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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]

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a viral infection that primarily affects children. The disease is characterized by fever, sores in the mouth, and a rash on the hands, feet, and buttocks. In this case study, we analyze the dynamics of HFMD in children under 15 years old in Malaysia using an age-structured modeling approach. First we prove backward bifurcation for a baseline model which is then extended to an age-structured model. We used data on the incidence of HFMD in Malaysia from 2021 to 2022 to calibrate the model parameters and simulate the disease dynamics. Sensitivity analysis is done by Latin hypercube sampling - partial rank correlation coefficient (LHS/PRCC) method. Simulation is done and the impact of imperfect vaccine and quarantine is explored. Our results show that the dynamics of the disease is mostly driven by children under 5 years old. The model also predicts that vaccination could significantly reduce the incidence of HFMD in Malaysia. Vaccination is most effective when targeted at young children, who are at the highest risk of disease as this will lead to drastic decrease in the incidence of HFMD in all age groups. Our simulations show that quarantining of infected children until they fully recover will reduce the transmission of HFMD, but this strategy needs to be sustained for a sufficient duration to have a significant impact. The result of this paper can inform the development of policies for controlling the spread of HFMD and other infectious diseases in Malaysia and other similar settings. • A novel age-structured mathematical model of HFMD. • Interactions between different age groups are investigated. • The model is calibrated with real-life data. • Sensitivity analysis is performed to illustrate the role of parameters with respect to disease control. • Prove backward bifurcation due to the incorporation of imperfect vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the antecedents of cashless payment systems among businesses in Malaysia. The adoption of cashless payment systems by businesses has the potential to reduce the costs related to handling huge amounts of cash in the market and enhance transaction speed. Unfortunately, its current adoption in Malaysia is still small and very little is known about the factors. A seven-factor model based on the TOE framework was developed and tested. The partial least square (PLS) statistical approach was employed to analyze data collected from 200 business entities in Malaysia. The results reveal that compatibility and technology competence have higher significant relationships with the adoption of cashless payment systems. Management support, firm critical mass, competitive pressure, and information intensity are significantly related to the adoption of cashless payment systems, while firm size is not associated with it. The findings of this study provide significant practical implications for Malaysian stakeholders and technology vendors to recognize factors that affect a firm's adoption of cashless payment systems to support business transactions. By investigating the phenomenon through the TOE framework, this study presents an integrated model of cashless payment systems by businesses. Our findings also offer guidance for future application of the PLS method in cashless payment and related research. The paper provides a more holistic understanding of the factors influencing cashless payment systems among businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is the continuation from the previous paper which has been published. The focus of this paper is to analyse the tropospheric scintillation which consists of both fades and enhancements and the worst-month of scintillation fades and enhancements. This analysis is then compared against the six scintillation prediction models, namely Karasawa, ITU-R, Van de Kamp, Otung, Anthony-Mandeep and Nadirah-Rafiqul. The result shows that both measured scintillation fades and enhancements are 0.50 dB and 0.48 dB at 0.01% of time. Whereas the other six scintillation models have the following reading for the scintillation amplitude (both fades and enhancements) respectively: 0.44 dB and 0.36 dB (Karasawa), 0.42 dB (ITU-R only for fades but not enhancements), 0.23 dB for both (Van De Kamp), 0.70 dB and 0.68 dB (Anthony & Mandeep) and 0.38 dB and 0.33 dB (Nadirah & Rafiqul) at 0.01% of time. Otung has the highest scintillation fades and enhancements with values of 1.29 dB and 0.67 dB respectively. On the other hand, the measured worst-month of both scintillation fades and enhancements have the highest amplitude at 0.01% of time, which are 0.88 dB and 0.90 dB if compared to the annual cumulative distribution function (CDF), which yield 0.50 dB and 0.48 dB respectively. The month of February 2016 is declared to be the worst-month because it has the highest values for the scintillation fades and enhancements. Furthermore, the percentage fractional error and Root Mean Square (RMS) error are shown. Particularly at 0.01% of time, Van de Kamp has the highest fractional error for both scintillation fades and enhancements which are 100.8% and 100% respectively. Similarly, the same for RMS errors for both scintillation fades and enhancements with the values of 78.3% and 65.3% respectively. Whereas the other models have higher values for both percentage fractional error and RMS error except for Karasawa with the values of 11.6% and 17.2% for fades and enhancements respectively. Thus, this model is suitable to be used in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Safety Leadership influences both safety motivation and safety motivation. • Safety knowledge and motivation mediates safety leadership and safety behavior. • Effective safety leadership in hospitals indirectly leads to better safety behavior. • Safety leadership consist of caring, controlling, and coaching dimensions. • Self-efficacy theory sheds light on safety leadership and safety behavior. Introduction: This paper investigates the relationships among safety leadership, safety motivation, safety knowledge, and safety behavior in the setting of a tertiary hospital in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Method: Underpinned by the self-efficacy theory, we argue that high-quality safety leadership enhances nurses' safety knowledge and motivation and subsequently, improves their safety behavior (safety compliance and safety participation). A total of 332 questionnaire responses were gathered and analyzed using SmartPLS Version 3.2.9, revealing the direct effect of safety leadership on both safety knowledge and safety motivation. Results: Safety knowledge and safety motivation were found to directly and significantly predict nurses' safety behavior. Notably, safety knowledge and safety motivation were established as important mediators in the relationship between safety leadership and nurses' safety compliance and participation. Practical Applications: The findings of this study offer key guidance for safety researchers and hospital practitioners in identifying mechanisms to enhance safety behavior among nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the outcome of an investigation which was conducted soon after the 2015 Sabah earthquake in Malaysia. Buildings in the affected area were mainly constructed from reinforced concrete (RC) and wooden materials. Although the Mw 6.0 earthquake imposed significant damage to the majority of RC buildings, no significant structural damage was observed for the wooden structures. It was found that damage to the RC buildings was mainly because of non-ductile detailing of the structural components, strong-beam weak-column condition, captive-column and short-column effects, soft and weak stories mechanism, irregularity in plan and elevation, unconfined gable/infill walls, bad workmanship, and the low quality of construction materials. It was observed that many wooden structures had flaws in their design and construction as well. However, because of the high strength-to-weight ratio and the flexible properties of wooden materials which allow them to undergo several cycles of deformation without breaking, they survived the seismic actions. This paper identifies and discusses the main reasons for the damage observed in RC buildings and the construction flaws that were observed for wooden structures. Recommendations from seismic design codes in order to prevent the occurrence of such damage in the future are also highlighted. • A brief explanation about seismic activities in Sabah, Malaysia is presented. • Observed damage to RC buildings and seismic code requirements are discussed. • Damage to wooden buildings and observed construction flaws are discussed. • Suggestions for having safer structures in the future construction are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Importance of predicting Water Quality Index (WQI) for assessing water bodies' health and safety. • Development of hybrid model (CNN-CRNN-M5T) combining CNN, Clockwork RNN, and M5 Tree for WQI prediction. • Enhancement of M5T model's data analysis capability for intricate patterns in water quality parameters. • Utilization of GLM-ANOVA to determine significant input variables for WQI prediction. • CNN-CRNN-M5T model's superiority in reducing MAE and increasing efficiency for spatial and temporal WQI predictions in Malaysia. Predicting a water quality index (WQI) is important because it serves as an important metric for assessing the overall health and safety of water bodies. Our paper develops a new hybrid model for predicting the WQI. The study uses a combination of a convolutional neural network (CNN), clockwork recurrent neural network (Clockwork RNN), and M5 Tree (CNN-CRNN-M5T) to predict a WQI. The M5T model lacks advanced operators for extracting meaningful data from water quality parameters, so the new model enhances its ability to analyze intricate patterns. The general linear model analysis of variance (GLM-ANOVA) is an improved version of the ANOVA. Our study uses the GLM-ANOVA to determine significant inputs. As all input variables had p < 0.050, they were defined as significant variables. Results showed that NH-NL and PH had the highest and lowest impact, respectively. Our study used the CNN-CRNN-M5T, CNN-CRNN, CRNN-M5T, CNN-M5T, CRNN, CNN, and M5T models to predict the WQI of a large basin in Malaysia. The CNN-CRNN decreased testing mean absolute error (MAE) of the CRNN, CNN, and M5T models by 2.1 %, 12 %, and 15 %, respectively. The CNN-CRNN-M5T model increased Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient of the other models by 4–20 % and 2.1–19 %, respectively. The CNN-CRNN-M5T model was a reliable tool for spatial and temporal predictions of WQI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a maritime country, Malaysia relies on its diverse marine ecosystems, contributing to 23% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), amounting to USD 63 billion. Anthropogenic activities threaten these ecosystems, impacting both the environment and socio-economics. Environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play a crucial role in protecting the marine environment. This paper examines the educational initiatives of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), the oldest environmental NGO in Malaysia which promotes marine conservation. Through document analysis of the society's annual management report from June 2016 to May 2021, three educational strategies emerged: dissemination of knowledge, hands-on activities and application of knowledge. A guideline for implementing effective marine educational programs has been developed to enable other environmental NGOs to adopt these strategies and contribute to the conservation of marine ecosystems. • The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) demonstrates the role of NGOs in the conservation of marine ecosystem through education. employed three educational strategies: dissemination of knowledge, hands-on activities and application of knowledge • MNS employed three educational strategies: dissemination of knowledge, hands-on activities and application of knowledge. • A framework for effective implementation of marine conservation education programs was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of rocks is one of key rock strength parameters. Generally speaking, UCS can be measured directly through uniaxial compression tests, which is often unfeasible, especially when intact rock samples are highly fragile. Alternatively, the UCS of rocks can be estimated indirectly from other easily available rock indices. Note that adequate measurement data is the prerequisite for the accurate estimation of UCS using indirect methods. This may be difficult to achieve due to the limitation of time and budget, especially for small- to medium-sized projects. In this case, it becomes a challenging issue on how to develop a robust and reliable model for UCS estimation using the sparse measurement data. A fully Bayesian Gaussian process regression (fB-GPR) approach with Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) is proposed in this paper to address this problem. A real-life example from Malaysia was used for illustration and validation of proposed method. Results showed that when the synthetic sample size in SMOTE reaches 30 (i.e., optimal synthetic sample size), the coefficient of determination (R 2) increases by about 18.92%, and the accuracy of feature selection reaches 98%, compared with the scenario with only sparse measurement data used for fB-GPR model development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Construction industry in Malaysia have been bedevilled by myriads of risk issues. • This manuscript contributes might serve as bench mark towards construction risk management area. • Data was analyzed by using PLS-SEM software. SEM provides complete information regarding the extent to which a model is supported by data. Introduction: The construction industry in Malaysia has been bedevilled by myriads of risk issues that have hampered its smooth operations in recent times. This paper is an empirical assessment that aims to examine the effect of coercive pressure on the relationship between organizational structure and construction risk management among construction industry in Malaysia. Method: Based on the proposed model, a quantitative method was employed to obtain data from G7 construction industry operating within the peninsular Malaysia. Out of the 180 copies of questionnaire, 165 copies were properly filled, returned, and used for the analysis. PLS-SEM was used to analyze the obtained data. Results: The findings of the study affirmed that specialization, centralization, and management of risk by the construction industry had positive correlation. Conclusions : As anticipated, coercive pressure had positive moderating correlation with both formalization and the management of risk by the construction industry. Similarly, it was also found that in the course of carrying out construction activities, coercive pressure made significant interactive influence on formalization, specialization, and centralization. Practical Applications : Coercive pressure reduced the frequency of accidents among workers in the process of carrying out construction works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MAGDAS PEN was established on 19th September 2019 as one of the MAGDAS observatory arrays located at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) (5.15°, 100.50°). The main objective of the MAGDAS project is to monitor global electromagnetic and the ambient plasma density in the geospace environment. This installation has contributed to a better understanding of the Sun-Earth coupling system. This paper presents the installation process of one of the MAGDAS magnetometers named YU-8 T magnetic sensor and provides a preliminary analysis of geomagnetic HDZ components amplitude-time that was observed at PEN station. A one-month HDZ-geomagnetic field data was processed from 1st November to 30th November 2019. The daily variations with a consistent pattern in delta H geomagnetic field components are observed throughout the day with eastward electric field effects that are observed during solar peak hours. The delta H-component gradually increases around 0700LT and reaches the maximum reading at 1300LT with a range of value ~ 40-70nT. The value slowly decreases that started from 1400LT until the night time. The reading during the night time shows a constant variation with magnitude varies in between −10nT to + 10nT. The average H-component value of the night time is used as the baseline for the observation system. Overall, the observed trends portray a good sign of solar quiet field and Sq with no solar-terrestrial disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper analyses the barriers to the adoption of the triple-bottom line of sustainability of the construction sector within the developing country of Malaysia. Barriers pertaining to sustainable construction (SC) were identified through a thorough review of the literature on the process of SC, which were then contextually customized via a pilot study and presented in the form of a hypothesized model. Primary data was collected via administration of questionnaire surveys to 122 construction stakeholders in Malaysia. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was utilized to statistically validate the final model of the barriers to SC. This paper fills the gap in the knowledge by focusing on the quantified contribution of the most significant barriers to the adoption of SC principles throughout the process of SC in the context of Malaysia. Findings of this paper uncover the most significant factors constraining the SC in Malaysia related to government, cost, knowledge and information, workforce, and client and market. The findings revealed that clear and effective legislative process is crucial for the enforcement of the integration of SC materials and practices as well as economics incentives which will ultimately lead to effective implementation of SC initiatives; hence, sustainable economic growth and efficient resource (energy, water and material) utilization. It is hoped that the findings provide guidelines for the government authorities so that they invest their efforts and allocate resources in more efficient way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Dengue model with the temperature effect, using integer-order and the fractional-order differential equations is proposed. • The optimal temperature for a maximum dengue transmission is around 32∘C. • The backward bifurcation occurs in the presence of dengueinduced death rate. • The solutions of the aquatic stage of the integer-order model exhibit oscillatory behaviour whenever dengue is endemic. • Fractional-order dengue model provides stable solutions compared to the integer-order model. In this study, a deterministic mathematical model of the dengue transmission is developed by considering the effect of temperature on the transmission dynamics. It has a locally asymptotically stable disease-free equilibrium (DFE) point whenever the basic reproduction number (R 0) is less than unity. This model has shown a possibility of backward bifurcation, where the stable DFE coexists with a stable endemic equilibrium point when R 0 < 1. Using the entomological data of the Aedes mosquito population and the experimental data of the dengue transmission in Malaysia, R 0 is evaluated at different temperatures, given that at 32∘C, R 0 attain its maximum value. The solutions of the model show an oscillatory behaviour. Although the oscillations are unobservable in the state variable, they are present in the numerical solution. Finally, a fractional analogue of the dengue model is presented, and numerical solutions are performed to make a comparison with the integer-order model. A comparison of the two results reveals that the fractional-order model provides stable solutions as the oscillatory behaviour can be dampened. This paper provides numerical evidence that the dengue virus can spread in temperate areas where it is no longer limited to tropical and subtropical regions, and suggests that the fractional-order approach can be a great alternative in modelling dengue transmission dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to study the determinants that affect sustainability performance in manufacturing companies and the impact of business intelligence and big data analytics capability on performance considering the moderating role of green knowledge management. An online questionnaire survey was conducted with 488 ISO14001-certified manufacturing companies in Malaysia to test the framework developed in this study. Nonprobability sampling was used in this study. A total of 283 responses were received, whereby the data was then analyzed using structural equation modeling via SmartPLS 4 software. The results indicated that the significant factor determining big data analytics capability is business intelligence, and the positive outcome of big data analytics capability is sustainability performance. Big data analytics capability also plays a mediating role in the positive relationship between business intelligence and sustainability performance, whereby green knowledge management does not moderate the relationship between big data analytics capability and sustainability performance. Even though business intelligence has a substantial impact on sustainability performance, the relationship is not stronger when the level of green knowledge management changes. This research provides awareness to manufacturing companies on the critical factors contributing to big data analytics capability and its outcomes on corporate sustainability performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although research on the adoption of lean manufacturing in the furniture industry in emerging economies is slowly progressing, its implementation has been emphasized by researchers and practitioners. Research on this scope is therefore limited, particularly when compared to the vast amount of scholarly studies contributed to successful implementation of lean in the developed countries. To support the narrow body of knowledge on this under-researched scope, this paper presents the current shortfalls of implementing the lean manufacturing in terms of motives, barriers, challenges, and applications. To address these issues, a methodological approach was implemented in two tiers. Firstly, a comprehensive review of state-of-the-art literature on the issues was performed followed by an analytic approach using a survey on 148 companies in Malaysia to finalize the research. Upon validation of the analyses, the results revealed that most of the lean companies agreed that the reasons for lean implementation are to increase efficiency, to clean up and organize the workplace, and to increase utilization of space. Non-lean companies believe that issues related to knowledge are the reasons for not undertaking lean implementation. However, lean companies believe that the obstacles are more about employee-related issues including lack of labor resources, lack of implementation know-how, and employee resistance to change. Lean companies also face challenges in the form of technical knowledge, training, and financial resources during the early phase of lean implementation. In addition, only three applications – 5S, employee training, and quality control – were found to be useable in the Malaysian wood and furniture industry. These findings present a critical view of the current shortfalls of lean implementation in the wood and furniture industry throughout Malaysia and other emerging economies. • Key reasons for lean adoption are improving efficiency, organizing the workplace, and increasing the utilization of space. • Knowledge-related issues have been stressed as the main barriers for both lean and non-lean companies. • Knowledge and resources related issues posed serious challenges to lean practitioners. • 5S, employee training, and quality control have often been applied in the Malaysian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The panic wrought by the 1997 Asian financial crisis spurred different mitigative measures. Some states assented to IMF bailout and restructuring, while others enforced capital control. Since then, despite intense academic and regulatory scrutiny of the nuances of the recession, empiric focus on recovery trajectory of affected countries centred chiefly around traditional GDP metrics; an approach that disregards economic performance in a manner congruent with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). In this paper, we adopt a broader SDG-compatible approach by tracking two affected countries' (Korea and Malaysia) recovery via operationalizing an alternative growth indicator GPI (Genuine Progress Indicator). First, we construct a 35-year long GPI index from 1980 to 2014 and employ the Solow Growth Model to measure the impact of the two remedial measures on GDP and GPI of both countries. Employing an ARDL approach, we find external debt to impact significantly the GDP and GPI of Korea. Meanwhile for Malaysia, the controversial capital control failed to register significant impact. Moreover, unemployment rates, trade openness, fixed capital formation and the history of previous crises are found to be influential determinants of GDP and GPI, with credit and exchange rate variables showing ambiguous results. Image 1 • We track recovery paths of South Korea & Malaysia after 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. • Recovery is examined via traditional GDP and sustainable development-oriented GPI. • External debt significantly impacts economic growth in GDP & GPI for South Korea. • Capital control is an insignificant influence on either metric for Malaysia. • Unemployment, trade policy, capital formation and crises are significant determinants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The output power is conducted using 3D-PV model. • A new fusion of improved bi-archive multi-objective optimization algorithm is proposed. • A new hybrid MCDM method is considered to choose the most desirable configuration. • An accurate hybrid numerical method is used for validation of the proposed method. • Performance of optimum designs are evaluated for both cases: Malaysia and South Africa. Photovoltaic (PV) and Wind turbine (WT) systems are the most promising options for rural energy delivery. In the literature, numerous studies have simply considered only on economic efficiency, while maximizing dependability by a constant value for the given demand load. Moreover, a single set Pareto optimal front (PF) has been attained for the multi-objective optimization problem. Furthermore, the primary challenge of various the off-grid multiple renewable energy sources is excessive energy loss, resulting over/under sizing and a highly total cost for the system. Therefore, this paper presents a unique improved bi-archive approach to develop the diversity and convergence independently in order to find four optimum sets of PF solutions. In addition, a new integration based on best worst method (BWM) and preference ranking organization for enrichment evaluations (PROMETHEE II) method along with group decision making (GDM) mechanism are addressed to sort and rank the optimal sets PF solutions with full consistency ratios of the three experts opinions and high degree of stability in ranking configurations. The theoretical results based on actual hourly meteorological data in Malaysia and South Africa indicated that the suggested improved two-archive-BWM- PROMETHEE II-GDM method is not only able to construct a uniform set of Pareto optimal solutions with fast convergence and high diversity, but can also rank and select the most desired design for the PV/WT/Battery system. The optimum configurations of the two cases studies are composed of a single WT, 105 PV modules, and 69 batteries storages at zero LLP, 60185 ($) of LLC, and 13548018 (KWh) of P dump for Malaysia case study, meanwhile it composes of 16 WTs, 80 PV modules, and 69 batteries storage at zero of LLP, 66073 ($) of LCC, and 31371 (KWh) of P dump. The proposed standalone hybrid renewable energy sources system is verified and assessed in a comparison with existing hybrid methods in terms of increasing the reliability, lowering overall cost, and reducing wasted energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, Malaysia has experienced exceptional growth, progressing from primarily agriculture-based to a more developed manufacturing-based industrial economy. The natural rubber industry has been an important sector for Malaysia's economic development, contributing RM33.7 billion (USD101.1billion) or 4.69% of the country's Gross Domestic Profit (GDP) in 2013. This paper aims to apply the industrial symbiosis (IS) concept to the proposed Rubber City bilateral industrial development in Kedah, Malaysia. The concept of IS can be considered a strategic tool to enhance environmental and socio-economic sustainability of rubber industry. This paper involves stakeholder analysis of IS to identify strategic priorities and opportunities for the Rubber City initiative. The IS framework focuses on three main natural rubber downstream products: natural rubber blocks, tyres, and gloves; and identifies synergies in resource cycles and waste management using Materials Flow Analysis (MFA) and the Input-Output (IO) data based on previous Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) data for each of the three natural rubber products. Based on this case study, we identified ten principal synergies which include five potential IS industries integrated within the RC conceptual framework. Stakeholder surveys of natural rubber processors and other actors (such as government agencies) were conducted in Malaysia to identify barriers and enabling factors for IS implementation in the Rubber City. The outcomes of this study will be used as basis for integrated strategic development plan and implementation approach towards a sustainable Rubber City development in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Case Study paper presents the first exploration of Speculative Design as a participatory democracy method for navigating the future of ageing in Malaysia. Speculative Design in the context of Global South is emerging, but without much data on how it is applied within different socio-economic conditions from the Global North countries. This Case Study considers the challenges and opportunities of employing Speculative Design as policy identification and development method from the context of Malaysia, a Global South country with its own unique characteristics. The paper concludes by suggesting that the novelty of Speculative Design as a policy-design approach in Global South countries, such as in Malaysia, requires the right selection of provocations and culturally familiar content to ease introduction of the methodology. Also, the efficacy of this approach as a participatory design application would require further enculturation within targeted communities, as well as sustained engagement through Champions. • Employing Speculative Design in a Global South context requires adaptation to local contexts. • Future thinking is unfamiliar to many societies still facing non-equitable development. • Participatory Speculative Design can disrupt the top-down policy-making in Malaysia. • More research is required to better localize and measure the proposed method impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The National Automotive Policy was introduced in Malaysia in 2006, which includes end-of-life vehicle (ELV) recovery policies. However, there is limited information on the current state of ELV recovery in Malaysia, which hinders the fulfillment of these new requirements. For manufacturers, the lack of information will lead to difficulties in making strategic decisions in order to fulfill the ELV policies. In order to support design strategies for ELV recovery, it is crucial to identify the issues and factors of ELV recovery, which forms the objective of this study. A survey was carried out among the key stakeholders in the aftermarket chain and the results revealed that special tooling is needed to handle ELV components as well as design that will facilitate the separation of parts according to materials. These are among the main factors that contribute toward the effectiveness of ELV recovery. The following 5 factors (pre-production, health and environment, policy and worker, manufacturing process, and end-of-life value) are the factors that will enhance ELV recovery in Malaysia and it is believed that these factors are subject to dynamic changes in the aftermarket chain. It is believed that the results presented in this paper will be useful to academics and researchers in order to establish design strategies for ELV recovery in Malaysia. Moreover, stochastic techniques are required to cater the dynamic and complex behavior of the actual ELV recovery system in Malaysia. Highlights • ELV recovery issues and factors in the automotive industry are investigated. • Special tooling is a critical issues faced by aftermarket stakeholders. • Pre-production, manufacturing process, and EOL value are among the important factors. • Fragility of components is the most important sub-factor. • The proposed factors serve as a guideline to create a dynamic ELV recovery model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corruption is a serious concern all over the world. Due to the limited amount of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) research on specific issues such as bribery, this paper aims to determine the extent of anti-corruption information disclosure in annual reports that demonstrate organizational commitment towards combatting corruption. The index consists of 40 items developed from an analysis of past literature and several organizations' published reports. The input data was based on observation of several organizations' annual reports, CSR and sustainability reports, past literature and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) reporting indicators. The sample consists of 24 companies that participated in the ACCA Malaysia Sustainability Reporting Awards (MaSRA) and 34 Indonesian companies that participated in the Indonesia Sustainability Reporting Award (ISRA). The disclosure of anti-corruption practices (ACP) is still in its infancy in both countries. This study shows that the disclosure of anti-corruption codes of conduct and whistle-blowing practices was the most reported item. Interestingly, Indonesian companies disclosed higher amounts of ACP information compared to Malaysian companies. This is possibly because there is a higher level of coercive pressure to disclose ACP information in Indonesia compared to Malaysia. Further, there are several challenges to curbing corruption in Malaysia which potentially contribute to the low disclosure level of ACP information. This research contributes to CSR studies with a focus on anti-corruption practice, particularly in emerging economies. Some implications to improve the level of anti-corruption disclosure are also presented in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Design for Environment (DfE) and Design for Disassembly (DfD) have been recognized as an effective sustainable manufacturing approach to reduce environmental impact during product's life cycle. Although Malaysian manufacturers have long demonstrated a strong global market presence, the implementation of DfE and DfD among manufacturers are found lacking. This paper attempts to investigate the current state DfE and DfD implementation and the local driving force in the local Malaysian industry by addressing four research questions (RQ): RQ1 – How do Malaysian designers value the importance of DfE? RQ2 – What are the current approaches used by designers to incorporate environmental issues during product development stage? RQ3 – What difficulties are experienced in the implementation of DfE and DfD in the product development stage? RQ4 – What are the approaches needed to enhance the engagement of DfE and DfD into product design practices? Targeting product designers in Malaysia, a multiple approach using survey and interview is conducted shown that the current state of implementation and awareness within the local industry is fairly low. The soft approach of the local legislation does not contribute much towards seeing a major change in attitude as will be discussed further in the paper. The above two concerns are major challenges that require immediate attention. However, there seems to be growing concern from the industry and the government that pushes the need for options that could leapfrog the current situation. This presents an opportunity for the local research community to come up with various strategies that will be discussed. Finally, the paper proposes a more comprehensive strategy that is tailored to the local business environment in order for the local industry to be capable of maintaining its market presence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This paper shall first investigate the informatics areas and applications of the four Traditional Medicine systems - Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ayurveda, Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine and Traditional Malay Medicine. Then, this paper shall examine the national informatics infrastructure initiatives in the four respective countries that support the Traditional Medicine systems. Challenges of implementing informatics in Traditional Medicine Systems shall also be discussed.Methods: The literature was sourced from four databases: Ebsco Host, IEEE Explore, Proquest and Google scholar. The search term used was "Traditional Medicine", "informatics", "informatics infrastructure", "traditional Chinese medicine", "Ayurveda", "traditional Arabic and Islamic medicine", and "traditional malay medicine". A combination of the search terms above was also executed to enhance the searching process. A search was also conducted in Google to identify miscellaneous books, publications, and organization websites using the same terms.Results: Amongst major advancements in TCM and Ayurveda are bioinformatics, development of Traditional Medicine databases for decision system support, data mining and image processing. Traditional Chinese Medicine differentiates itself from other Traditional Medicine systems with documented ISO Standards to support the standardization of TCM. Informatics applications in Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine are mostly ehealth applications that focus more on spiritual healing, Islamic obligations and prophetic traditions. Literature regarding development of health informatics to support Traditional Malay Medicine is still insufficient. Major informatics infrastructure that is common in China and India are automated insurance payment systems for Traditional Medicine treatment. National informatics infrastructure in Middle East and Malaysia mainly cater for modern medicine. Other infrastructure such as telemedicine and hospital information systems focus its implementation in modern medicine or are not implemented and strategized at a national level to support Traditional Medicine.Conclusion: Informatics may not be able to address all the emerging areas of Traditional Medicine because the concepts in Traditional Medicine system of medicine are different from modern system, though the aim may be same, i.e., to give relief to the patient. Thus, there is a need to synthesize Traditional Medicine systems and informatics with involvements from modern system of medicine. Future research works may include filling the gaps of informatics areas and integrate national informatics infrastructure with established Traditional Medicine systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The industrial usage of plant biomass, paper pulp manufacture, is increasing every day. In Malaysia, Rubber wood is the dominant raw material and the Soda-anthraquinone and total chlorine free bleaching processes lead the procedure of rubber wood paper pulp production. This paper aims to identify the structural modification in the pulp depending on the applied procedure. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry and HPLC have been applied to analyze rubberwood chip, soda-AQ and TCF pulp. The relationship between spectral characteristics and sample composition has been established, as well as the variation in the structural behavior after pulping and bleaching has been observed. FTIR spectra clearly show that after TCF the structure of the wood components is partially modified or removed. Along with FTIR data, the HPLC results confirmed the absence of chemically hazardous p-Hydroxybenzoic acid in the pulp samples, which finally results in the contamination of the river water streams. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Covid-19 pandemic has had an adverse effect on the global economy, particularly the hotel industry. Industry players have turned to big data to recover and improve their business performance. This paper aims to identify the key resources to develop and build big data analytics capabilities (BDAC). Drawing upon the knowledge-based and dynamic capability views, this research also examines the interplay among BDAC, organizational agility, marketing and organizational innovations, and firm performance in the hotel industry. The partial least square structural equation modeling is used for the data analysis, while quota sampling is used for the sampling design. Based on the statistical data analysis from 115 star-rated hotels in Malaysia, BDAC positively impacts organizational agility, marketing and organizational innovations, and firm performance. Likewise, organizational agility positively impacts firm performance, marketing and organizational innovations. The empirical findings provide researchers and industry players with meaningful insights for improving firm performance in the hotel industry using big data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of restaurants is increasing day by day in almost all the developing countries, causing the increase in the generation of restaurant wastewater. Various activities (i.e., cleaning, washing, and cooking) going on in the restaurant kitchen lead to restaurant wastewater (RWW). RWW has high concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), nutrients such as potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen, and solids. RWW also contains fats, oil, and grease (FOG) in alarmingly high concentration, which after congealing can constrict the sewer lines, leading to blockages, backups, and sanitatry sewer overflows (SSOs). The paper provides an insight to the details of RWW containing FOG collected from a gravity grease interceptor at a specific site in Malaysia, and its expected consequences and the sustainable management plan as prevention, control, and mitigation (PCM) approach. The results showed that the concentrations of pollutants are very high as compared to the discharge standards given by Department of Environment, Malaysia. Maximum values for COD, BOD and FOG in the restaurant wastewater samples were found to be 9948, 3170, and 1640 mg/l, respectively. FAME and FESEM analysis are done on the RWW containing FOG. In the FOG, palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), oleic acid (C18:1n9c), linoleic acid (C18:2n6c) are the dominant lipid acids with a maximum of 41, 8.4, 43.2, and 11.5%, respectively. FESEM analysis showed formation of whitish layers fprmed due to the deposition of calcium salts. Furthermore, a novel design of indoor hydromechanical grease interceptor (HGI) was proposed in the study based on the Malaysian conditions of restaurant. The HGI was designed for a maximum flow rate of 132 L per minute and a maximum FOG capacity of 60 kg. [Display omitted] • Characterization and analysis of restaurant wastewater containing FOG was conducted. • Peak flow discharge was measured at the gravity grease interceptor which was the sampling point during the study. • FAME & FESEM analysis was carried on the composition of FOG in restaurant wastewater. • Design of Hydromechanical grease interceptor was proposed for the indoor and onsite installation to control the FOG. • Prevention, control, and mitigation approach to combat the deleterious effects of FOG in RWW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate distribution and sources of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) bound to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) captured in a semi-urban area in Malaysia during different seasons, and to assess their health risks. PM 2.5 samples were collected using a high volume air sampler on quartz filter paper at a flow rate of 1 m 3 min −1 for 24 h. PAHs on the filter paper were extracted with dichloromethane (DCM) using an ultrasonic centrifuge solid-phase extraction method and measured by gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy. The results showed that the range of PAHs concentrations in the study period was between 0.21 and 12.08 ng m −3 . The concentrations of PAHs were higher during the south-west monsoon (0.21–12.08 ng m −3 ) compared to the north-east monsoon (0.68–3.80 ng m −3 ). The high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs (≥5 ring) are significantly prominent (>70%) compared to the low molecular weight (LMW) PAHs (≤4 ring) in PM 2.5 . The Spearman correlation indicates that the LMW and HMW PAHs correlate strongly among themselves. The diagnostic ratios (DRs) of I[c]P/I[c]P + BgP and B[a]P/B[g]P suggest that the HMW PAHs originated from fuel combustion sources. The source apportionment analysis of PAHs was resolved using DRs-positive matrix factorization (PMF)-multiple linear regression (MLR). The main sources identified were (a) gasoline combustion (65%), (b) diesel and heavy oil combustion (19%) and (c) natural gas and coal burning (15%). The health risk evaluation, by means of the lifetime lung cancer risk (LLCR), showed no potential carcinogenic risk from the airborne BaP eq (which represents total PAHs at the present study area in Malaysia). The seasonal LLCR showed that the carcinogenic risk of total PAHs were two fold higher during south-westerly monsoon compared to north-easterly monsoon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ineffective waste management that involves dumping of waste in landfills may degrade valuable land resources and emit methane gas (CH 4 ), a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). The incineration of waste also emits polluted chemicals such as dioxin and particle. Therefore, from a solid waste management perspective, both landfilling and incineration practices pose challenges to the development of a green and sustainable future. Waste-to-energy (WtE) has become a promising strategy catering to these issues because the utilisation of waste reduces the amount of landfilled waste (overcoming land resource issues) while increasing renewable energy production. The goal of this paper is to evaluate the energy and carbon reduction potential in Malaysia for various WtE strategies for municipal solid waste (MSW). The material properties of the MSW, its energy conversion potential and subsequent greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions are analysed based on the chemical compositions and biogenic carbon fractions of the waste. The GHG emission reduction potential is also calculated by considering fossil fuel displacement and CH 4 avoidance from landfilling. In this paper, five different scenarios are analysed with results indicating a integration of landfill gas (LFG) recovery systems and waste incinerator as the major and minor WtE strategies shows the highest economical benefit with optimal GHG mitigation and energy potential. Sensitivity analysis on the effect of moisture content of MSW towards energy potential and GHG emissions are performed. These evaluations of WtE strategies provides valuable insights for policy decision in MSW management practices with cost effective, energy benefit, environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is considered to be the most systematic methodology that is widely used in the area of energy analysis. However, embodied energy (EE) and carbon (EC) analysis requires significant time and effort to ensure the reliability of the LCA results. Therefore, a more comprehensive model of conducting the energy analysis is required to provide more realistic EE and EC analysis in turn. Hybrid LCA has been identified as the best model in improving the completeness of EE and EC inventory data. However, such a benefit was not empirically verified extensively, especially in the Malaysian construction industry. This paper demonstrates an extended application of hybrid LCA to Malaysian building design systems, and further investigates the completeness of the model. Finally, the potential for EE and EC reduction through the allocation of low EE and EC intensities of alternative materials, products or components has been evaluated. The results revealed that the hybrid LCA improved the completeness of the EE and EC inventory data compared with other models. By using low EE and EC intensity materials, products or components, a total EE and EC reduction of 43% and 41%, respectively was achieved. The results showed that the proposed methodology can assist designers practically during the early stage of the design process in the Malaysian construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To realize Malaysia’s vision of becoming a developed country by the year 2020, rapid urbanization and development have taken place in many parts of the country. Despite vast development in Malaysia, the country experiences a myriad of water shortage issues. Therefore, Malaysia needs to carefully manage its freshwater resources to achieve sustainable development. Greywater has proven to be a useful substitute for fresh water for non-potable activities. This paper reviews examples of greywater recycling that have been successfully implemented globally, and identifies constraints of implementing greywater recycling systems for use in Malaysia. Greywater represents 43–70% of total domestic wastewater volume, and reusing greywater for irrigation may have adverse long-term impacts on soil. Greywater should be treated and disinfected before reuse, and can be disinfected via chlorine, UV, or ozone disinfection. Chlorine disinfection is recommended as chlorine is widely available and inexpensive. Malaysia lacks strategies for kick starting greywater recycling projects. To overcome obstacles, Malaysia could establish a moderate treated greywater quality standard (pH 6–9, TSS < 20 mg/L, <5 NTU, BOD 5 < 20 mg/L and <10 CFU/100 mL of E. coli ) for urban reuse and initiate greywater recycling efforts by recycling low strength greywater from ablution activities and bathrooms. Last but not least, researchers and local authorities could work closely to monitor the greywater recycling systems, while the latter could provide subsidies and rebates to financially support the implementation of the greywater recycling system and eventually achieve the goal of water sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In accordance with the Paris Accord to cap global temperature rise to1.5°Celsius over the next 100 years, Malaysia submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) seeking to reduce emissions by 45% by 2030, which was changed to 2050 following the Marrakech Proclamation in 2016. This paper analyzes the implications of Malaysia's INDC and an additional proposal of continuing further climate control to cap temperature rise over the next century against the existing scenario in the country. The results show that the cumulative damage from climate change over the period 2010–2100 will amount to MYR2.1 billion under the present climatic regime. It will fall to MYR1.1 billion under scenario 2 and to MYR0.6 billion under scenario 3. Since the total abatement costs for scenario 2 (MYR14.3 billion) is close to that of scenario 3 (MYR14.6 billion) against the significant reduction in climate damage of the latter, the third proposal is the best alternative for Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of sustainable materials in the construction industry has been on the rise recently. Studies have proven that the use of conventional concrete and its raw materials has a negative impact on the environment. Research on incorporating biochar as a supplementary cementitious material has been recently evolving and has shown that the attributes of biochar are highly affected by the pyrolysis parameters. These attributes have enhanced the properties of biochar concrete and mortar composite. This paper identifies the different physiochemical properties exhibited by palm kernel shell biochar through optimization by response surface methodology. Focusing on some of the properties of biochar that have proven beneficial when used as a cement replacement. Very limited research has used optimization tools for the production of biochar with the intention of using it as a cement substitute. Pyrolysis was conducted by a tubular furnace at different temperature ranges from 200 °C to 800 °C. The biomass and biochar have been analyzed with TGA and FESEM-EDX. The targeted biochar properties and selected responses are the yield, carbon, oxygen, silica, and potassium content. The optimized parameters obtained are 409 °C, 15 °C/min, 120 min with responses of 38.2% yield, 73.37% carbon, 25.48% oxygen, 0.39% potassium and 0.44% silica. Thermal properties of the palm kernel shell biochar affected by the pyrolysis factors such as temperature, heating rate and residence time have also been discussed. In conclusion, this study supports and encourages the use of palm waste, which is abundant in Malaysia, as a supplementary cementitious material to promote sustainable growth in construction. [Display omitted] • Hypothesis for a high potential of palm kernel shell biochar to be used as supplementary cementitious replacement. • The factors that are taken into consideration are pyrolysis temperature, heating rate and residence. The responses are biochar yield, carbon, oxygen, potassium, and silica content. • Optimized round of palm kernel shell biochar is 409 °C, 15 °C/min and 120 min. • The carbon content of the biochar is directly proportional to the pyrolysis temperature. • The pyrolysis temperature and residence time are more effective than heating rate on the physiochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Particulate matter (PM10) associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient air were determined at two sites within the Klang Valley, Kuala Lumpur (urban, KL) and Petaling Jaya (industrial, PJ), and one site outside the Klang Valley, Bangi (semi-urban, BG). This study aimed to determine the concentration and distribution of PAHs in PM10 and the source of origin through principal component analysis (PCA) and diagnostic ratio analysis. This study also assessed the health risk from exposure to airborne BaPeq. PM10 samples were collected on glass fiber filter paper using a High Volume Sampler (HVS) for 24 h between September 2010 and April 2011. The filter papers with PM10 were extracted using dichloromethane-methanol (3:1), and analysis of 16 USEPA priority PAHs was determined using gas chromatography with mass spectra (GC–MS). Health risk assessment was estimated using toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) which quantitatively estimate the exposure risk for age specific group. The results showed that the total PAHs concentrations throughout seasonal monsoons for KL, PJ and BG ranged from 1.33 ng m−3 to 2.97 ng m−3, 2.24 ng m−3 to 4.84 ng m−3 and 1.64 ng m−3 to 3.45 ng m−3 respectively. More than 80% of total PAHs consisted of 5-ring and 6-ring PAHs such as benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene (IcP), benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF), benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkF) and benzo[g,h,i]perylene (BgP). The presence of benzo[g,h,i]perylene (BgP) with high concentration at all locations suggested a source indicator for traffic emission. PCA and diagnostic ratio analysis also suggested substantial contributions from traffic emission with minimal influence from coal combustion and natural gas emissions. The use of total BaPeq concentration provide a better estimation of carcinogenicity activities, where they contributed to more than 50% of the potential health risk. Health risk assessment showed that the estimated incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) from exposure to airborne BaPeq is negligible at all sampling sites for all age specific group. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Malaysian palm oil industry spans the entire value chain from upstream processes to downstream activities. This paper aims to review the progress of the palm oil industry and the current issues in the plantation sector, such as labor shortage, sustainable production, and greenhouse gas emission from the cultivation process. Palm oil cultivation is known for its labor-intensive process. Foreign laborers are usually employed in Malaysian palm oil plantations for harvesting, fruit collecting, and general maintenance works. Some issues have affected the supply of workers to Malaysian palm oil plantations. Farm mechanization, which has always been recommended as a tool to reduce dependency on foreign workers, is expected to solve the issues. However, certain considerations should be investigated, such as fuel consumption, to reduce its impacts on the environment. The currently available farm machineries that are frequently used contribute to almost 211 million kg of CO2-eq per year, as diesel consumption stands at 290 million L per year. Therefore, this paper also examines the potential renewable energy resources for the palm oil cultivation process. Exploiting renewable energy technologies in plantation operations, such as battery-powered electric vehicles charged using a solar photovoltaic (PV) system, can reduce up to 750 tonnes of CO2-eq per year. Therefore, this initiative will increase the sustainability of the Malaysian palm oil industry in general. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper describes the trend of utilizing oil palm residue, i.e. the empty fruit bunches (EFB) left after extraction of the palm oil, using a case study of Malaysia, which is one of the world''s major palm oil producers, and discusses the environmental performance of recycling technologies being developed in Malaysia for fuel, fiber, and fertilizer. Seven technologies are analyzed: ethanol production, methane recovery, briquette production, biofuel for combined heat and power (CHP) plants, composting, medium density fiberboard (MDF) production, and pulp and paper production. The life cycle assessment (LCA) method is used to discuss the environmental impacts of these technologies for adding value to this biomass. Sensitivity analyses are conducted to determine the land use effects for the various technologies utilizing EFB and to estimate the energy generation potential of raw EFB in CHP plants and methane production. Among the technologies for energy production, CHP plants have the best performance if the electricity generated is connected to the national grid, with superior benefits in the majority of impact categories compared to briquette, methane, and ethanol production. Overall, we find that methane recovery and composting are more environmentally friendly than other technologies, as measured by reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Pulp and paper, and MDF production are favorable technologies for land use impacts; however, they have intense primary energy requirements, chemical use in the processes, and emissions from their waste treatment systems. Our results provide information for decision makers when planning for sustainable use of oil palm biomass. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

ISO 14001 has been widely applied by various power plant sectors to manage their plants’ performance. This paper aims to conduct monitoring on the environmental and operational performances of an ISO 14001 certified coal power plant in Malaysia. This work suggests some area for improvements for those performance parameters which show inconsistency and downtrend, statistically. Relevant environmental and operational performance parameters were selected as the indicators for air quality, generating efficiency, power availability and reliability. The environmental parameters are the air quality parameters which include Total Suspended Particulate, Particulate Matter up to 10 μm in size and Sulfur Oxides. Thermal Efficiency and Equivalent Availability Factor were selected as parameters for generating efficiency and availability. For reliability, the parameters are Equivalent Unplanned Outage Factor and Equivalent Planned Outage Factor. Overall findings showed that better performance was recorded on environmental aspect, suggesting more focuses were put on regulatory concerns to ensure high environmental compliances. The present work provides some of the approaches in achieving more effective ISO 14001 implementation in power plant industry, in tandem with the policy of Malaysia government towards a more self-regulating manner. It demonstrates some relevant evidences toward treating operational improvement as equally significant and beneficial efforts for economic gain and environmental enhancement. Furthermore, this study provides a useful structure method for future research on performance monitoring as well as for the reference of other certified and non-certified ISO 14001 power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We performed a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) of a bio-based cosmetic cream containing Refined Palm Kernel Oil (RPKO). The objective was to investigate the importance of the RPKO production within the environmental impact of the cosmetic cream. We assumed a baseline scenario with best oil palm agricultural practices in Malaysia, and then tested different parameters, i.e. deforestation, peat soil drainage and improved effluent treatment, in order to check their influences. In the baseline scenario, transport of the cosmetic cream was the main contributing process (largest contribution for 11 out of 15 impact indicators). Contribution of the packaging of the cosmetic cream was also significant (largest for 2 out of 15). RPKO had a low impact contribution in the baseline scenario, albeit a much more critical one in the alternative scenarios. Deforestation and peat soil drainage (i.e. transformation and occupation) influenced two environmental indicators: Climate Change and Land Use. On Climate change indicator, deforestation caused an increase of about 9% of the cosmetic cream impacts and peat soil occupation an increase of 16%. On Land Use indicator, deforestation caused an increase of 3%, peat soil transformation and occupation caused increases of 938% and 41%, respectively. Methane capture from palm oil mill effluent treatment and conversion to electricity represented a low decrease of environmental impact of cosmetic cream (from −0.1% to −2.8%). This paper showed that the palm oil agricultural phase could have a non-negligible impact over the life-cycle of a cosmetic cream in case of deforestation and peat cultivation, despite its small contribution in both mass and economic terms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) enables transferring technology from developed countries to developing countries, such as Malaysia, and simultaneously promotes sustainable growth. Although this has been proven, the contribution of Malaysian companies in CDM projects is low. Therefore, this study has been aimed at investigating the determinants of CDM adoption and its impact on companies' performances. Data were gathered by surveying 91 companies in the energy, agriculture, and forestry sectors in Malaysia implementing CDM projects. The data were analysed using the partial least squares technique. The results show that environmental regulations, competitiveness, and financial benefits have a positive impact on CDM implementation. Additionally, this study reported a significant positive effect of CDM implementation on economic performance. This paper extends the knowledge on the determinants and financial outcome of CDM implementation. The information given in this research might be beneficial for policy makers and managers in modifying tactics and strategies towards successful promotion of the CDM in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process graph (P-graph) framework was introduced in the early 1990s as a graph theoretic approach to Process Network Synthesis (PNS) problems in chemical engineering. This framework has several advantageous features, such as mathematically rigorous generation of maximal structures (i.e., superstructures), elucidation of combinatorially feasible solution structures, and efficient search of solution space for optimal PNS compared to conventional branch-and-bound algorithms for mixed integer linear programming (MILP) models. In the three decades since its inception, the P-graph framework has proven to be a viable approach to a wide array of PNS and other structurally analogous problems; the methodology has also matured, as evidenced by the development of key software tools (PNS Draw, PNS Studio and P-graph Studio) and its appearance in modern textbooks. Nevertheless, the P-graph framework has yet to achieve broad, mainstream penetration among grassroots chemical engineering users, especially those without a strong mathematical programming background. In this paper, we discuss the implementation of instructional P-graph modules in undergraduate chemical engineering degree programs at the University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus and De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines. These modules have primarily focused on the design of Green Processes. Results show that the visual nature of the P-graph methodology is an advantage for practical engineering decision-making, and that it complements the learning of mainstream techniques such as mathematical programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in global warming, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions has gained attention in various regions. In Malaysia, the government announced a voluntary commitment to reduce 40% of CO 2 emissions by 2020 and to refurbish 100 government buildings. Existing buildings make a large contribution to energy consumption and CO 2 emissions, therefore refurbishing existing buildings is an essential strategy to achieve the commitment. There is no single assessment scheme for building refurbishment in Malaysia and hence, this study aims to develop a comprehensive list of assessment themes and sub-themes for building refurbishment purposes. It examines and compares 10 assessment schemes from various countries: BREEAM, LEED, CASBEE, BEAM Plus, GBLS, Green Star, HQE, Green Mark, GBI and MyCrest. The findings revealed fourteen themes that were considered for assessment: management , sustainable site , transport , indoor environmental quality ( IEQ ), water , waste , material , energy , pollution , innovation , economic , social , culture and quality of services . Energy and IEQ are dominant themes in all assessment schemes. Most of the schemes are considered relatively weak in evaluating economic and social aspects, in comparison to environmental aspects. The assessment of quality of services is overlooked in most of the schemes, including GBI and MyCrest in Malaysia. Outcomes from this paper will form the baseline for a new environmental assessment scheme that aimed at non-domestic building refurbishments in Malaysia. A new model is proposed for the development of an environmental assessment scheme in the further stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crude oil price hikes have compelled governments of developing countries to let domestic prices of energy increase. Fiscal priorities made it impossible to fully compensate the hikes by raising energy subsidies. This paper examines the potential impacts of a limited deregulation of the petroleum price on the income distribution in Malaysia, paying specific attention to differences in impacts on major ethnic groups. We introduce an extended social accounting matrix (SAM) model, which not only incorporates substitution possibilities among production inputs and consumption goods, but also allows for the exogenous determination of the price of intermediate inputs. The results of simulations indicate that distributional impacts of rising petroleum prices tend to be regressive, affecting poor people more severely than richer people. All ethnic groups experience income loss with the real incomes of Malay households (which are relatively poor, on average) more than the Chinese and Indian households (which are the generally richer). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents an optimization for hybrid PV/wind system based on loss of load probability (LLP) and system cost. This paper is divided into three main parts: optimization of PV array, wind turbine and battery, optimum PV array tilt angle and optimization of the inverter size. Firstly, the optimization performed is aimed to select the optimal capacities of the PV array and wind turbine that give minimum system cost. However, the optimization was done using a hybrid iterative/genetic algorithm. The iterative part of the proposed algorithm is applied to generate a set of possible configurations for the proposed system, while the genetic algorithm is applied to find the optimum configuration. Secondly, a model for optimizing the tilt angle of the PV array is presented based on the Liu and Jordan model. Finally, an iterative method for optimizing the inverter size in the proposed system is presented. The results showed that the optimum sizes of the PV array (C A ), wind turbine (C s ) and storage battery (C B ) are 1.1411, 0.7159, and 0.550, respectively, while the optimum inverter''s size (Rs) is 1.37. Lastly, by applying the calculated monthly optimum tilt angle, the collected yield of the PV array is increased by 7.96%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Malaysia has an abundance of energy resources, both renewable and non-renewable. The largest non-renewable energy resource found in Malaysia is oil, and second, is natural gas, primarily liquefied natural gas. The production and consumption of oil, gas and coal in Malaysia are given in this paper. The energy demand and supply by source are also shown in relation to the country’s fuel diversification policy. In order to reduce the overall dependence on a single source of energy, efforts were undertaken to encourage the utilization of renewable resources. Forest residue and oil palm biomass are found to be potentially of highest energy value and considered as the main renewable energy option for Malaysia. Palm oil and related products represent the second largest export of Malaysia. The total oil palm planted area in Malaysia has increased significantly in recent years. This paper gives a detailed representation of oil palm planted and produced together with its yield from the year 1976 onwards. The large amounts of available forest and palm oil residues resulting from the harvest can be utilized for energy generation and other by-products in a manner that also addresses environmental concerns related to current waste disposal methods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article explores dominant discourses on 'illegal' migrants in the context of contemporary Indonesian labour migration to Malaysia. By focusing on the particular case of migrant domestic workers, it discusses recent political moves undertaken by both nation-states to regularise migratory movements. These state-induced efforts at regularising transnational migration have been promoted as combating trafficking and 'illegal' migration, but they have led to the legitimisation of a migration scheme that has much in common with colonial indentured labour. Hence, the paper argues that this 'legal,' state-sanctioned migration scheme gradually leads domestic workers into 'legal' - but bonded - labour arrangements and that the labour contract, as such, needs to be analysed as an instrument of subordination. Through the counter-narrative of Arum, an Indonesian domestic worker performing her work 'illegally' in Malaysia, the paper then goes on to argue that to migrate through 'illegal' migration channels can be interpreted as an act of voluntarily circumventing the 'legal,' state-sanctioned migration scheme. Thus, 'illegal' migration can be equated with deliberately resisting a coercive system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper investigates the effect of organizational demographic variables on successful knowledge management (KM) implementation which insofar has not been thoroughly reported in the KM literature. For meaningful results to be generated, four organizational demographic variables, namely functional areas, years of KM involvement, KM development stage, and degree of knowledge intensity were moderated against a comprehensive set of KM activities, which comprise of KM preliminary success factors, KM strategies and KM processes, with organizational performance. The respondents comprised of middle managers working in the telecommunication industry in Malaysia. Based on the data collected from 289 respondents using a set of structured questionnaire, the results reveal that all the four demographic characteristics interacted with the degree of implementation of the KM activities, while three of the characteristics, with exception of functional areas, show significant relationships with organizational performance. The contributions of the paper, along with the implications of the results are discussed and interpreted to provide guidance to organizations for improved business performance through KM implementation success. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Vulnerability assessment and control of a power system is important to power utilities due to the blackouts in recent years in many countries which indicate that power systems today are vulnerable when exposed to unforeseen catastrophic contingencies. A fast and accurate technique to assess the level of system strength or weakness is some of the essential requirements for maintaining security of modern power systems, particularly in competitive energy markets. This paper presents intelligent artificial techniques for vulnerability assessment of Malaysian power system and recommends preventive control measures. Accurate techniques for vulnerability assessment and control of power systems are developed. In vulnerability assessment, power system loss index is used as a vulnerability parameter, neural network weight extraction is employed as the feature extraction method and the generalized regression neural network is used to predict vulnerability of a power system. As for vulnerability control, load shedding is considered by using the neuro-fuzzy technique. Finally, the paper presents and discusses the results from this research with recommendations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Landslide-susceptibility mapping is one of the most critical issues in Malaysia. These landslides can be systematically assessed and mapped through a traditional mapping framework that uses geoinformation technologies (GIT). The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the possible application of an artificial neural network model and its cross-application of weights at three study areas in Malaysia, Penang Island, Cameron Highland and Selangor. Landslide locations were identified in the study areas from the interpretation of aerial photographs, field surveys and inventory reports. A landslide-related spatial database was constructed from topographic, soil, geology, and land-cover maps. For the calculation of the relative weight and importance of each factor to a particular landslide occurrence, an artificial neural network (ANN) method was applied. Landslide susceptibility was analyzed using the landslide occurrence factors provided by the artificial neural network model. Then, the landslide-susceptibility analysis results were validated and cross-validated using the landslide locations as study areas. Different training sites were randomly selected to train the neural network, and nine sets of landslide-susceptibility maps were prepared. The paper then illustrates the verification of those maps using an “area under the curve” (AUC) method. The verification results show that the case of the weight using the same test area showed slightly higher accuracy than the weight used for the cross-applied area. Among the three studied areas, the verification results showed similar accuracy trends while using the weight for the study area itself. Cameron showed the best accuracy and Penang showed the worst accuracy. Generally, the verification results showed satisfactory agreement between the susceptibility map and the existing data on the landslide location. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper addresses issues on sustainable biomass production for energy in Malaysia. Three biomass demand scenarios, viz. incremental biomass demand, sustainable biomass demand and full biomass demand are introduced. In order to meet these demands, two surplus land availability scenarios (Scenarios I and II) are also introduced. In Scenario I, it is assumed that the area under plantation will remain constant and 100% of surplus land is available for plantation, while Scenario II considers a 25% increase of food production and a reduction of the potential surplus land available by the same proportion. The land area to meet the demands for fuelwood, sawn wood, and industrial wood are estimated and by deducting this area from total surplus land, the land area available for energy plantations are estimated. By subjecting these lands to different forestry and productivity options, sustainable biomass productions for energy are estimated. Each plantation option is also evaluated using the financial viability of the system. By identifying appropriate technologies for electricity generation, the energy potential of biomass produced is estimated. The annual electricity generation potential from incremental biomass demand under land Scenarios I and II are 1.66 and 0.38 TWh yr−1, respectively. There is insufficient surplus land for dedicated energy plantations for both the sustainable biomass demand and full biomass demand scenarios under the two biomass production (land) scenarios. This paper finally discusses the barriers and policy options for energy plantations and recommends some strategies to promote them. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Looking at crisis responses in the Philippines and Malaysia, this paper will analyse how state-based banking policy elites in both states used the 1997–2000 crisis to radically accelerate pre-crisis policy directions that were opposed by local banking institutions and their peak associations. Drawing on empirical evidence and policy reform theory, the paper will detail how these elites used both their ability to define the nature of the 1997–2000 crisis and the appropriate responses, and their control of the executive to accelerate these directions and minimize the voice of local banking players. In the case of Malaysia, the banking policy direction to be analyzed will be banking sector consolidation, while for the Philippines it will be foreign entry and equity participation in the local banking sector. Moving away from the singular domestic focus of much policy reform literature, this paper will attempt to develop a two-level model for these crisis-driven policy accelerations. To do this, it will look at the use by these state elites of their relationships with the IMF and their banking policy obligations of the GATS as the rationale for acceleration and as the rationale for their overriding of local banking interests. This incorporation of external actors and changes to the international political economy should allow for a more nuanced and well-rounded understanding of these specific elements of the 1997–2000 crisis response, as well as the political economy of policy reform in general for both Malaysia and the Philippines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]