhancing fiscal sustainability in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The “best interests of the child” (BIC) is the most referenced child rights principle in international law, whereas juvenile justice is the most mentioned topic. This paper examines how countries in Southeast Asia (SEA) interpret BIC in juvenile justice and if their understanding is consistent with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and other international standards and why. It contends that BIC’s indeterminate use led to misinterpretation of child rights and that BIC interpretation is influenced by several factors found within the socio-cultural and political economy of SEA. Using Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand as case studies for their representation of legal and socio-cultural traditions in SEA, this study applies a positivist and constructivist approach to qualitative research using surveys, jurisprudence, documentary research, and interviews with children and justice actors. It finds that CRC’s ratification and laws enacted with BIC therein do not guarantee the full protection of the rights of children in conflict with the law (CICL). It highlights the importance of using BIC cautiously, the value of asking children their BIC, and the need to deconstruct adult overgeneralizations on juvenile justice. As BIC is more than a legal concept, it recommends a constructivist approach in search of common values about childhood and justice across cultures. The study seeks to clarify the academic, legal, and practical interpretation of BIC in juvenile justice and to protect the rights of CICL in SEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper investigates the impact of perceived value on academic engagement (AE) of students in an online learning environment. The mediating effect of teacher behavior (TB) on the relationships is also explored. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from 542 students studying at different specializations in Malaysia and Thailand academic institutions. This study employed a quantitative methodology and utilized the SmartPLS for data analyses. Findings: The results suggest that students' perceived value is a strong predictor of AE, while TB positively and significantly mediated only social value–engagement association and spiritual value–engagement association. Practical implications: These findings suggest focusing on TB as a dynamic variable in pursuing students' AE. Still, the cross-cultural and gender differences uncovered added important factors to consider when designing online learning programs across different student groups. Originality/value: By building on reasoned action theory (TRA) and integrating TRA with social motivational theory, this study provides novel theoretical insights that reveal mechanisms whereby students' perceived value promotes AE through TB in online learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-border trade between Thailand and Malaysia makes up a large volume of the land import/export in Southeast Asia, and economic value has steadily increased up until the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread across the world. This paper presents the issues with and guidelines for the development of the Thai crossborder trade checkpoint between Thailand and Malaysia. In addition, it uses qualitative methods through indepth interviews and focus groups and analyzes data using descriptive and content analysis. In addition, the study found there are several problems with Thai's cross-border trade checkpoint, such as a lack of equipment for inspectors, the fact that officers are not given a job description, and the need to develop more infrastructure. The Thai government should prepare all facilities and provide training to gain more knowledge about relevant laws, and it should set up one government unit/department for cross-border trade management with management authority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubber is a traded commodity in the international market with considerable potential. The rubber industry is very essential in driving the economic activities of ASEAN-3 countries, namely Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. The close ties between the natural rubber (NR) markets in ASEAN-3 have led to the process of risk dissemination known as volatility spillover. In this regard, the paper aimed to investigate the spillover effect and dynamic correlation of NR price in ASEAN-3 using the Multivariate Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (MGARCH) model with Baba, Engle, Kraft and Kroner (BEKK) formulation. The empirical result shows that there is a significant bidirectional volatility spillover between the volatility of Malaysian and Thailand NR, while there is only a unidirectional volatility spillover found from Malaysia to Indonesia. However, no volatility spillover was detected either from Thailand to Indonesia or vice-versa. Moreover, results from constant conditional correlation (CCC) found that the dependency on NR among ASEAN-3 was highly significant and positive, indicating the return relationship was moving in the same direction throughout the sample period. However, the result from dynamic conditional correlation (DCC) shows that although the degree of correlation is high among the region, there is a period whereby the level of correlation is low due to crises and unprecedented events like earthquakes and tsunamis. The results also found that the current period of NR volatility depends on its past volatility and any news or information greatly influences and affects the NR volatility in all ASEAN-3 countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper, we show how uncertainty emanating from fluctuations in economic uncertainty, news-based uncertainty, and geopolitical risks affect the number of containers exported from Thailand via Penang Port, Malaysia. Our sample extends from January 2009 to May 2020 from three main entry points in the Northern Peninsular Malaysia–Thailand Border: Padang Besar, Surat Thani, and Bukit Kayu Hitam. Two modes of transportation of containers are mainly used for export purposes, namely, road and rai. This study examines the nonlinear effect of uncertainty on trade by employing a two-regime Markov regime-switching approach. The empirical results show that, overall, uncertainty significantly affects the movement of containers in the high-uncertainty regime. Therefore, small ports must continue to diversify their client base to cushion the impact of fluctuations in global trade due to uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cultural competency describes interventions that aim to improve accessibility and effectiveness of health services for people from ethnic minority backgrounds. Interventions include interpreter services, migrant peer educators and health worker training to provide culturally competent care. Very few studies have focussed on cultural competency for migrant service use in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC). Migrants and refugees in Thailand and Malaysia report difficulties in accessing health systems and discrimination by service providers. In this paper we describe stakeholder perceptions of migrants' and health workers' language and cultural competency, and how this affects migrant workers' health, especially in Malaysia where an interpreter system has not yet been formalised. Method: We conducted in-depth interviews with stakeholders in Malaysia (N = 44) and Thailand (N = 50), alongside policy document review in both countries. Data were analysed thematically. Results informed development of Systems Thinking diagrams hypothesizing potential intervention points to improve cultural competency, namely via addressing language barriers. Results: Language ability was a core tenet of cultural competency as described by participants in both countries. Malay was perceived to be an easy language that migrants could learn quickly, with perceived proficiency differing by source country and length of stay in Malaysia. Language barriers were a source of frustration for both migrants and health workers, which compounded communication of complex conditions including mental health as well as obtaining informed consent from migrant patients. Health workers in Malaysia used strategies including google translate and hand gestures to communicate, while migrant patients were encouraged to bring friends to act as informal interpreters during consultations. Current health services are not migrant friendly, which deters use. Concerns around overuse of services by non-citizens among the domestic population may partly explain the lack of policy support for cultural competency in Malaysia. Service provision for migrants in Thailand was more culturally sensitive as formal interpreters, known as Migrant Health Workers (MHW), could be hired in public facilities, as well as Migrant Health Volunteers (MHV) who provide basic health education in communities. Conclusion: Perceptions of overuse by migrants in a health system acts as a barrier against system or institutional level improvements for cultural competency, in an already stretched health system. At the micro-level, language interventions with migrant workers appear to be the most feasible leverage point but raises the question of who should bear responsibility for cost and provision—employers, the government, or migrants themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal tourism has grown significantly across South‐East Asia from the 1960s, particularly in three key destinations hosting large tourist numbers: Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. It encompasses different scales from basic backpacker accommodation in budget enclaves to large scale capital‐intensive luxury resort enclaves. Coastal tourism studies typically range from descriptive analyses of destinations' evolutionary dynamics and resort morphology to more granular ethnographic inspections of socio‐economic patterns of transformation and resource conflicts. More recent critical research theorizes the spatial reorganization of coastal tourism in relation to economic restructuring processes. Although national tourism policy and economic development is often analysed, forces shaping coastal tourism development have been little examined and research typically focusses on impact case studies without analysing the underlying political economy. This paper interrogates the political‐economic drivers of the historical‐geographical and spatial organization of coastal tourism in these three major destinations and demonstrates how processes of tourism capital accumulation are experienced/contested via intensified commodification leading to increasingly complex and diversified coastal tourism political economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Perception is an essential factor influencing smoking among adolescents. Thus, a valid tool for measuring perception is a requisite in smoking studies. This study further establishes the validity and reliability of a Malay language version of the Perception Towards Smoking Questionnaire (BMPTSQ) for assessing the perception of smoking among secondary school-going adolescents in Malaysia. METHODS We administered the BM-PTSQ to 669 secondary school students selected through multistage sampling; 60% of respondents were male (n=398), and 69.9% (n=463) were from rural areas. Respondents were aged 13--16 years, 36.4% (n=241) were 13 years, 40.0% (n=265) were 14 years, and 23.6% (n=156) were 16 years old. We used parallel and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to determine the domains of the questionnaire. In addition, we also employed EFA, confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), and Cronbach's alpha to evaluate the construct validity and reliability of the BM-PTSQ. RESULTS EFA and parallel analysis identified two domains in the BM-PTSQ that accounted for 62.9% of the observed variance, and CFA confirmed the two-domain structure. The two domains' internal consistency scores ranged from 0.702 to 0.80, which suggested adequate reliability. CONCLUSIONS The BM-PTSQ has acceptable psychometric validity and is appropriate for assessing smoking perception and intention among Malaysian secondary school-aged youth. Researchers should further evaluate this tool's applicability in a more sociodemographically diverse population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Jurnal Pengurusan is the property of Jurnal Pengurusan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aim: The objective of this paper is to examine the level of psychiatric symptoms and associated factors among Thai migrants from the southernmost Thai provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narithiwat who are working in Malaysia. Comparisons will be made with the sending population in the southernmost provinces of Thailand. Methods: Data are drawn from survey and in-depth interviews with Thai migrants who are working in Malaysia. Comparisons are made with a probability sample of working age adults in Thailand. The twenty item Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ) was the measure of mental health. Results: The study found that the migrants, on average, have normal levels of psychiatric symptoms. However, although about 24% of migrants reported more eight or more symptoms that may indicate a need for evaluation. There are many stressors in their lives including distance from families, reduced social support, legal matters surrounding immigration, and discrimination/exploitation of migrant groups. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for policy makers and non-governmental organizations to give attention to migrants' mental health, well-being and sustainable livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, there has been a surge of interest in sustainable agriculture to address the impact of urban paradigm shifts on food demand and supply. Vertical Farming (VF) has attracted considerable attention, both scholarly and economically, as a way forward to improve food security in urban areas. Previous studies have documented and reviewed the benefits of VF against traditional agriculture. However, most research papers have only focused on case studies from temperate climate regions. There is a surprising paucity of empirical research in urban farming specifically related to VF in tropical countries. This study set out to examine the new emerging agricultural innovation--VF--in various building typologies the growing system and explores the feasibility in Malaysian high-rise buildings. The findings also revealed several successful outcomes of ongoing urban farming projects in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, which can significantly contribute to the planning and development of VF in a tropical climate. As a result, critical assessment criteria were identified for the successful development of the VF system in urban areas. This study implies significant opportunities for Malaysia to implement VF in local high-rise buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grassroots Innovations (GRIs) mostly represent incremental changes that are supported by local values and culture. In this respect, government efforts to promote and strengthen GRIs movements should take into consideration customised and targeted policy instruments that are different from the traditional innovation and development agendas. Based on this principle – and in the context of three Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines – this paper attempts to investigate the current public policy contexts and common instrumental mechanisms for public interventions supporting GRIs. The governing context alluding to policy support is elaborated to provide a taxonomy of GRIs policy measures germane to political-governance windows. The findings show that Malaysia has explicit policy support for GRIs, whereas innovators in Thailand and the Philippines indirectly benefit from broader inclusive development and innovation policies. There are three scenarios of instrumental mechanisms supporting GRIs – these show the differences in approaches adopted by national governments in terms of their perception of GRIs, modes of intervention and outcome expectations. This paper also highlights several policy concerns useful for future endeavours regarding public interventions on GRIs and rural development. • Enrich GRIs literature with evidence- and rural context-based insights useful for policymakers. • Governance and institutional arrangements for GRIs. • An elaborative mechanism supporting those who are stateless, informal or illegal migrants. • Criticisms in justifying intervention and salient concerns for policy supporting GRIs. • A taxonomy to GRIs policy measures germane to political-governing windows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polish Journal of Management Studies is the property of Czestochowa University of Technology, Faculty of Management and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

It has been argued that successful professional development efforts, especially in assessment-literacy, need to address emotional components and the existence of implicit conceptions in order to raise consciousness and ultimately transform practice (Xu and Brown, 2016: p. 156). Experiential approaches have been shown to be highly effective for adult learning, especially in bringing about and sustaining changes in beliefs and practices. In this paper, I explore the use of an experiential approach in an online language assessment course, describing in depth two formative assessment (FA) activities and the technology tools that were employed. These activities served to (1) develop participants' AL in formative assessment, including online formative assessment; (2) evoke emotions, raise consciousness about conceptions, and prompt a desire for transformation; and (3) bridge the theory-practice gap. This paper offers insights into approaches to FA and teacher development in online settings and seeks to contribute to the growing body of knowledge in the field of assessment education.

Trade plays an important role in economic growth. Thence, a smooth cross-border transaction between Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore provides a significant implication in international trade. Currently, cross-border transactions face several issues during the crossing of borders between countries and, specifically, happens during the transactions of cargo. A very rigid documentation process within the custom clearance and theresulting severe congestion will affect the trade flow in this particular zone. Inconsistency of freight transaction documents at the cross-border also makes the transaction procedure more complicated and affects the performance of the manufacturer’s competitiveness. Thus, this paper explores the current issues at the borders involving Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore. This paper also initiates to figure out the challenges and some key success factors in modelling efficiency for crossborder transactions amongst these countries. A qualitative approach has been adapted to answer the proposed research questions. The initial results stressed that congestion, thorough and repetitious documentation procedures, involvement of many documents, as well as the time-consuming clearance of documents are key issues encountered during cross-border freight movement. This situation has caused several issues such as delays in freight delivery, losses in tax collection due to delays, reluctance to share information, and effects on the competitiveness of the freight supply chain. Development in infrastructure, information sharing, regulations, logistics performance, and customs clearance procedure can overcome the problems during cross-border Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore activities. The model outcome is expected to be smoother for the administrative process during customs clearance and it is expected to be able to efficiently reduce costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Southeast Asia is known for its rich linguistic, cultural and biological diversity. While ethnobiology in the west has benefitted greatly from intellectual and methodological advances over the last decades, the status of Southeast Asian ethnobiology is largely unknown. This study aims to provide an analysis of the current status of ethnobiology in Southeast Asia and outlines possibilities for future advancements. Methods: We accessed papers cited in the Scopus and Web of Science databases for the period of 1960 to 2014 using the current as well as previous names of the 11 Southeast Asian countries and various disciplines of ethnobiology as key words. We juxtaposed the number of publications from each country against its number of indigenous groups and languages, to see if ethnobiology research has addressed this full spectrum of ethnical diversity. The available data for the last ten years was analysed according to the five phases concept to understand the nature of studies dominating Southeast Asian ethnobiology. Results and conclusions: A total number of 312 publications were recorded in the databases for the period 1960-2014. Indonesia ranks highest (93 studies), followed by Thailand (68), Malaysia (58) Philippines (42), Vietnam (31), Laos (29), and other Southeast Asian countries (44). A strong correlation was found between the number of publications for each country, the number of indigenous groups, and the number of endangered languages. Comparing the data available for the period 2005-2009 with 2010-2014, we found a strong increase in the number of phase 5 publications. However, papers with bioprospecting focus were also on the rise, especially in Malaysia. Our study indicates that ethnobiologists still need to realise the full potential of the Biocultural Diversity of Southeast Asia, and that there is a strong need to focus more on socially relevant research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The financial integration of Southeast Asian markets has been an important research topic. Due to recent global developments in financial markets, the behaviours of these emerging markets are gaining much interest. This research paper empirically analyses stock market integration of international portfolio diversification across some Southeast Asian countries, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand (ASEAN-5). The augmented Dickey-Fuller unit root test has been used to verify the static properties of market return of ASEAN-5 countries. An analysis of cointegration among these countries' market returns has been done using the Johansen Cointegration Approach. The co-movements among ASEAN-5 economies were analyzed through the Granger Causality test. Results of the Granger causality tests indicate interdependence among ASEAN-5 market returns. This suggests a co-movement among ASEAN-5 capital markets, but not all of these ASEAN-5 capital markets were fully integrated. This study also found that the Malaysia Stock Exchange, the Stock Exchange of Thailand, the Singapore Stock Exchange and the Philippines Stock Exchange were fully integrated, but Indonesia Stock Exchange was not. Essentially, this study provides insight for policymakers, portfolio managers, domestic and international investors, risk analysts and financial researchers to diversify their investment portfolios by combining assets from each ASEAN-5 country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the cases of Malaysia and Thailand and investigates the possibility of upgrading these countries from the middle-income trap and the possible roles of the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) in this process. The 4IR may induce firms to introduce factory automation to facilitate upgrade into higher segments with local spillovers. A key factor for this positive scenario is local institutions facilitating the training and upskilling of their local workforce. By contrast, increased problems are expected for other countries with the mid-range level of wages and mid-level of educated population, and firms in these economies mostly execute labor-intensive production and are likely to be substituted by additional factory automations or their multinational firms may move to neighboring countries for low wages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaysia's relations with Thailand can be described as paradoxical. On the one hand, bilateral ties had been the least 'problematic.' On the other, the situation in the Southern Provinces had constrained relations and this could be seen during the administrations of Mahathir and Abdullah which became preoccupied with finding solutions. In 'aggregating' these two polar states together ('superposition'), one could construe or amplify bilateral relations within a broader range of so-called overall 'benign neglect' that to a certain extent - characterised the approach of successive administrations of both countries. The objective of this paper as conditioned by archival sources as well as interviews seeks, therefore, to highlight the under-appreciated and overlooked role of the leadership factor in bilateral relations. This is in turn co-related to developments in political contestations and reconfigurations centred in Bangkok ("national politics") which whilst promising little hope on the resolution for peace and stability in the Southern Provinces - contributes to the (unchanging) broader narrative. In short, directions in bilateral relations have been - to a critical extent - determined, influenced and constrained by the inability to achieve a breakthrough to the situation in the Southern Provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An estimated 105 million dengue infections occur per year across 120 countries, where traditional vector control is the primary control strategy to reduce contact between mosquito vectors and people. The ongoing sars-cov-2 pandemic has resulted in dramatic reductions in human mobility due to social distancing measures; the effects on vector-borne illnesses are not known. Here we examine the pre and post differences of dengue case counts in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, and estimate the effects of social distancing as a treatment effect whilst adjusting for temporal confounders. We found that social distancing is expected to lead to 4.32 additional cases per 100,000 individuals in Thailand per month, which equates to 170 more cases per month in the Bangkok province (95% CI: 100–242) and 2008 cases in the country as a whole (95% CI: 1170–2846). Social distancing policy estimates for Thailand were also found to be robust to model misspecification, and variable addition and omission. Conversely, no significant impact on dengue transmission was found in Singapore or Malaysia. Across country disparities in social distancing policy effects on reported dengue cases are reasoned to be driven by differences in workplace-residence structure, with an increase in transmission risk of arboviruses from social distancing primarily through heightened exposure to vectors in elevated time spent at residences, demonstrating the need to understand the effects of location on dengue transmission risk under novel population mixing conditions such as those under social distancing policies. Author summary: Significant healthcare burdens arise from dengue and traditional vector control is the primary control strategy to reduce dengue transmission potential. The ongoing sars-cov-2 pandemic has resulted in dramatic reductions in human mobility due to social distancing measures; the effects on vector-borne illnesses are not known. This paper examines the pre and post differences of dengue case counts in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, and estimate the effects of social distancing as a treatment effect whilst accounting for temporal confounders. We found that social distancing is expected to lead to an increase in the number of cases in Thailand, with the largest increase arising from Bangkok province. Social distancing policy estimates for Thailand were also found to be robust in sensitivity analysis. Conversely, no significant impact on dengue transmission was found in Singapore or Malaysia. Across country disparities in social distancing policy effects on reported dengue cases are reasoned to be driven by differences in workplace-residence structure, with an increase in transmission risk of arboviruses from social distancing primarily through heightened exposure to vectors in elevated time spent at residences, demonstrating the need to understand the effects of location on dengue transmission risk under novel population mixing conditions such as those under social distancing policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary health care is essential for equitable, cost-effective and sustainable health care. It is the cornerstone to achieving universal health coverage against a backdrop of rising health expenditure and aging populations. Implementing strong primary health care requires grassroots understanding of health system performance. Comparing successes and barriers between countries may help identify mutual challenges and possible solutions. This paper compares and analyses primary health care policy in Australia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Data were collected at the World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians (WONCA) Asia–Pacific regional conference in November 2017 using a predetermined framework. The six countries varied in maturity of their primary health care systems, including the extent to which family doctors contribute to care delivery. Challenges included an insufficient trained and competent workforce, particularly in rural and remote communities, and deficits in coordination within primary health care, as well as between primary and secondary care. Asia–Pacific regional policy needs to: (1) focus on better collaboration between public and private sectors; (2) take a structured approach to information sharing by bridging gaps in technology, health literacy and interprofessional working; (3) build systems that can evaluate and improve quality of care; and (4) promote community-based, high-quality training programs. Strengthening primary health care (PHC) leads to improved population health outcomes at lower cost. By analysing the PHC policy of six Asia–Pacific countries, we identified key areas for regional development and outline recommendations for future policy. Successful PHC policy in this region requires equitable public–private partnerships, structured approaches to information sharing, an improved multidisciplinary focus on health literacy, systematic improvement and evaluation of the quality of care provided and high-yield, high-quality community-based training programs for sustainable workforce development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a sample of listed firms in Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, this paper examines the association between busy board of directors and firm performance. We offer three results. First, we find that firm performance (measured by operating profitability and market-to-book equity) is negatively associated with busy boards. Second, we find that firms with busy boards have higher operating risk (measured by volatility of return on assets, volatility of stock returns and volatility of operating cash flow). Third, we find that the association between firm performance and busy boards is conditional on the firm's life cycle stage. For firms in the growth stage, busy boards are beneficial to firm performance suggesting that the experience knowledge and reputation accumulated with multiple directorships help busy directors to more effectively advise these firms. In contrast, for firms in the maturity stage of their life cycle, busy boards are detrimental to firm performance suggesting the monitoring role of board is weakened by multiple directorships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of students participating in Asian International Mobility for Students (AIMS) programs has increased enormously over the years. The reasons are diverse and may range from personal growth to better employability prospects, together with improvement in foreign language skills and intercultural awareness. AIMS programs receive generous funding from Bahagian Education Malaysia (BEM) of the Ministry of Education, Malaysia, therefore their outcomes should be measured and evaluated. This paper focuses on students' experiences and their lesson learned as an alumnus of AIMS program. Reports submitted by the students were analysed using Leximancer and Spider-web Configuration. The content analysis done using Leximancer shows nine variables that are "orientation", "Thailand", "internship", "training", "water", "people", "food", "excursions" and "important" that according to the students are of important in terms of their experiences and satisfaction of the AIMS program. While the Spider-web Configuration shows five items that make the AIMS program worth it and pays off for students to participate. In particular, the students' international experiences caused them to reflect deeply on matters of different styles of education, gain valuable knowledge in their major and develop communication skills. In addition, they could live independently in another culture for an extended period, develop confidence and self-understanding, learn another language, gain a unique cultural experience and make new lifelong friends. The students' reflections also offer the university sector some points to consider with respect to student mobility programs, particularly in how participants are supported in interpreting their overseas experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the evolving efficiency and the joint effects of thin trading, structural breaks and inflation on dual long memory in Small and Medium Enterprise stock markets in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. The state‐space GARCH‐M, ARFIMA‐FIGARCH, ARFIMA‐FIAPARCH and ARFIMA‐HYGARCH models are adopted. The results determine that the Hong Kong and Singapore markets exhibit potential tendencies towards efficiency, implying the efficacy of several institutional reforms. The three aforementioned factors jointly have reducing effects on the magnitude and/or statistical significance of long‐memory estimates. The Thailand and Malaysia markets show a smaller degree of volatility persistence, indicating a good hedge for portfolio risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper offers a synthesis of findings from an international initiative coordinated by the Asia Productivity Organisation (APO) to measure higher education productivity across nine Asian countries. The paper discusses benefits, barriers, and potential for estimating university productivity across international contexts. Stakeholders from nine participating countries collected and analysed institutional data and reported measurement results. The APO initiative represents the first multi-country test of an adapted productivity measurement model first advanced by the United States National Research Council (NRC). The research provides evidence for proof of concept of the adapted NRC model for use across international contexts. Additional findings demonstrate the range of productivity definitions and interpretations for higher education. The paper concludes by showing priority areas for both targeted and broad developments in research and practice of measuring productivity in higher education.

The review article presents an analysis of the literature on environmental literacy in sustainable development. By utilizing techniques to examine multiple documents published between 2013 and 2023, including citation analysis, co-authorship analysis, subject area analysis, and keyword analysis, this study aims to provide valuable information and insights into the research landscape surrounding environmental literacy and its contribution to promoting sustainable development. A systematic search was conducted to gather several scientific articles, conference papers, and publications from the Scopus database from 2013 to 2023. The findings of this analysis shed light on authors, influential institutions, and active research groups that contributed to the study of environmental literacy and sustainable development. This comprehensive review offers an understanding of the state of research in this field while identifying areas for further exploration and research gaps. The insights gained from this study can be highly beneficial for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to advance knowledge and take action toward promoting literacy's role in sustainable development. This analysis is a foundation for advancing our understanding of literacy's significance while emphasizing its vital role in sustainable development efforts.

Sustainable consumption is crucial in reducing the growing pressure of environmental crises. This study proposes the Technique of Order Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) approach to evaluate sustainable consumption toward green growth. The proposed approach assesses criteria weights in Interval Valued Neutrosophic Sets (IVNSs) using the Method of Maximizing Deviation. The proposed method evaluates sustainable consumption for ten selected developed and developing countries, including Canada, France, Japan, China, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The evaluation process encompasses four main criteria with eight sub-criteria, namely environment (population density, CO 2 ), energy (total natural resource rents, renewable electricity), economics (value added of agriculture, forestry, and fishing, GDP per capita), and health (fertility rate, mortality rate). The countries are ranked based on the relative closeness coefficient. The results reveal that two economic sub-criteria are pivotal in the sustainable consumption rankings. Canada emerges as the country with the highest degree of green growth, attributed to its extensive land area and potential for renewable energy. Based on the findings, this study proposes some policy implications for Vietnam, including balancing fertility and mortality rates and regulating economic growth and resource exploitation., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

By applying a recently developed econometric technique, the synthetic control method (SCM), this paper empirically assesses the growth effect of financial liberalization in the presence of financial crises for the so‐called Tiger Cub Economies over the period 1975 to 2002. The outcomes of the SCM analyses show that financial liberalization exerted a significant growth effect in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand before the outbreak of the 1997 East Asian financial crisis, while no such growth effect was found for the Philippines for the entire study period. Moreover, after the outbreak of the financial crisis, the growth effects of financial liberalization for Malaysia and Thailand remained significantly higher than those for their synthetic counterparts. However, the growth effect of financial liberalization was not that sturdy in the case of Indonesia following the crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is based on original empirical research into the lifestyle migration of European migrants, primarily British, to Thailand and Malaysia, and of Hong Kong Chinese migrants to Mainland China. We combine strong structuration theory (SST) with Heideggerian phenomenology to develop a distinctive approach to the interplay between social structures and the lived experience of migrants. The approach enables a rich engagement with the subjectivities of migrants, an engagement that is powerfully enhanced by close attention to how these inner lives are deeply interwoven with relevant structural contexts. The approach is presented as one that could be fruitfully adopted to explore parallel issues within all types of migration. As is intrinsic to lifestyle migration, commitment to a better quality of life is central to the East Asian migrants, but they seek an uncomplicated, physically enhanced texture of life, framed more by a phenomenology of prosaic well‐being than of self‐realization or transcendence. In spite of possessing economic and status privileges due to their relatively elite position within global structures the reality for a good number of the lifestyle migrants falls short of their prior expectations. They are subject to particular kinds of socio‐structural marginaliszation as a consequence of the character of their migration, and they find themselves relatively isolated and facing a distinct range of challenges. A comparison with research into various groups of migrants to the USA brings into relief the specificities of the socio‐structural positioning of the lifestyle migrants of the study. Those East Asian migrants who express the greatest sense of ease and contentment seem to be those who have responded creatively to the specific challenges of their socio‐structural situation. Often, this appears to have been achieved through understated but active involvements with their new settings and through sustaining focused transnational connections and relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines how nature-based tourism operators within coastal ecosystems employ Knowledge Management (KM) in the pursuit of nature-based solutions (NbS) to sustainability challenges. NbS are achieved at the intersection of the physical environment, climate, ecosystems, biodiversity, and socio-economic and socio-cultural systems. NbS integrate diverse types and systems of knowledge to be acceptable to a range of stakeholders. To explore these knowledge types and systems, a qualitative, multiple-case-study approach is used, with interview data collected across different organizational levels of nine discreet nature-based tourism operation cases from Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Our findings highlight how these tourism operators have developed practices to manage diverse knowledge systems in the pursuit of sustainability outcomes and provide critical insights into how more sophisticated approaches to such sustainability knowledge management (SKM) may lead to more optimal NbS and sustainable tourism outcomes for vulnerable marine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are undeniably the backbone of many developing economies, considering their sizeable share of business establishments and contribution to employment creation. Nevertheless, they have fallen short of policymakers' expectations because of the weak interlinkage issue that limits their ability to create wealth. The issue stems from SMEs' excessive reliance on non-SMEs as their primary input sources, while non-SMEs are more dependent on their cluster and imports. This paper seeks to assess the magnitude of the issue in Malaysia and Thailand by comparing the productive structures of SMEs in both economies using the cascaded input-output modelling technique. The findings validated the weak interlinkage issue in Malaysia and Thailand, with the latter suffering from it to a greater extent. Overall, SMEs remain integral to the growth drivers of developing economies. Therefore, development policies should continue to support them by considering their value-added multiplier impacts. Considering all facts and figures, strengthening existing linkage programmes and establishing an SME content requirement policy are this study's two recommendations for improving the interlinkage situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil palm cultivation thrives as a prominent agricultural endeavor within the southern region of Thailand, where the country ranks third globally in production, following Malaysia and Indonesia. The assessment of oil palm bunch ripeness serves various purposes, notably in determining purchasing prices, pre-harvest evaluations, and evaluating the impacts of disasters or low market prices. Presently, two predominant methods are employed for this assessment, namely human evaluation, and machine learning for ripeness classification. Human assessment, while boasting high accuracy, necessitates the involvement of farmers or experts, resulting in prolonged processing times, especially when dealing with extensive datasets or dispersed fields. Conversely, machine learning, although capable of accurately classifying harvested oil palm bunches, faces limitations concerning its inability to process images of oil palm bunches on trees and the absence of a platform for on-tree ripeness classification. Considering these challenges, this study introduces the development of a classification platform leveraging machine learning (deep learning) in conjunction with geospatial analysis and visualization to ascertain the ripeness of oil palm bunches while they are still on the tree. The research outcomes demonstrate that oil palm bunch ripeness can be accurately and efficiently classified using a mobile device, achieving an impressive accuracy rate of 99.89% with a training dataset comprising 8779 images and a validation accuracy of 96.12% with 1160 images. Furthermore, the proposed platform facilitates the management and processing of spatial data by comparing coordinates derived from images with oil palm plantation data obtained through crowdsourcing and the analysis of cloud or satellite images of oil palm plantations. This comprehensive platform not only provides a robust model for ripeness assessment but also offers potential applications in government management contexts, particularly in scenarios necessitating real-time information on harvesting status and oil palm plantation conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the variables having impact on the student motivation have been analyzed based on the articles, conference papers, master's theses and doctoral dissertations published in the years 2000-2017. A total of 165 research papers were selected for the research material and the data were collected through qualitative research techniques through document review and content analysis. According to the research results, the most important factors affecting student motivation are the fields of teacher, teachers' classroom management skills and their teaching methods. In this research, factors having less influence on the student motivation are parental communication, student characteristics and study fields. In addition, relational search type was used more than others, mostly students were selected as the study group and most researches were conducted in USA and Turkey.

There are three main elements of sustainable development, namely: economic sustainability, environmental sustainability and social sustainability. No doubt that it is difficult to intertwine harmoniously the anthropocentric of social and economic objectives with the eco-centric objectives. Using Malaysia and Thailand as a case study, this paper attempts to explore the night market phenomenon which has a positive impact on urban sustainability, especially in small urban spaces. The night market traders are able to increase their incomes which come from lower-middle economic class. Utilising of unused urban space as a 'venue' of night market has changed the landscape. The research applied various techniques in gathering data and presented findings which are in line with various sociospatial dimensions. It is found that night markets have slowly transformed unused urban space into a place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tectonic evolution of the Sibumasu Block during the Permian remains controversial, and Permian faunas and their paleobiogeographic affinities provide some insight into its paleogeographic and tectonic evolutionary histories. In this paper, a new brachiopod fauna dominated by Spinomartinia prolificaWaterhouse, 1981 is described from the uppermost part of the Taungnyo Group in the Zwekabin Range, eastern Myanmar. This brachiopod fauna includes 23 species and its age is well constrained as late Kungurian by the associated conodonts, i.e., Vjalovognathus nicolliYuan et al., 2016 and Mesogondolella idahoensis (Youngquist, Hawley, and Miller, 1951), contrary to the late Sakmarian age given to the same brachiopod faunas previously reported from southern Thailand and Malaysia. Based on comprehensive comparisons of the Cisuralian brachiopod faunas and other data in different parts of the Sibumasu Block, we consider that they are better subdivided into two independent stratigraphic assemblages, i.e., the lower (earlier) Bandoproductus monticulus-Spirelytha petaliformis Assemblage of a Sakmarian to probably early Artinskian age, and the upper (younger) Spinomartinia prolifica-Retimarginifera alata Assemblage of a late Kungurian age. The former assemblage is a typical cold-water fauna, mainly composed of Gondwanan-type genera, e.g., BandoproductusJin and Sun, 1981, SpirelythaFredericks, 1924, and SulciplicaWaterhouse, 1968. The latter assemblage is strongly characterized by an admixture of both Cathaysian and Gondwanan elements, as well as some genera restricted to the Cimmerian continents. Notably, the spatial distribution pattern of these two separate brachiopod assemblages varies distinctly. The Sakmarian cold-water brachiopod faunas have been found in association with glacial-marine diamictites throughout the Sibumasu Block including both the Irrawaddy and Sibuma blocks. In contrast, the Kungurian biogeographically mixed brachiopod faunas are only recorded in the Irrawaddy Block, unlike the Sibuma Block that contains a contemporaneous paleotropical Tethyan fusuline fauna. Thus, it appears likely that by the end of Cisuralian (early Permian), the Sibumasu Block comprised the Irrawaddy Block in the south with cool climatic conditions, and the Sibuma Block in the north with a temperate to warm-water environment, separated by the incipient Thai-Myanmar Mesotethys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rare diseases, also referred to as orphan diseases, are characterised by their low prevalence with majority of them are chronically debilitating and life threatening. Given the low prevalence and the widely dispersed but very small patient base for each disease, there may often be a disproportion in the availability of treatments and resources to manage patients, spur research and train experts. This is especially true in Southeast Asian countries that are currently in the process of implementing or revising their universal health coverage schemes. This paper aims to examine the status of rare disease management in Southeast Asian countries. It will serve as the basis for a more active discussion on how countries in the region can address an under-recognised rare disease burden and enhance national and regional capacities.Methods: The study consists of literature reviews and key stakeholders interviews in six focus countries, including the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand and five countries as best practice, comprising of France, Canada, Australia, Taiwan, and South Korea. Rare disease management initiatives across each country were examined based on the World Health Organization's framework for action in strengthening health systems.Results: The results suggest rare disease management remains challenging across Southeast Asia, as many of the focus countries face fundamental issues from basic healthcare systems to funding. Nonetheless, there are substantial improvement opportunities, including leveraging best practices from around the world and organising a multi-stakeholder and regional approach and strategy.Conclusions: Southeast Asian countries have made significant progress in the management of rare disease, but there remain key areas for substantial development opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) gears toward full regional integration by 2015, the cross-border mobility of workers and citizens at large is expected to further intensify in the coming years. While ASEAN member countries have already signed the Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, the health rights of migrants still need to be addressed, especially with ongoing universal health coverage (UHC) reforms in most ASEAN countries. This paper seeks to examine the inclusion of migrants in the UHC systems of five ASEAN countries which exhibit diverse migration profiles and are currently undergoing varying stages of UHC development. Design: A scoping review of current migration trends and policies as well as ongoing UHC developments and migrant inclusion in UHC in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand was conducted. Results: In general, all five countries, whether receiving or sending, have schemes that cover migrants to varying extents. Thailand even allows undocumented migrants to opt into its Compulsory Migrant Health Insurance scheme, while Malaysia and Singapore are still yet to consider including migrants in their government-run UHC systems. In terms of predominantly sending countries, the Philippines's social health insurance provides outbound migrants with portable insurance yet with limited benefits, while Indonesia still needs to strengthen the implementation of its compulsory migrant insurance which has a health insurance component. Overall, the five ASEAN countries continue to face implementation challenges, and will need to improve on their UHC design in order to ensure genuine inclusion of migrants, including undocumented migrants. However, such reforms will require strong political decisions from agencies outside the health sector that govern migration and labor policies. Furthermore, countries must engage in multilateral and bilateral dialogue as they redefine UHC beyond the basis of citizenship and reimagine UHC systems that transcend national borders. Conclusions: By enhancing migrant coverage, ASEAN countries can make UHC systems truly 'universal'. Migrant inclusion in UHC is a human rights imperative, and it is in ASEAN's best interest to protect the health of migrants as it pursues the path toward collective social progress and regional economic prosperity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governance and regulation of the use of live animals in research and teaching is examined in Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, China, Japan and India. A comparison of the systems in different countries will enable the determination of best practice and fit-forpurpose regulation. The most comprehensive government regulation of animal welfare in institutions covers a broad range of animals and institutions are required to have an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, whose membership is specified in guidelines or regulations. The work of the Committees is rigorously overseen by government and facilities that use live animals are audited externally. All countries examined have legislation governing the use of live animals in research, although only Australia and Malaysia have a fully equivalent mandated oversight of teaching. Teaching that uses live animals is partly covered in the Philippines, Japan, Singapore and Thailand This paper thus aims to review the regulation of animal use in different Asian jurisdictions in order to determine best practices that are appropriate to those settings. The most comprehensive oversight is provided in Australia and Malaysia that essentially use the same regulatory framework.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in education systems around the planet to shift to an emergency-response mode. This paper explores educational responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in the national education systems of Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. In order to examine the educational responses, this study employed a document analysis technique in building a simple case study for each country. To furnish the document analysis, social media platforms of each country’s ministry or departments of education were searched for items related to COVID-19 education management. To provide a granular understanding of local educational responses, one English-based online newspaper was selected from each country and educational news related to COVID-19 were coded and analysed from the period of global lockdown in March 2020 to July 2020. It was evident that whilst all of these countries pivoted to online learning during the initial stage of the lockdown, all of them pushed to open schools as early as possible as online learning was found to be ineffective and further exacerbated existing inequalities in education. This study established several takeaways, which included that private-public partnerships and community-based initiatives are essential in mitigating the education crisis caused by COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the contribution of foreign investment to industrial development by comparing the Philippine experience with two ASEAN neighbors: Malaysia and Thailand. Instead of viewing a failure to attract foreign investment as a binding development constraint, we focus on the appropriateness of such flows for industrial upgrading. Likewise, we underscore political economy factors—particularly the presence of effective state interventions and conducive state-business ties—as prime features of countries that have leveraged FDI for more successful industrial development. Without discounting flaws in these interventions in the cases of Thailand and Malaysia, we find that such forms of government involvement have been vital in driving both countries' strong investment and industrial growth records relative to that of the Philippines. Revived industrial policy initiatives in developing Asia would be well-advised to heed these lessons on investment-related intervention, so as to reorient their investment policies for maximum impact on industrial development in the years ahead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]