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Abstract: Radio astronomy is a very young research field in South East Asia. There has not been a research-grade radio telescope built in this part of the world yet. A plan has been proposed by the University of Malaya’s Radio Cosmology Research Laboratory to build a medium-sized radio telescope in order to eventually join the global projects of the Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) Network and Square Kilometer Array (SKA). Main parameters taken into consideration in finding the main prime candidate sites involves features that produce Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). These features are mainly telecommunication and satellite navigation signals and population density. Other important features considered are rainfall level, land contour and availability for future collaboration with institutions at the chosen sites. In this paper we described the experimental procedure and the RFI measurement on our five prime candidate’s sites in Malaysia, covering frequency band from 1MHz to 2000MHz. The levels and sources of RFI on these sites were monitored and analyzed. The RFI level in Langkawi showed the lowest average of . These RFI have been found to fluctuate relatively lowly (between 1dBm and 2dBm). This site is also ideally located close to the Langkawi National Observatory and we recommend that this site as the best site to build the first research-grade radio telescope in this region. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction. The treatment of epilepsy patients is focused on three main goals: controlling seizures, avoiding or minimizing the treatment side effects and maintaining or restoring the quality of life. In Southeast Asia, there are about 1% of the population with epilepsy and only 10-20% of the patients receive appropriate treatment. The objective of this scoping review is to identify the research pattern of epilepsy treatment in Malaysia and its gap. Methods. Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review methodology framework was used to guide and conduct this scoping review. Databases of PubMed, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholars were systematically searched using the keywords of "epilepsy", "seizure", "treatment", "therapy", "management", "antiepileptic drugs" (AEDs) and "surgery". Studies of epilepsy patients among the Malaysian population with no age preference were selected. Results. A total of 9405 articles were retrieved. Thirty-four articles were included in the final review; from these, 26 articles were published between 2010 to 2019. Ten out of 34 papers reported on AEDs, six articles focused on genetic evaluation for better treatment, three articles evaluated AEDs adherence, two articles reported the side effects and monitoring of AEDs and one article studied on complementary medicine. Four articles analyzed the surgical aspects of epilepsy. Six articles explored education and psychological interventions as part of epilepsy treatment. One study reported on diet therapy and one article on neuromodulation. Conclusion. There have been emerging studies on epilepsy treatment in Malaysia for the last decade. However, more studies need to be conducted such as the treatment gap among rural patients; other alternative therapies in poorly controlled epilepsy and the use of advanced methods for educational intervention in epilepsy care. It is essential to explore more themes in the research of epilepsy treatment in Malaysia for the development of better management of epilepsy patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents general equilibrium evaluations of forest sector trade for Southeast Asian exporters. The four scenarios examined range from the 1994 Uruguay Round tariff reductions to a complete liberalisation of forest and agricultural products trade. We find that simultaneous reductions in forest and agricultural sector tariffs make Indonesia and Malaysia worse off. For Indonesia, this is due to the fall in forest rent and agricultural tariff revenues. Malaysia has the highest ratio of agricultural imports to total land-based sector imports, the rise in agricultural prices thus hits Malaysian consumers the hardest.We find that terms of trade effect omitted from the partial equilibrium framework may reduce the welfare calculations for Malaysia and Indonesia in the forest sector trade by as much as 106 and 58%, respectively. This points to the importance of general equilibrium modelling in the logging industry. The same applies to other sector specific analyses where trade is concentrated between few countries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The onshore and shallow marine conventional hydrocarbon resources around the world are mostly at the maturation phase and hence, exploration activity globally, showing increasing interest into progressively deeper water hydrocarbon prospects such as South China Sea basins. However, a comprehensive understanding of basin tectonics, depositional history, and petroleum systems of the basin is required to deduce the exploration prospectivity of these deeper reservoirs. The Sabah Basin is a prolific hydrocarbon province in Southeast Asia and has a significant economic impact on this part. Recent discoveries in the deep-water hydrocarbon prospects in the NW Sabah Trough prompted a comprehensive investigation of the surrounding area, e.g., Dangerous Grounds for hydrocarbon prospectivity. Previous studies in the Dangerous Grounds mainly focused on the sparse 2D seismic and gravity-magnetic data analysis. A systematic review of stratigraphic evolution has not been presented thus far in the published literature. In this paper, recently acquired high-resolution 3D seismic data with the core and cuttings and conventional well log data from the adjacent areas have been combined to characterize the stratigraphic evolution of the Dangerous Grounds in the NW Sabah Platform. Seven horizons interpreted from the 7570 sq. km 3D seismic data, calibrated with the global sea - level curve and geological time scale, to establish the stratigraphic evolution in the study area. Based on distinct structural and seismic characteristics, and calibrated with the adjacent regions well data, two mega-sequences, namely, lower syn-rift and upper post-rift mega-sequences, have been identified and evaluated. The Paleocene to Early Oligocene syn-rift sequence consists of clastic sedimentary fill in grabens and half-grabens is overlain by Late Oligocene to recent post-rift sedimentary successions represented by siliciclastic and carbonates deposits. Major depositional units within these two mega-sequences, including carbonate, channel, mass transport deposits, and turbidites have been identified and evaluated. During Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene, the area has witnessed the deposition of carbonate platform and reefs on top of pre-existing structural highs. Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene channel-levee complexes with convex upward sand filling features is prominent in the seismic data. Mass Transport Deposits and turbidites have also been observed above the Middle Miocene Unconformity with distinct seismic characteristics. The pelagic and hemipelagic nature of the sedimentary succession deposited from Pliocene to recent in a passive margin condition have also been interpreted from their unique seismic features. Paleocene-Early Oligocene syn-rift siliciclastic hydrocarbon play, Late Oligocene-Middle Miocene carbonate play, and Late Miocene turbidite play within the study area have been interpreted. • Syn-rift clastic sediments deposited in between Paleocene to Early Oligocene age. • The significant presence of three types of reefs as patchy, pinnacle and atoll. • Late Oligocene-Middle Miocene convex upward sand filling channel-levee complex. • Mass Transport Deposits and Turbidites above the Middle Miocene Unconformity. • Pliocene-recent pelagic-hemipelagic sediments deposited in passive margin condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remanufacturing is a life cycle renewal process that is recognized as one of the most effective green strategies to attain sustainable manufacturing. The purpose of this paper is to address the current challenges confronting by Malaysian remanufacturing industries and to explore its future opportunities. The research technique of this study is based on extensive scholarly literature review and scenario analysis in the field of remanufacturing. The findings highlighted five main challenges and two main future opportunities in Malaysian remanufacturing industries. The results based on scenario analysis suggested that Malaysia possessed the potential to become the center hub of automotive components remanufacturing and novel entire vehicle remanufacturing (rebuilt vehicle) in the Southeast Asia region by overcoming its current challenges. This study has shown that the challenges and opportunities in Malaysia remanufacturing industries are significantly different from the developed countries due to its distinctive business environments. The outcome of this study is to ensure the smooth implementation of the National Remanufacturing Policy and facilitate the sustainable development of remanufacturing industries in Malaysia and other developing countries with a similar business environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frequency and intensity of extreme climate events are increasing all around the world, due to climate change. Climate adaptation strategies are therefore needed, since mitigation strategies alone are not sufficient to avoid serious impacts of climate change. However, adaptation to climate change is not straightforward, as it is highly influenced by diverse and conflicting interests as well as epistemological (or scientific) uncertainties. Therefore, a minimum requirement for its success is the active participation of stakeholders and citizens in the adaptation policy cycle. This paper presents a case study on a participatory process involving civil servants from different municipalities in Malaysia, in Southeast Asia, with a view to considering the optimal level of engagement that is required for climate adaptation planning. The exercise consisted of a Focus Group session, where participants were asked to discuss the level of stakeholder and citizen participation that should be adopted within the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy initiative. Contrary to authors' expectations, the participants tended to suggest medium to high levels of participation in the planning process. During the dialogues, a walking activity through the city, aimed at identifying hotspots of climate risks and defined as "safety walks", was one of the ideas proposed as a high-potential participatory method, spreading in the adaptation framework. Safety walks could complement climate modelling and enhance the robustness of climate risk assessments. • A focus group session on stakeholders participation in adaptation planning • Medium-high levels of participation in the planning process were suggested. • Technical expertise from local community is needed • "Safety walks" suggested as a high-potential stakeholder-involving participatory technique • Site-specific challenging issues were addressed through active discussion and best practices [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Unregulated rapid expansion of artisanal gears together with overcapacity of trawl fleet have depleted inshore fisheries. • Suboptimal fishery management performance is attributed to limited knowledge of the distribution of fish assemblages. • Generalist role of maritime enforcement agency failed to reduce IUU activities and protect fragile ecosystem. Fisheries' legal framework plays an important role in regulating and managing the proper development of sustainable fisheries. By drawing on peer-reviewed articles and gray literature, this paper reviews and summarizes selected segments on fisheries management and regulatory enforcement for demersal fisheries in Malaysia's Straits of Malacca. Like other tropical fisheries, the small-scale commercial trawl fleets in this region are multispecies and multi-gear fisheries at secluded landing sites that are comprised of low-tech fishing vessels, and similarly, they display a heavy dependence on migrant workers. Some major problems facing these tropical fisheries include overcapacity, depleted fish stocks, conflicts between commercial and traditional fleets, dramatic changes in species composition, and the stress on marine ecosystems due to human activities. Popular management strategies focus on input controls (e.g., mesh size), gear selectivity, marine protected areas, zoning systems, and licensed moratoriums. Although a legal framework exists to regulate fisheries, the suboptimal management performance may be attributed to the maritime enforcement agency's generalist role, limited knowledge on the distribution patterns of fish assemblages, inconsistencies between federal and state laws on fisheries, and a top-down management approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]