Analyzing The Impact of Macroeconomic Factors on Stock Market Performance in Asean-5 Countries

The research on factors affecting the stock market index has been thoroughly documented over the years. However, most of this research has primarily focused on macroeconomic aspects within industrialized countries. To address this disparity, this study aims to bridge the gap by investigating the factors influencing the stock market index in emerging countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines, utilizing decade-long data from 2012 to 2022. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic that began in December 2019, this research expands the existing literature by exploring the correlations between the stock market indices of the ASEAN-5 countries and key economic indicators, including interest rates, consumer price index, exchange rates, and industrial production indices. The Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) is employed as the estimation procedure using E-views 12, providing a platform for exploring hypotheses and statistical correlations in econometric models, particularly for panel data with monthly observations spanning from January 2012 through December 2022. The research findings highlight a positive and significant association between the ASEAN-5 market index with the indices for consumer price and industrial production. In contrast, the interest rates and exchange rates exhibit a negative correlation coefficient. Consequently, these insightful findings can serve as a robust guideline for efficient management and encourage the adoption of indicators that remain unaffected during global health crisis in the future. Moreover, when making investment decisions, investors should assess their long-term financial goals and risk tolerance and consider sectors that such problems might impact

DNA barcoding using chloroplast matK and rbcL regions for the identification of bamboo species in Sabah

Bamboo species play pivotal roles in maintaining ecological diversity and driving socio-economic development in Sabah, Malaysia. However, due to overlapping traits among distinct bamboo species, identifying them based solely on morphological characteristics poses challenges. DNA barcoding emerges as a highly effective method, demonstrating potential accuracy in identifying diverse plant species across various taxa and ecosystems. In this study, we used the chloroplast matK and rbcL regions as barcode markers to identify 15 bamboo plants in Sabah. Both matK and rbcL exhibited a notable 100% accuracy at the genus level, indicating their reliability in capturing broader taxonomic categories during BLAST searches and genetic distance analysis. However, at the species level, the success rate was limited to 60%, revealing challenges in differentiating closely related bamboo species using the existing DNA barcodes. Our findings underscore the need for an advanced DNA barcode reference library with extensive species coverage for accurate species identification. This study not only unveiled crucial insights into bamboo diversity and taxonomy in Sabah but also contributes to ongoing bamboo resource conservation and supports sustainable resource management in the region

Proximate Analysis of Dewandaru Fruit (Eugenia uniflora L.) Dried Sweets

Dried sweet fruit is a diversified food product that is popular in Indonesia. Dewandaru fruit (Eugenia uniflora L.) dried sweets are expected to be a preferred and beneficial product for health. This study aimed to analyze the Proximate content of Dewandaru fruit. This experimental study utilized a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four different drying time treatments consisting of 4 levels (6 hours, 7 hours, 8 hours, and 9 hours) and 2 replications. Observation data were analyzed using One-way ANOVA followed by the DMRT test. The results showed that Dewandaru dried sweets with a drying time of nine hours had the highest chemical properties based on the parameters of the protein content of 3.56 percent, moisture content of 30.90 percent, ash content of 1.81 percent, carbohydrate content of 63.96 percent, fat content 0.4 percent, flavonoids 5,950.85 mg/kg, saponins 46.70 mg/kg, and tannins 242.56 mg/kg. Thus, the drying time rate affects the chemical properties of Dewandaru fruit. However, drying for 9 hours has a higher fat content than other treatments

Penentuan faktor lokasi yang mempengaruhi nilai sewa harta komersial bandar Sandakan menggunakan GIS

Bandar Sandakan merupakan bandar terawal dan tertua di Sabah yang pernah menjadi pusat pentadbiran dan ibu negeri Borneo Utara semasa zaman British dan masih mengalami pembangunan bandar yang semakin meningkat. Pembangunan bandar dari segi guna tanah komersial khususnya bagi aktiviti perniagaan bagi mereka yang menjalankan aktiviti perniagaan rumah kedai. Aktiviti perniagaan ini telah menyumbang kepada pembangunan bandar dan ekonomi di bandar Sandakan. Dalam konteks ini, isu yang dapat dilihat adalah nilai sewa harta tanah komersial secara langsung telah mempengaruhi dan memberi impak yang besar kepada peniaga yang menjalankan aktiviti perniagaan melibatkan kawasan rumah kedai. Objektif yang ingin dicapai dalam kajian ini adalah untuk mengkaji faktor yang mempengaruhi nilai sewa harta tanah komersial di pusat bandar Sandakan, Sabah. Pendekatan yang digunakan untuk kajian ini adalah menggunakan kaedah mix-method. Kajian memperolehi data primer iaitu dengan mengedar borang soal selidik dan menemu bual informan bagi mendapatkan data nilai sewaan di rumah kedai dan kemudian menggunakan perisian Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS) untuk menganalisis data yang diperoleh. Kemudian, menggunakan perisian Sistem Maklumat Geografi (GIS) untuk membantu menganalisis faktor yang mempengaruhi nilai sewa tanah komersial yang mana kaedah Ordinary Least Square (OLS) telah digunakan untuk mencapai objektif kajian. Kaedah yang digunakan dapat membantu untuk mengenal pasti faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi nilai sewa rumah kedai di pusat bandar Sandakan, Sabah. Hasil analisis mendapati bahawa kemudahan yang disediakan di kawasan sekitar rumah kedai menjadi faktor utama yang mempengaruhi nilai sewa seperti kemudahan bank, farmasi, hotel, hutan, mekanik, pasar umum, pusat beli belah, pusat pelabuhan, stesen bas dan tempat pembuangan sampah

Impak polisi kolonial dan krisis global terhadap sekuriti makanan di Nigeria (1900 1920)

Artikel ini mengkaji kesan dasar kolonial British dan krisis global seperti Perang Dunia I dan pandemik Selesema Sepanyol terhadap sekuriti makanan di Nigeria dari tahun 1900 hingga 1920. Melalui pendekatan penyelidikan pelbagai kaedah yang merangkumi analisis dokumen sejarah dan analisis perbandingan dengan wilayah lain, kajian ini mendedahkan dinamik kompleks yang membentuk landskap pertanian dan sekuriti makanan Nigeria dalam tempoh kritikal ini. Penyelidikan itu menyerlahkan bagaimana strategi ekonomi kolonial yang bertujuan untuk mengintegrasikan Nigeria ke dalam pasaran global melalui penanaman tanaman tunai secara signifikan mengganggu sistem pengeluaran makanan tempatan. Pada masa yang sama, permintaan Perang Dunia I untuk sumber dan tenaga kerja mengalihkan perhatian dan sumber daripada pertanian sara diri, dan telah memburukkan lagi isu kekurangan makanan. Keadaan bertambah buruk dengan pandemik Selesema Sepanyol pada 1918-1919, yang memusnahkan penduduk, termasuk buruh pertanian yang penting, seterusnya menjejaskan sekuriti makanan. Kajian ini menyumbang kepada pemahaman sejarah sekuriti makanan di Nigeria dengan menyediakan analisis bernuansa tentang cara penjajahan, konflik global dan penyakit pandemik secara kolektif mempengaruhi amalan pertanian, ketersediaan makanan dan keputusan dasar. Penemuan ini menekankan kepentingan untuk mempertimbangkan konteks sejarah dalam merangka strategi sekuriti makanan kontemporari dan penggubalan dasar, terutamanya di wilayah yang mempunyai legasi penjajah yang serupa. Dengan mengambil pengajaran daripada masa lalu, artikel ini menawarkan pandangan untuk menangani cabaran sekuriti makanan pada masa kini dan akan datang, menekankan keperluan untuk amalan pertanian yang berdaya tahan dan mampan yang boleh menahan kejutan luaran

Alcohol Use and Its Relation with Demographic, Environmental, and Psychological Factors among Adolescents in Nabawan, Sabah

Background: Adolescence is an essential stage of a child’s development, transitioning them into adulthood. During this time, they are vulnerable to various social issues, such as experimenting with alcohol, among others. Although alcohol consumption was proven to be detrimental to physical and cognitive development toward adulthood, and almost one in 10 Malaysian adolescents aged 13 years and above are current drinkers, studies concerning the driving factors are still scarce. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine alcohol use among 244 adolescents in Nabawan, Sabah. Methods: This study assessed the associations between alcohol use and three potential factors: demographic, environmental, and psychological. Respondents who were selected through stratified proportionate random sampling answered a set of assessment tools. Results: Results showed that 30.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 24.91–36.48) of Nabawan adolescents use alcohol. Analysis revealed that older age adolescents 18 years and 19 years, respectively (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.93; P=0.021; aOR, 5.38; P=0.003), having parents (aOR, 4.11; P=0.001) and peers (aOR, 11.57; P<0.001) who consume alcohol were significantly associated with alcohol use. Unexpectedly, good parental monitoring (aOR, 2.46; P=0.019) and discussing serious problems with parents (aOR, 3.86; P=0.001) were significantly associated with alcohol use. Conclusion: Conclusively, policies on alcohol-related harm reduction and prevention should be developed, especially school-based programs, programs addressing family functioning, and parent-child communication, among others, should be further looked into. Future research on the school environment, adolescents’ drinking motives, and the development of practical adolescent-friendly alcohol screening tools are recommendations for improvements

Factors influencing online shopping behaviour of youth customers in Malaysia after covid-19 pandemic

Background and Purpose: The Movement Control Order (MCO) requires a higher demand for online services. In light of recent events in the business environment, it is becoming challenging to ignore online channels, including online shopping platforms. The current study investigates the impact of customer satisfaction, convenience, social media influence, and website on online shopping behaviour. Methodology: Two hundred respondents were selected based on the convenience sample. Online questionnaires were distributed to young Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia customers. This case study was conducted after the Covid-19 pandemic in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Harman's Single Factor Test, Validity test, and Partial Least Square Structural Equation Model were used to validate the model of this study and the relationship between constructs. Findings: The results reveal that customer satisfaction, convenience, and social media influence are significantly related to the online shopping behaviour of youth in Malaysia after Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the relationship between customer satisfaction and online shopping behaviour is higher than that between other factors in this study model. Contributions: In theory, this study contributes to understanding Malaysian youth customers' online shopping behaviour. Businesses must take full advantage of e-commerce platforms to ensure customer satisfaction and build customer trust through online shopping services

Water quality assessment at Royal Belum State Park, Perak, Malaysia

This study demonstrated water quality study at the Royal Belum State Park, Perak. The Royal Belum State Park is one the major reservoir for water resource in Perak and under National Heritage Site UNESCO. The lake is surrounded by the reserved forest and rich with flora and fauna. The Royal Belum State Park is considered as one of the oldest, protected, undisturbed and pristine land mass in Peninsular Malaysia of more that 130 million years old. This lake provides biodiversity education, research, and ecotourism to the public. One of the major attractions is the houseboat. There are more than ten (10) houseboats operated every day due to the high demand from the local and international tourists. Due to this activity, water quality of the lake has been deteriorated and required short and long-term mitigation measures. Water quality study (ex-situ and in-situ measurements) was conducted at selected six (6) sampling locations (e.g., Royal Belum registration point, Sungai Tiang, Kg. Orang Asli, houseboat docking area, Kem Sg. Tiang and houseboat parking area). The water quality index (WQI) measurement of all sampling points is in the range of 60-80, indicating that the WQI value is under class II and III. The WQI values are significantly deteriorated by the concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The water quality at Kg.Orang Asli, Sg. Tiang and houseboat parking area slightly deteriorated compared to other sampling points. This is probably due the leakage of petrol from the houseboat, stagnant water at certain area of the lake (e.g., Kem. Sg. Tiang), discharge of wastewater and sullage water from the houseboat and unknown non-point source nearby the lake. Therefore, the Perak State Government, State Parks Corporation, and other relevant authority (e.g., NGOs) should play an important role to preserve and sustain the water quality at the Royal Belum State Park, Perak because this lake is one of significant source of clean water supply in Perak

Detection of Urban Growth in Taiz City, Yemen, between 1981 and 2022 by Using Google Earth™ and Geographical Information System Data

Rapid urbanization brought serious socio-economic and environmental problems in many cities around the world, particularly in developing countries like Yemen. Urban "sprawl", a synonym of rapid and unplanned urban growth, is considered an obstacle for sustainable development, which causes serious long- and short-term problems, such as extreme infrastructure expenses, economic inefficiency, environmental destruction, and social instability. This is the case of Taiz City, the third largest city in Yemen, which is facing a huge challenge to manage the spatial extension of its built-up area at the expense of the reduction of natural resources and environment. This study aims to investigate urban growth process in Taiz City, focusing on urban sprawl and agricultural land-use change during 1981–2022. The data used are high resolution geospatial data, which are the topographic map for 1981 and Google Earth (GE) images for 2003, 2012, and 2022. The methodology adopted was manual digitizing using Geographic Information System (GIS) software to extract urban land use features from the images of the different dates. Four land-use maps were produced and used for calculation the urban sprawl and land-use changes. The urban expansion rate and patterns were also identified in three phases: 1981–2003, 2003–2012, and 2012–2022. The results show that the built-up area increased six times from 6.2 km2 in 1981 to 34 km2 in 2022, while the agriculture area decreased by 77% from 18 km2 in 1981 to 4.2 km2 in 2022. The urban sprawl in Taiz covered about 75% of its municipal area and extended to the agricultural and rural areas. The sprawl index (USI) is measured to be 5.4%, indicating a high degree of sprawl in Taiz. There is no open space left for future development, and the water resources are at risk of population and depletion. The study demonstrated that informal and haphazard expansion must be controlled, a development strategy should be prepared, so that sustainable urban growth can be achieved. The results of this study could be used as a decision support tool for urban management activities. The vector layers produced by this study could provide the required input data for the future urban modeling of the cit

Business schools’ students willingness to embrace the principles of global ethics in management education and learning

Business schools play a crucial role in the development of societies. It is essential for management education to acknowledge and integrate the Principles of Global Ethic into their teaching, in order to promote a socially responsible and sustainable approach to business practices. This study aims to investigate the willingness of business school students to commit the Principles of Global Ethics in their daily lives, and their ability to apply these principles in the workplace. The methodology used to assess students' commitment is discussed, along with an analysis of the findings. The findings provide a basis for understanding the current lack of emphasis on embedding these principles into management education and training, both in business schools and corporate settings. We contend that researchers and educators in the field of management should contribute to a transformative reimagining of humanity's trajectory and implement the necessary changes to management education and learning towards a more just, peace and sustainable world