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After World War II, Japan became a major recipient of foreign aid from the USA. As Japan's economy improved in the 1960s, it played a significant role as a global aid donor in world politics through its Official Development Assistance (ODA). This commitment continued into the 1990s when Japan, as one of the leading proponents of the concept of human security, began providing humanitarian aid to more countries across the globe. To better understand the notion of human security in international politics, this paper examines Japan's endorsement of the concept in its foreign policy strategy. This paper provides an overview and critical assessment of Japan's Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP) in the state of Sabah in East Malaysia from 2000 to 2021. This paper argues that different contexts and circumstances in the state of Sabah require further study, especially for understanding Japan's focus and concern in the area of basic human security needs, as enshrined in the GGP philosophy. Despite Japan's GGP objective as part of its foreign policy to promote human development, the execution of its foreign aid in Sabah does have issues. This paper concludes that the implementation of Japan's GGP necessitates greater inclusion, particularly for other vulnerable groups and underdeveloped areas in Sabah. Despite Japan's GGP objective as part of its foreign policy to promote human development, the execution of its foreign aid in Sabah does have issues. This paper concludes that the implementation of Japan's GGP necessitates greater inclusion, particularly for other vulnerable groups and underdeveloped areas in Sabah., Author(s): Ramli Dollah [sup.1] , Diana Peters [sup.1] , Wan Shawaluddin Wan Hassan [sup.1] , Marja Azlima Omar [sup.1] , Md Saffie Abdul Rahim [sup.2] , Adi Jafar [sup.3] Author [...]

The historical similarities between Malaysia and Indonesia, apparent in geographical proximity and social-cultural dimensions, significantly influence perspectives and discourse on their bilateral relations. Despite frequent assertions of shared kinship and racial ties, relations between Malaysia and Indonesia are consistently characterised by rivalry, marked by numerous disagreements and challenges. This paper posits that conflict is a minor element in the broader discourse of relations, emphasising the importance of cooperation due to the complex interdependence between these two countries. Using Sabah as a case study, this paper highlights the significance of interdependence between Malaysia and Indonesia, delving into pivotal issues that shape the dynamics of their bilateral relationship. It focuses on several issues such as the population and kinship ties, the reliance of the Sabah economic sector on the Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI), consumer goods and everyday necessities, interdependence in the security sector, and finally haze and environmental pollutions to outline the dynamics of interdependence between Sabah (Malaysia) and Indonesia. All facets describing these relations are emphasised since they demonstrate that these two countries are interdependent and share common interests in nearly all sectors. This paper contends that despite facing various contentious issues and problems, the interdependence that occurs contributes to a harmonious relationship and is able to avoid conflict between the two countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can we measure child labor? It may sound simple and a classic question to ask, but scholarly discourse continues to raise doubts about how best to measure it accurately, at what level of measurement, and how to differentiate between child labor and a range of almost similar terms such as children assisting parents and working children. In this article, as part of our long-term research project in oil palm production in Sabah (Malaysia), we attempt to measure child labor focusing on four domains, (i) children's involvement in oil palm activities; (ii) time spent in performing such activities; (iii) types of activities; and (iv) time spent on the learning and undertaking recreational activities. To better understand their involvement in oil palm activities, further analysis is undertaken from four social lenses: gender, age, identity, and education. Our overall findings indicate that while there is a clear conceptual difference and practice between children assisting parents and working children, it is challenging to distinguish between working children and child labor. Instead, most of our child respondents categorized as working children fall within the broader definition of child labor. Given the complex interplay between local contexts and root causes that create conditions of child labor, this article highlights the urgency to refresh scholarly discourse and the way we understand and measure child labor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The health of the river basin is characterised by its ecosystem health to provide significant and valuable resources and services for human use and the basin itself. However, the development of urban space and the intensification of human activities surrounding the river ecosystem have greatly disturbed the river's health, thereby impacting human and environment. Therefore, this paper seeks to assess the degree of quality and cleanliness of river water, which is one of the river basin's health indicators. To identify the issues that affect the river's health, water quality indicators are used. The Inanam–Likas River Basin has been chosen due to its location within an urban area. Water quality data from 2014 to 2018 were analysed using the Water Quality Index (WQI) developed by the DOE. In addition, the Mann–Kendall test is also used to observe the trend and direction of the river's health using WQI data from 1999 to 2019. Based on the analysis, the health of the river basin is moderately polluted due to land clearing and domestic sewage activities. This is shown by the relatively high percentage frequency of contaminated levels of WQI SS and NH3-N. The health level of the river in the upper course is better than in the lower course. This is because development and human activities are more concentrated in the lower course area compared to the upper course. Although the river's health is currently at a moderate level, the trend indicates that its health is improving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By focusing on child labor in oil palm production in Sabah (East Malaysia), this study contributes to the ongoing debate about unfree labor from three perspectives. First, the study highlights the importance of measuring the incidence of child labor from an individual basis and subsequently advances discourse on what is acceptable and unacceptable in the context of children's involvement in oil palm production. Second, it advances children's voices that reflect their perceptions, everyday realities, and social expectations behind their active participation in oil palm production. Third, it highlights the reoccurrence of unfree labor relations and conditions as a result of employment transition among working children within the agricultural sector and from agricultural to the fishing sector. Here we argue that, although not all children's participation in oil palm production constitutes child labor, the presence of unfree and unacceptable labor relations and conditions suggests strong indicators of child labor. This study, however, cautions that the blanket use of child labor may not only ignore local dynamics and societal expectations but also hinder effective policy intervention and business actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaysia is a country rich in natural water resources. The average rainfall annually is high at 2940 mm. High rainfall is essential for surface water (rivers, lakes, ponds) and groundwater supply systems in enhancing the ecological system and natural resources. However, the abundant supply of natural water resources cannot guarantee the existence of water security issues, especially in inhabited island areas such as in the Sebatik island. The definition of water security itself is the ability for each individual to access an adequate supply of clean water at an affordable price to live a productive, clean and healthy life without neglecting the wellbeing of the inhabitants and safeguard the environment. Ironically, it is unachievable if the domestic water supply management in one area is in inadequate control systems and lacks its domestic supply system. In other words, it is still inefficient, unsystematic and not holistic. This will then disrupt the stability of water supply resources in terms of quantity, quality, and accessibility. Therefore, this study aims to examine the potential sources of water supply systems in Pulau Sebatik and discuss how they are managed and controlled for domestic use. Therefore, to answer the objectives outlined, observation, evaluation and interview methods were carried out accordingly. It is found that three main sources of domestic water supply can potentially be developed and should be improved in terms of quality, quantity, and accessibility, namely groundwater, rainwater and surface water. In essence, the water security issue that exists in Pulau Sebatik is not entirely due to the lack of natural water supply resources but instead, due to unsystematic, inefficient, and incomprehensive management systems, methods, and structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last two decades we have witnessed the problem of river pollution becoming a discourse among social and humanitarian scientists. These developments have seen the emergence of various approaches in trying to solve the problems. However, until now the problems that plagued the world have not been resolved, while millions of dollars have been spent with hundreds of thinkers have been included, no success results have been shown. That is why this paper argues that the discourse related to river sustainability needs to go against the flow (reverse) by making changes of thought as the mainstay to realise it. Using Braudel's approach to the concept of time and space, the author argues that the archipelago's maritime paradigm needs to be redeveloped as a "space" that has long been marginalised to be restored to its proper place like the heyday of maritime civilisation. The expansion of this maritime paradigm allows the community to view the river as a "space" that needs to be preserved due to the function that the river plays in human life which has never changed. At the same time, the author also argues that with the development of the maritime paradigm allows the role of coastal communities to be included in carrying out their responsibilities as agents of change which has long been nominated as a causative factor of river pollution. Furthermore, the role will be complemented by the presence of the authorities as the driving force in ensuring that the problem of river pollution can be solved through enforcement. Even so, the author argues that the authorities need to change the mentality of those who have long considered the coastal community to be "enemies" to "friends", thus the presence of the community along the river board is an "asset" rather than a burden. The relevance of this difficult "three-layer" role is presented by the author so that the goal of preserving the Inanam - Likas river basin can be realised as much as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The end of World War II marks the beginning of a major debate on the questions of epistemology and ontology in Security Studies. It began with the objectivity-materialism approach, also known as traditional approach pioneered by neo (realism) and (neo) liberalism. This approach that dominates the Cold War era attempted to understand the issue of security by using the systematic approach. This perspective believes that all social phenomena including security issues can only be understood by using a scientific approach, namely science. This perspective later evolved and became one of the most dominant approaches in Security Studies throughout the Cold War period. However, in the 1980s and 1990s, this traditional approach was challenged by several other approaches that purport to study security issues from a different perspective. This scenario, in turn, led to the emergence of the subjectivity-ideational and discursive perspectives which seek to understand security from different epistemology and ontology point of view. For that purpose, this article discusses the evolution of Security Studies, from the objectivity-materialism that dominates the debate of security during the Cold War (also known as traditional); to the emergence of subjectivity-ideational through critical approach; and, as well as the discursive approach that emphasizes the role of language in understanding the security phenomenon. This article employs qualitative approach focusing on library research. It argues that these different ways of seeing security are particularly essential in explaining the increasingly complex international security phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since independence, Malaysia has been facing various security threats such as the Communist threat, the Indonesia confrontation against Malaysia, the Philippine's claim on Sabah and so on. However, the post-Cold War era have changed the way of understanding national security because most of the security threats are emanated from the non-state actors, such as terrorists group. Therefore, this paper discusses the intrusion by a group called the Royal Sulu Army (RSA) in Tanduo in 2013. This incidence proved that the non-state actors are also posing huge security threat to Malaysia's national security. Meanwhile, this intrusion also demonstrates that the threat emanated from the non-state actor is more threatening than the traditional security elements that emphasises the importance of the state and the use of the military by other countries. In explaining the seriousness and securities of the threat posed by the RSA, this article employs several variables; first, the way the government responds to the threat; second, the number of death during the intrusion; third, panic and fear among the security forces and also the public; and fourth, the amount of money allocated to deal with the threat. This article argues that the threat by the non-state actors provides major implications in understanding the issue of national security in Malaysia. Therefore, a holistic approach is needed to tackle this threat. In preparing this article, in addition to the library research and also newspapers, the authors employ some other methods such as observation, interviews, field work and so on in order to understand the seriousness of the threat by the non-state actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Malaysian Government has initiated the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme , known as PICK , to be a national strategy for addressing the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic across the country. Although the government intensified public awareness to increase program registration, the total number that registered in the state of Sabah, located in East Malaysia, was relatively low during August 2021, accounting for only 42.9% as compared to that of Peninsular Malaysia. Therefore, this paper examines the public perception toward the PICK program in Sabah based on 4 main components: safety, communication, psychology, and milieu. This study is based on the empirical findings drawn from 1024 respondents across Sabah using online Google Form surveys. This study adopts 5 methodologies for data analysis by using K-means clustering, mean score, Mann-Whitney U test, spatial analysis, and frequency analysis. It has been revealed that the percentage of respondents (categorized as Cluster 1) who have a negative perception toward the vaccination program is higher (55.9%) than those who have a positive perception (44.1%). This study further discovered that Cluster 1 has shown high skepticism regarding the vaccination program, which can be explained through the communication component (M = 3.33, SD = 0.588), especially Co2, Co3, Co1, and Co4. Following the communication factor, a chain of negative perceptions also affects other components such as safety, psychology, and milieu among Cluster 1, all of which contribute to poor participation in the PICK program. The study outcomes are extremely useful for informing local authorities to establish policies related to public interests, primarily in the areas of public health. Understanding the community's perspectives and their obstacles in participating in such programs may assist local authorities in developing or implementing public policies and campaigns that ensure such related public programs can be conducted more effectively in the future.