Abstract: This study aims to assess the students' needs for the
tour planning e-guide. The study is developing on the contribution
and importance of the Educational Tour Planning Guide (ETP) is a
multimedia course ware as one of the effective methods in teaching
and learning of environmental science among the students in primary
schools of the Ministry of Education, Malaysia. It is to provide the
student with knowledge and experience about tourism, environmental
science activities and process. E-guide to ETP also hopes to
strengthen the student understanding toward the subject learn in the
tourism environmental science. In order to assess the student's needs
on the e-Guide to Educational Tour Planning in Environmental
Science, the study has produced a similar e-Guide to ETP in the form
as a course ware to be tested during the study. The study has involved
several steps in order to be completed. It is such as the formulation of
the problem, the review of the literature, the formulation of the study
methodology, the production of the e-Guide to ETP, field survey and
finally the analyses and discussion made on the data gathered during
the study. The survey has involved 100 respondents among the
students in standard six primary schools in Kluang Johor. Through
the findings, the study indicates that the current tested product is
acceptable among the students in learning environmental science as a
guide to plan for the tour. The findings also show a slight difference
between the respondents who are using the e-Guide to ETP, and those
who are not on the basis of the e-Guide to ETP results. Due the
important for the study, the researcher hopes to be having a fair
discussion and excellence, recommendation for the development of
the product of the current study. This report is written also important
to provide a written reference for the future related study.
Abstract: The aim of this study is to identify the suitability of
Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) in welding simulator
application towards Computer-Based Training (CBT) in developing
skills upon new students at the Advanced Technology Training
Center (ADTEC) Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia and GIATMARA,
Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia. The significance of the study is to create
a computer-based skills development approach in welding technology
among new students in ADTEC and GIATMARA as well as to
cultivate the elements of general skills among them. This study is
also important in elevating the number of individual knowledge
workers (K-workers) working in manufacturing industry in order to
achieve a national vision which is to be an industrial nation in the
year of 2020. The design of the study is a survey type of research
which using questionnaires as the instruments and some 136 students
from ADTEC and GIATMARA were interviewed. Descriptive
analysis is used to identify the frequency and mean values. The
findings of the study show that the welding technology has developed
skills in the students because of the application of VLE simulated at a
high level and the respondents agreed that the skills could be
embedded through the application of the VLE simulator. In summary,
the VLE simulator is suitable in welding skills development training
in terms of exposing new students with the relevant characteristics of
welding skills and at the same time spurring the students’ interest
towards learning more about the skills.
Abstract: Nowadays, illegal logging has been causing many
effects including flash flood, avalanche, global warming, and etc. The
purpose of this study was to maintain the earth ecosystem by keeping
and regulate Malaysia’s treasurable rainforest by utilizing a new
technology that will assist in real-time alert and give faster response
to the authority to act on these illegal activities. The methodology of
this research consisted of design stages that have been conducted as
well as the system model and system architecture of the prototype in
addition to the proposed hardware and software that have been
mainly used such as microcontroller, sensor with the implementation
of GSM, and GPS integrated system. This prototype was deployed at
Royal Belum forest in December 2014 for phase 1 and April 2015 for
phase 2 at 21 pinpoint locations. The findings of this research were
the capture of data in real-time such as temperature, humidity,
gaseous, fire, and rain detection which indicate the current natural
state and habitat in the forest. Besides, this device location can be
detected via GPS of its current location and then transmitted by SMS
via GSM system. All of its readings were sent in real-time for further
analysis. The data that were compared to meteorological department
showed that the precision of this device was about 95% and these
findings proved that the system is acceptable and suitable to be used
in the field.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the factor
structure and psychometric properties (i.e., reliability and convergent
validity) of the Employee Trust Scale, a newly created instrument by
the researchers. The Employee Trust Scale initially contained 82
items to measure employees’ trust toward their supervisors. A sample
of 818 (343 females, 449 males) employees were selected randomly
from public and private organization sectors in Kota Kinabalu,
Sabah, Malaysia. Their ages ranged from 19 to 67 years old with a
mean of 34.55 years old. Their average tenure with their current
employer was 11.2 years (s.d. = 7.5 years). The respondents were
asked to complete the Employee Trust Scale, as well as a managerial
trust questionnaire from Mishra. The exploratory factor analysis on
employees’ trust toward their supervisor’s extracted three factors,
labeled ‘trustworthiness’ (32 items), ‘position status’ (11 items) and
‘relationship’ (6 items) which accounted for 62.49% of the total
variance. Trustworthiness factors were re-categorized into three sub
factors: competency (11 items), benevolence (8 items) and integrity
(13 items). All factors and sub factors of the scales demonstrated
clear reliability with internal consistency of Cronbach’s Alpha above
.85. The convergent validity of the Scale was supported by an
expected pattern of correlations (positive and significant correlation)
between the score of all factors and sub factors of the scale and the
score on the managerial trust questionnaire, which measured the same
construct. The convergent validity of Employee Trust Scale was
further supported by the significant and positive inter-correlation
between the factors and sub factors of the scale. The results suggest
that the Employee Trust Scale is a reliable and valid measure.
However, further studies need to be carried out in other groups of
sample as to further validate the Scale.
Abstract: Public participation in recycling domestic waste is still
very low in Malaysia. Only 10.5% of solid waste was recycled up to
now which is far below than of in developed countries. Therefore,
understanding public motivations towards recycling domestic waste
are important to improve current recycling rate. Thus, this study
attempts to identify what are the possible motivations and hindrances
for the public to recycle. Open-ended questions format were
administered to 484 people in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Two
specific questions we asked to explore their general determinants and
barriers in practicing recycling: “What motivates you to recycle?”
and “What are the barriers you encountered in doing recycling
activities?” Thematic was conducted on the open-ended questions in
which themes were created with the raw comments. It was found that
the underlying recycling motivations are (i) awareness’ towards the
environment; (ii) benefits to the society and individual; and (iii)
social influence. Non participations are influence by (i) attitudes; (ii)
commitment; (iii) facilities; (iv) knowledge; (v) inconvenience; and
(vi) enforcement.
Abstract: The paper aims to evaluate the effect of online
advertising on consumer purchase behavior in Malaysian
organizations. The paper has potential to extend and refine theory. A
survey was distributed among Students of UTM university during the
winter 2014 and 160 responses were collected. Regression analysis
was used to test the hypothesized relationships of the model. Result
shows that the predictors (cost saving factor, convenience factor and
customized product or services) have positive impact on intention to
continue seeking online advertising.
Abstract: Academic libraries in Malaysia are still not prepared
for disaster even though several occasions have been reported. The
study sets out to assess the current status of preparedness in disaster
management among Malaysian academic libraries in the State of
Selangor and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. To obtain a
base level of knowledge on disaster preparedness of current practices,
a questionnaire was distributed to chief librarians or their assignees in
charge of disaster or emergency preparedness at 40 academic
libraries and 34 responses were received. The study revolved around
the current status of preparedness, on various issues including
existence of disaster preparedness plan among academic libraries in
Malaysia, disaster experiences by the academic libraries, funding,
risk assessment activities and involvement of library staff in disaster
management. Frequency and percentage tables were used in the
analysis of the data collected. Some of the academic libraries under
study have experienced one form of disaster or the other. Most of the
academic libraries do not have a written disaster preparedness plan.
The risk assessments and staff involvement in disaster preparedness
by these libraries were generally adequate.
Abstract: This paper illustrates the background of various
concepts, approaches, terminologies used to describe the basic
framework of an Islamic Hotel Room design. This paper reviews the
theoretical views in establishing a suitable and optimum environment
for Muslim as well as non-Muslim guests in hotel rooms while
according to shariah. It involves a few research methodologies that
requires the researcher to study on a few characteristics needed to
create more efficient rooms in terms of social interaction, economic
growth and other tolerable elements. This paper intends on revealing
the elements that are vital and may contribute for hotels in achieving
a more conclusive research on space planning for hotel rooms
focusing on the shariah and Muslim guests. Malaysia is an Islamic
country and has billion of tourists coming over for business and
recreational purposes. Therefore, having a righteous environment that
best suit this target user is important in terms of generating the
economy as well as providing a better understanding to the
community on the benefits of applying these qualities in a
conventional resort design.
Abstract: The purpose of the study is to find out relation of
moral massage between the authority and globalization in proverb.
Proverb is one of the many forms of cultural identity of the
Indonesian/Malay people filled with moral values. The values
contained within those proverbs are beneficial not only to the society,
but also to those who held power amidst on this era of globalization.
The method being used is qualitative research through content
analysis which is done by describing and uncovering the forms and
meanings of proverbs used within Indonesia Minangkabau society.
Sources for this study’s data were extracted from a Minangkabau
native speaker in the sub district of Tanah Abang, Jakarta. Said
sources were retrieved through a series of interviews with the
Minangkabau native speaker, whose speech is still adorned with
idiomatic expressions. The research findings show that there are 30
existed proverbs or idiomatic expressions in the Minangkabau
language often used by its indigenous people. The thirty data contain
moral values which are closely interwoven with the matter of power
and globalization. Analytical results show that the fourteen moral
values contained within proverbs reflect a firm connection between
rule and power in globalization; such as: responsible, brave,
togetherness and consensus, tolerance, politeness, thorough and
meticulous, honest and keeping promise, ingenious and learning,
care, self-correction, be fair, alert, arbitrary, self-awareness.
Structurally, proverbs possess an unchangeably formal construction;
symbolically, proverbs possess meanings that are clearly decided
through ethnographic communicative factors along with situational
and cultural contexts. Values contained within proverbs may be used
as a guide in social management, be it between fellow men, between
men and nature, or even between men and their Creator. Therefore,
the meanings and values contained within the morals of proverbs
could also be utilized as a counsel for those who rule and in charge of
power in order to stem the tides of globalization that had already
spread into sectoral, territorial and educational continuums.
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects and
relationship of stress and social support towards the quality of life
among flood victims in Malaysia. A total of 764 respondents took
part in the survey via convenience sampling. The Depression,
Anxiety and Stress scale (DASS) was utilized to measure stress while
The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support was used to
measure social support. To measure quality of life, the combination
of WHO Quality of Life – BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) and The Impact
of Event Scale – Revised (IES-R) were utilized. The findings of this
study indicate that there were significant correlations between
variables in the study. The findings showed a significant negative
relation between stress and quality of life; and significant positive
correlations between support from family as well as support from
friends with quality of life. Stress and support from family were
found to be significant predictors that influence the quality of life
among flood victims.
Abstract: Malaysia’s green building development is gaining
momentum and green buildings have become a key focus area,
especially within the commercial sector with the encouragement of
government legislation and policy. Due to the emerging awareness
among the market players’ views of the benefits associated with the
ownership of green buildings in Malaysia, there is a need for valuers
to incorporate consideration of sustainability into their assessments of
property market value to ensure the green buildings continue to
increase in the market. This paper analyses the valuers’ current
perception on the valuation practices with regard to the green issues
in Malaysia. The study was based on a survey of registered real estate
valuers and the experts whose work related to valuation in the Klang
Valley area to rate their view regarding the perception on valuation of
green building. The findings present evidence that even though
Malaysian valuers have limited knowledge of green buildings, they
recognise the importance of incorporating the green features in the
valuation process. The inclusion of incorporating the green features
in valuations in practice was hindered by the inadequacy of sufficient
transaction data in the market. Furthermore, valuers experienced
difficulty in identifying what are the various input parameters of
green building and how to adjust it in order to reflect the benefit of
sustainability features correctly in the valuation process. This paper
focuses on the present challenges confronted by Malaysian valuers
with regards to incorporating the green features in their valuation.
Abstract: Main purpose of this study is to identify the impact of
government expenditure on economic growth in Asian Countries.
Consequently, main objective is to analyze whether government
expenditure causes economic growth in Asian countries vice versa
and then scrutinizing long-run equilibrium relationship exists
between them. The study completely based on secondary data. The
methodology being quantitative that includes econometrical
techniques of cointegration, panel fixed effects model and granger
causality in the context of panel data of Asian countries; Singapore,
Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, China, Sri Lanka, India and
Bhutan with 44 observations in each country, totaling to 396
observations from 1970 to 2013. The model used is the random
effects panel OLS model. As with the above methodology, the study
found the fascinating outcome. At first, empirical findings exhibit a
momentous positive impact of government expenditure on Gross
Domestic Production in Asian region. Secondly, government
expenditure and economic growth indicate a long-run relationship in
Asian countries. In conclusion, there is a unidirectional causality
from economic growth to government expenditure and government
expenditure to economic growth in Asian countries. Hence the study
is validated that it is in line with the Keynesian theory and Wagner’s
law as well. Consequently, it can be concluded that role of
government would play a vital role in economic growth of Asian
Countries. However; if government expenditure did not figure out
with the economy’s needs it might be considerably inspiration the
economy in a negative way so that society bears the costs.
Abstract: This study aimed to explore the practical experience
of child welfare caseworkers and professionalism in child case
management in Malaysia. This paper discussed the specific social
work practice competency and the challenges faced by child
caseworkers in the fieldwork. This research was qualitative with
grounded theory approach. Four sessions of focused group discussion
(FGD) were conducted involving a total of 27 caseworkers (child
protector and probation officers) in the Klang Valley. The study
found that the four basic principles of knowledge in child case
management namely: 1. knowledge in child case management; 2.
professional values of caseworkers towards children; 3. skills in
managing cases; and 4. culturally competent practice in child case
management. In addition, major challenges faced by the child case
manager are the capacity and commitment of the family in children’s
rehabilitation program, the credibility of caseworkers are being
challenged, and the challenges of support system from intra and interagency.
This study is important for policy makers to take into account
the capacity and the needs of the child’s caseworker in accordance
with the national social work competency framework. It is expected
that case management services for children will improve
systematically in line with national standards.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to determine the
relationship of anxiety level between male and female undergraduates
at a private university in Malaysia. Convenient sampling method used
in this study in which the students were selected based on the
grouping assigned by the faculty. There were 214 undergraduates
who registered the probability courses had participated in this study.
Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (MARS) was the instrument used
in study which used to determine students’ anxiety level towards
probability. Reliability and validity of instrument was done before the
major study was conducted. In the major study, students were given
briefing about the study conducted. Participation of this study was
voluntary. Students were given consent form to determine whether
they agree to participate in the study. Duration of two weeks was
given for students to complete the given online questionnaire. The
data collected will be analyzed using Statistical Package for the
Social Sciences (SPSS) to determine the level of anxiety. There were
three anxiety level, i.e., low, average and high. Students’ anxiety
level was determined based on their scores obtained compared with
the mean and standard deviation. If the scores obtained were below
mean and standard deviation, the anxiety level was low. If the scores
were at below and above the mean and between one standard
deviation, the anxiety level was average. If the scores were above the
mean and greater than one standard deviation, the anxiety level was
high. Results showed that both of genders were having average
anxiety level. Among low, average and high anxiety level, frequency
of males were found to be higher as compared to females. Hence, the
mean values obtained for males (M = 3.62) was higher than females
(M = 3.42). In order to be significant of anxiety level among the
gender, the p-value should be less than .05. The p-value obtained in
this study was .117. However, this value was greater than .05. Thus,
there was no significant difference of anxiety level among the gender.
In other words, there was no relationship of anxiety level with the
gender.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the English
version and a Malay translation of the 21-item Learner Awareness
Questionnaire for its application to assess student learning in higher
education. The Learner Awareness Questionnaire, originally written
in English, is a quantitative measure of how and why students learn.
The questionnaire gives an indication of the process and motives to
learn using four scales: survival, establishing stability, approval and
loving to learn. Data in the present study came from 680 university
students enrolled in various programmes in Malaysia. The Malay
version of the questionnaire supported a similar four factor structure
and internal consistency to the English version. The four factors of
the Malay version also showed moderate to strong correlations with
those of the English versions. The results suggest that the Malay
version of the questionnaire is similar to the English version.
However, further refinement to the questions is needed to strengthen
the correlations between the two questionnaires.
Abstract: Cyber exercises used to assess the preparedness of a
community against cyber crises, technology failures and Critical
Information Infrastructure (CII) incidents. The cyber exercises also
called cyber crisis exercise or cyber drill, involved partnerships or
collaboration of public and private agencies from several sectors.
This study investigates Organisation Cyber Resilience (OCR) of
participation sectors in cyber exercise called X Maya in Malaysia.
This study used a principal based cyber resilience survey called CSuite
Executive checklist developed by World Economic Forum in
2012. To ensure suitability of the survey to investigate the OCR, the
reliability test was conducted on C-Suite Executive checklist items.
The research further investigates the differences of OCR in ten
Critical National Infrastructure Information (CNII) sectors
participated in the cyber exercise. The One Way ANOVA test result
showed a statistically significant difference of OCR among ten CNII
sectors participated in the cyber exercise.
Abstract: In recent decades, particulate matter (PM10) have
received much attention due to its potential adverse health impact and
the subsequent need to better control or regulate these pollutants.
The aim of this paper is focused on study risk assessment of PM10
in four different districts (Shebikah, Masfalah, Aziziyah, Awali) in
Makkah, Saudi Arabia during the period from 1 Ramadan 1434 AH -
27 Safar 1435 AH. Samples were collected by using Low Volume
Sampler (LVS Low Volume Sampler) device and filtration method
for estimating the total concentration of PM10.
The study indicated that the mean PM10 concentrations were 254.6
(186.1 - 343.2) μg/m3 in Shebikah, 184.9 (145.6 - 271.4) μg/m3 in
Masfalah, 162.4 (92.4-253.8) μg/m3 in Aziziyah, and 56.0 (44.5 -
119.8) μg/m3 in Awali. These values did not exceed the permissible
limits in PME (340 μg/m3 as daily average). Furthermore, health
assessment is carried out using AirQ2.2.3 model to estimate the
number of hospital admissions due to respiratory diseases. The
cumulative number of cases per 100,000 were 1534 (18-3050 case),
which lower than that recorded in the United States, Malaysia. The
concentration response coefficient was 0.49 (95% CI 0.05 - 0.70) per
10 μg/m3 increase of PM10.
Abstract: One of the functions of the commercial heavy vehicle
is to safely and efficiently transport goods and people. Due to its size
and carrying capacity, it is important to study the vehicle dynamic
stability during cornering. Study has shown that there are a number of
overloaded heavy vehicles or permissible Gross Vehicle Weight
(GVW) violations recorded at selected areas in Malaysia assigned by
its type and category. Thus, the objective of this study is to
investigate the correlation and effect of the GVW on heavy vehicle
stability during cornering event using simulation. Various selected
heavy vehicle types and category are simulated using IPG/Truck
Maker® with different GVW and road condition (coefficient of
friction of road surface), while the speed, driver characteristic, center
of gravity of load and road geometry are constant. Based on the
analysis, the relationship between GVW and lateral acceleration were
established. As expected, on the same value of coefficient of friction,
the maximum lateral acceleration would be increased as the GVW
increases.
Abstract: Microbes have been used to solve environmental
problems for many years. The role of microorganism to sequester,
precipitate or alter the oxidation state of various heavy metals has
been extensively studied. Treatment using microorganism interacts
with toxic metal are very diverse. The purpose of this research is to
remove the mercury using Pseudomonas putida (P. putida), pure
culture ATTC 49128 at optimum growth parameters such as
techniques of culture, acclimatization time and speed of incubator
shaker. Thus, in this study, the optimum growth parameters of P.
putida were obtained to achieve the maximum of mercury removal.
Based on the optimum parameters of P. putida for specific growth
rate, the removal of two different mercury concentration, 1 ppm and
4 ppm were studied. From mercury nitrate solution, a mercuryresistant
bacterial strain which is able to reduce from ionic mercury
to metallic mercury was used to reduce ionic mercury. The overall
levels of mercury removal in this study were between 80% and 89%.
The information obtained in this study is of fundamental for
understanding of the survival of P. putida ATTC 49128 in mercury
solution. Thus, microbial mercury removal is a potential
bioremediation for wastewater especially in petrochemical industries
in Malaysia.
Abstract: This paper investigates and compares the community
support for tourism development between two groups of minority
ethnic descendants in Malacca, Malaysia, namely the Baba-Nyonya
and Portuguese. A descriptive research design using a quantitative
method with self-reported and self-administered questionnaires
through across-sectional approach was applied. Through the
descriptive and inferential statistics, some significantly useful
insights pertaining to the issue investigated were obtained. The
research outcomes indicate that the sense of community is somewhat
more effective in small communities in terms of togetherness,
closeness and a sense of belonging compared to the slightly bigger
minority group. In addition, the sense of community attributes
through membership, influence, integration and shared emotional
connections contributes to community participation in tourism
development regardless of which ethnic group one belongs to.