Understanding Malaysian State Governments Fiscal Behavior: The Role of Intergovernmental Transfers

As of late, several state governments in Malaysia have been identified as having serious difficulty in meeting their financial needs, to the extent of the government being qualified as on the verge of bankruptcy. One of the explanations put forward is that state governments have been acting irresponsibly in managing finances. Thus, the question that ensues is: why do state governments behave in such irresponsible manner fiscally and financially in the first place? In this paper, we relate the financial difficulties faced by these governments within the confines of the institutional and political environment currently in place within the country. We will examine one of the institutional features of the intergovernmental system in Malaysia – the intergovernmental grants systems. More precisely, there are two hypotheses that will be tested in this research.. First, federal transfers may stimulate more spending by state governments which leads them to increase spending beyond the means available to them. Second, financial problems may be the consequence of a state governments’ incapacity to utilize tax capacities to the fullest, which in turn may be explained by the disincentives effects that are embedded (whether intended or not) within the transfer system.State Governments, Fiscal Behavior, Intergovernmental Relations

Determinants of total quality management in the Saudi public hospital : the moderating impact of knowledge management

Public hospitals in Saudi Arabia were undergoing tremendous pressure from the government and also public to improve their level of quality services. Hence, this study is undertaken as an effort to examine the factors that influence total quality management (TQM) practices in Saudi Arabia public hospitals. It has also aimed at examining the moderating effect of knowledge management on the relationship between the independent variables of information technology, employee capacity, employee commitment, and the dependent variable of total quality management practices. This study was motivated by the inconsistency of findings reported in the literature regarding the above mentioned relationship. The inconsistencies have led to the emergence of a new research stream that recommends the investigation of moderating variables that could explain the relationships. Therefore, in the present study, different theories were employed including the contingency theory and the resource-based view to providing an insight into the relationships. The study made use of a survey questionnaire randomly distributed to 259 public hospitals in the Saudi Arabia, of which 154 were found suitable for analysis. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for the descriptive part of the analysis while Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed to assess the outer measurement model and the relationships between the variables. The findings of the study revealed that employees’ capacity and information technology were significantly related to TQM practices. The findings also revealed that knowledge management moderated the relationship between employee commitment and TQM while it did not moderate the relationship between employee capacity and information technology and TQM. The study has managerial, policy and theoretical implications along with the recommendations for future researc

The Effect of Re-Listing between First Market and Second Market on Dividend Policy in Amman Stock Exchange(ASE)

This study aimed at investigating the impact of re-listing between the first and second market on the dividend policy for the listed companies in the ASE. It also aimed at investigating whether these companies apply a clear dividends policy. The study used data available in the annual reports of the listed companies in the ASE. The study concluded there is a negative significant relationship between re-listing between the first and second market with dividend policy.  The results also indicated there is a strong significant positive relationship between EPS, FIXA and ROA with dividend policy. These results suggest that companies classified in the first market do not prefer adopting a constant dividend policy because it accomplished its goal to reaching the market, hence reducing the percentage of distributed profits. Keywords: Company Re-listing; Dividends Policy; Financial Performance

INTEGRATING NANOTECHNOLOGY CONCEPTS AND ITS APPLICATIONS INTO THE SECONDARY STAGE PHYSICS CURRICULUM IN EGYPT

Nanotechnology is very important in our society. Its concepts pertaining to study the unique characteristics of nano-scale material, which, in turn, helps in producing new materials that can be used in the fields of medicine, industry, engineering, agriculture, drugs, communications, defense, space, among others (Ban & Kocijancic, 2011). In response to the lack of these concepts in the Egyptian secondary school Physics curriculum, the current study aim at integrating some Nanotechnology concepts and applications in this curriculum and seek to answer this question: What “nanotechnology concepts and applications” should be teach in the secondary school Physics curriculum in Egypt. To do that, the researchers analyzed the content of Physics curricula in some countries and in the three grades of secondary education in Egypt for the school year 2014-2015, and prepared a list of 52 nanotechnology concepts, to be integrated in the secondary-stage Physics curriculum. These concepts were distributed along five basic units (the first unit included 20 concepts, the second unit 11 concepts, the third and fourth units 8 concepts each, and the fifth unit 5 concepts). On the other hand, twenty one concepts of nanotechnology were integrated into the second-grade secondary school Physics curriculum, distributed along three units (Units one and two included nine concepts whereas unit three included three concepts). Regarding the third grade secondary stage Physics curriculum, 17 nanotechnology concepts were integrated and distributed along three units (the first unit included 3 concepts, the second unit 7 concepts, and the third unit 8 concepts)

Assessing the socio-economic benefits of public R&D activities in Malaysia

As an open economy, Malaysia needs to constantly generate and establish new sources of economic growth in order to remain competitive in the long run. This objective can be achieved if Malaysia is capable of increasing its capacity in the use as well as in the development of science, technology and innovation (STI) through research and development (R&D) programmes. Therefore, the Government of Malaysia has introduced various science and technology programmes for the purpose of encouraging R&D and technological innovation to acquire and to advance technological capability. The existence of such programmes shows that the Government is aware of the importance of R&D towards achieving a more prosperous economy and as such, it has played an active role in promoting R&D in the country. The Government-funded R&D programmes are established for the purpose of generating knowledge, creating wealth, and upgrading societal well-being. The involvement of the Malaysian Government in promoting R&D activities has started since the Fifth Malaysia Plan, 1986-1990 with the introduction of the Intensification of Research in Priority Areas (IRPA) grant. This study used econometric analysis in order to examine the extent to which R&D activities contributed towards social and economic development in Malaysia. Our findings suggest that R&D public investments are important to promote economic growth in a long-term period

Artificial Intelligence in Newsrooms: Ethical Challenges Facing Journalists

Artificial intelligence has started to expand in journalism, especially in advanced news organisations. It is evident that journalists are beginning to realise the importance of AI and that it will be a partner to human journalists in their work inside newsrooms. Despite the numerous benefits that AI contributes to journalism, several challenges hinder the expansion and spread of its adoption among journalists. The ethical challenges of AI systems have become a concern among journalists. Therefore, this research is guided by the relationship between technological development and media ethics as the philosophical study of morality, specifically the Social Responsibility Theory. This study adopts a qualitative approach to explore the ethical challenges of AI faced by journalists. In-depth interviews were conducted with 14 journalists working in the newsroom of a government-affiliated channel, Al Mamlaka TV in Jordan. Data obtained from interviews conducted were analysed thematically. The results concluded that the main ethical challenges faced by journalists in the newsroom in adopting AI are data bias; privacy violations; and the absence of legislation and international regulations regarding the use of AI in journalism. The study concludes that journalists at Al Mamlaka TV adhere to the basics of Social Responsibility Theory through their critical adoption of AI in the newsroom

Kurikulum Keputrian di Sekolah Menengah Atas

The era of globalization accompanied by the strengthening of feminism, secularism and liberalism has created many effects that have changed the fitrah of women, including high school (SMA) female students. In addition, Gender Equality as a consequence of the SDGs agreement between Indonesia and the United Nations which aims to develop the nation turns out to be thick with a Western worldview, which has the effect of eroding family resilience. SMA female students are one of the nation's assets that will play a role in educating familie. Special lessons are needed for them and adapted to the challenges of their era. This research is library research using the descriptive-analytical method with the conclusion that the Keputrian Curriculum has an important role in educating female students through material that targets strengthening the identity and role of Muslimah in the era of globalization. The curriculum method can be applied in the classroom and uses an evaluation that involves school and family. The aim of this research hoped will help the students have intelligence in the field of concern in managing and educating families and making family a priority based on the worldview of Islam. The author calls it familial intelligence/ Quotient because students are taught to have family values in their lives so that the family can become the smallest unit of society that can advance national civilization and be useful for their afterlife. Abstrak Era globalisasi disertai menguatnya feminisme, sekularisme dan liberalisme menimbulkan banyak efek yang mengubah fitrah perempuan termasuk siswi Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA). Selain itu, Kesetaraan Gender sebagai konsekuensi kesepakatan SDGs antara Indonesia dengan PBB yang bertujuan untuk pembangunan bangsa ternyata kental dengan worldview Barat, berefek kepada terkikisnya ketahanan keluarga. Siswi SMA merupakan salah satu aset bangsa yang akan berperan dalam mendidik keluarga. Sehingga dibutuhkan pelajaran khusus bagi mereka yang disesuaikan dengan tantangan zamannya. Penelitian ini menggunakan studi kepustakaan melalui metode deskriptif-analitik dengan hasil Kurikulum Keputrian memiliki peran penting dalam mendidik siswi melalui materi yang menyasar kepada penguatan jati diri dan peran muslimah di era globalisasi. Metode kurikulum bisa diterapkan dalam kelas dan menggunakan evaluasi yang melibatkan peran lingkungan sekolah dan keluarga. Tujuan dari penelitian ini berharap agar Kurikulum Keputrian dapat membantu siswi memiliki kecerdasan dalam bidang kecintaan dan perhatian dalam mengurus dan mendidik keluarga serta menjadikan keluarga sebagai prioritas yang berbasis the worldview of Islam. Penulis sebut sebagai kecerdasan berkeluarga atau familial intelligence/ Quotient karena siswi diajarkan untuk memiliki family values dalam hidupnya sehingga keluarga dapat menjadi unit terkecil masyarakat yang dapat memajukan peradaban bangsa dan berguna untuk kehidupan akhiratnya.Era globalisasi disertai menguatnya feminisme, sekularisme dan liberalisme menimbulkan banyak efek yang merubah fitrah perempuan termasuk siswi Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA). Selain itu, Kesetaraan Gender sebagai konsekuensi kesepakatan SDGs antara Indonesia dengan PBB yang bertujuan untuk pembangunan bangsa ternyata kental dengan worldview Barat, berefek kepada terkikisnya ketahanan keluarga. Siswi SMA merupakan salah satu aset bangsa yang akan berperan dalam mendidik keluarga. Sehingga dibutuhkan pelajaran khusus bagi mereka yang disesuaikan dengan tantangan zamannya. Penelitian ini menggunakan studi kepustakaan melalui metode deskriptif-analitik dengan hasil Kurikulum Keputrian memiliki peran penting dalam mendidik siswi melalui materi yang menyasar kepada penguatan jatidiri dan peran muslimah di era globalisasi. Metode kurikulum bisa diterapkan dalam kelas dan menggunakan evaluasi yang melibatkan peran lingkungan sekolah dan keluarga. Tujuan dari penelitian ini berharap agar Kurikulum Keputrian dapat membantu siswi memiliki kecerdasan dalam bidang kecintaan dan perhatian dalam mengurus dan mendidik keluarga serta menjadikan keluarga sebagai prioritas yang berbasis the worldview of Islam. Penulis sebut sebagai kecerdasan berkeluarga atau familial intelligence/ Quotient karena siswi diajarkan untuk memiliki family values dalam hidupnya sehingga keluarga dapat menjadi unit terkecil masyarakat yang dapat memajukan peradaban bangsa dan berguna untuk kehidupan akhiratnya. Kata kunci: Keputrian; pendidikan perempuan, SDGs, feminism, SM