Board mechanisms and Malaysian Family Companies' Performance

Many overseas studies discussed the topic of corporate governance and performance in family companies, however, few studies have been conducted in Malaysia. The objective of this paper is to examine the board mechanisms and family companies’ performance using three performance indicators (Tobin’s Q, Earnings Per Share & Operating Cash Flow). The sample size is 189 family companies listed on Bursa Malaysia from 2003 to 2007. The findings from this study reveal that some of the board mechanisms influence family companies’ performance. This study evidenced that family companies with a large board size, low directors’ expertise and duality leadership contribute to higher family companies’ performance. However, this study found that the academic qualification of directors does not influence firm performance. Therefore, generally, regulators and investors need to be sensitive to the fact that family companies do have differences in corporate governance practices compared to non-family companies

Knowledge sharing behaviour in the public sector: The business process management perspectives

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the preliminary analysis on the knowledge sharing behaviour of the public sectors in terms of individual attitudes, organisational environment, reward system and information and communication technology (ICT) within the system. The paper looks into the perspective of business process management which embedded in a knowledge sharing behaviour. This research-inprogress intends to use both quantitative and qualitative methods (triangulation) because we believe that it will be appropriate to answer the research questions better. In the Phase One, consists of the questionnaire that uses to measure perceptions, beliefs, reactions, and attitudes related to knowledge sharing. The unit of analysis using middle to senior management in the public sector as knowledge is said to be captured more systematically at this level. Phase Two will be carried out after analysis of data from the questionnaire survey is completed. The researcher intends to undertake an in-depth exploration of issues arising from Phase One. Hence a semi-structured interview will be carried out with small group of people. Top management officials will be selected from within the same sample for this exercise. The research design in this study hopefully will answer all the research questions significantly. The preliminary findings will provide a basis for proposing a structured framework for further data collection and analysis

Efficiency of rat baiting application at Felda Kerteh, Ladang FASSB, Dungun, Terengganu / Che Ahmad Asyraf Che Manan

Rat is the major pest in oil palm plantation in Malaysia. This pest have been reported to attack and feed at part of palm such as germinated seed, apical point, stem, frond, inflorescences and fruit bunch. The effect of this pest can cause decreasing the fresh fruit bunch quality by feeding activity. The significant is on number of bait placement for rat baiting program which is Standard Operation Procedure is apply one bait per palm and recommended method apply 2 bait per palm. The objectives of this research are to determine the efficiency of different rat baiting application system and to compare with the cost. First method is choosing the two study plots that consist of 50 palms. Second, monitoring the rat population at both study plots using CMR technique. Third, control rat population by using rat baiting program with different treatment. Last, analyzed the data used test statistic One Way ANOVA with p < 0.05 using SPSS application. The farmer can use this information as tool for decision making in their estate management. In this study, the standard operation procedure of FELDA was use in rat baiting application and also the rat bait, BUTIK S, product of FELDA. Based on the result, there are no different between Standard Operation Procedure and recommended method. The comparison elements are number of cycle, bait percentages, total bait, labor and rat bait cost and total cost

The relationship between non-audit service fees and audit fees in the banking sector in Malaysia

The issue of audit fees and non-audit fees charged by the audit firms has been discussed regularly in accounting and auditing literature. Recently, due to the corporate scandals in United States, the issue is discussed together with a host of revelations about audit failures that led to the companies’ demise. The auditing profession is being badly blamed and some suggest that this could be due to the audit firm’s reliance more on non-audit services rather than the audit itself. Therefore, this study attempts to probe the situation in Malaysia using the banking sector as the subject of interest. Specifically, it tries to examine the impact of non-audit services conducted by audit firms to these banks on audit fees. The results showed that the variable of non-audit fees is statistically significant in determining audit fees as predicted. Further sensitivity analysis showed that the results are robust to different measurements and company size

Gejala Salah Laku Pelajar Tingkatan Empat Di Daerah Kota Setar Dan Hubungkaitnya Dengan Faktor Persekitaran Dalaman Sekolah

The purpose of this research is to study the factors that influence the delinquency among form four students in the Kota Setar District. This study is using the Wickman Model (1974) and also a model from the Malaysian Ministry of Education (1991) by focusing on school and class truancy, absenteeism, breaking school rules, the failure to hand in their homework on time, inability to work together as a team and personal appearance. The delinquency factors are based on school's internal factors including the process of teaching and learning, peer group influence, the enforcement of school's discipline, school's environment and curriculum's management. This research involves 350 respondents from 7 schools in the Kota Setar District, Kedah. From this analysis, about 320 questionnaires are used for this research. It contains 30 items using the '5 Likert Scale'. The acquired data has been analysed by using the frequency test method, cross tabulation and regression. This research shows that there is a significant difference between the delinquency's factor (truancy without reason) and gender's factor. It is found that more Malay students are involved in truancy compared to other races. Based on the UPSR results, it shows that more students without 'A' grade are involved in truancy compared to those who attained 'A' grade. These factors which are found to have a weak relationship cannot be used as an indicator for the delinquency problem of form four students as majority of the respondents are Malays. This research also shows that there is a significant relationship among hypothesis. The factors of teaching and learning, peer group influence and the enforcement of discipline have a significant relationship for the delinquency problem of form four students in the Kota Setar District

DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF PHYSICAL CLASSROOM LEARNING ENVIRONMENT INSTRUMENT (PCLEI) FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL IN MALAYSIA

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a new learning environment instrument used to measure the physical learning environment in secondary school’s classroom in Malaysia. The Physical Classroom Learning Environment Instrument (PCLEI) was developed by using a three stages approach, field-tested with 900 students and then validated. The PLCEI has 66 items allocated to six constructs: (1) furniture; (2) facilities; (3) space; (4) lighting; (5) air quality; (6) color. Each construct has a factor loading at least 0.40 and alpha reliability coefficient for constructs ranged from 0.83 to 0.98. The instrument will inform us on existing physical learning environment in secondary school’s classroom. Further effective way can be planned to overcome the existing gaps

Predictive Relationship between Technology Acceptance Readiness and the Intention to Use Malaysian EduwebTV among Library and Media Teachers

AbstractLibrary and Media Teacher (LMT) serves as a catalyst for the implementation of the technology programs conducted in schools. The challenge to the LMT is to be more open and innovative to the innovations introduced in schools from time to time. Their level of readiness to accept new technology in teaching and learning earlier than their colleagues in schools could expedite the diffusion process into the school education system. Therefore, this study was conducted to measure the level of readiness acceptance among LMT in terms of Personal Innovativeness (PI), Personal Innovativeness Information Technology (PIIT) and Computer Self-Efficacy (CSE), and the contribution to the acceptance of Edu web TV in teaching and learning. The study involved 546 respondents consisting of LMT of primary and secondary schools in Malaysia. The findings show that the readiness acceptance level among LMT in terms of PI, PIIT and CSE are moderate. Significant relationships were found between CSE, PI, PIIT and behavioural intentions to use the Edu web TV. The obtained results also show that PIIT and CSE significantly contributed to the intention to use Edu web TV. Therefore, those individuals with higher levels of PIIT and CSE are more open, willing to try and confident in the adoption of new technology in teaching and learning than those with lower levels of PIIT and CSE. These results provide valuable feedback to institutions and educators in enhancing the effectiveness of LMT

Contractors’ Approaches to Risk Management at the Construction Phase in Malaysia

Abstract - Often times, contractors failed to identify, plan, strategize, analyzed, execute, monitor, control and manage the risk involves during construction phase in Malaysia. Consequently, the contractor failed to complete the project on schedule, within client’s budget and quality. The idea of introducing formal risk management among Malaysian contractors during construction phase is seem to be a proactive approach to achieve the project objectives. This paper intends to identify the application of formal risk management among the contractors during the construction phase in Malaysia. Questionnaires and interviews were used. It was found that although the risk management process in Malaysian construction industry has been introduced, most of them are not well structured and not being implemented in a formal manner. Therefore, it is suggested that these contractors should try to implement formal risk management and hope that the construction industry in Malaysia can enjoy the benefits and lead our industry effectively into the next stage of building the nation.Keywords : Risk Management, Contractors, Construction Phase, Malaysia

A Review of Interpreting the Parameters of Nature-based Trail Setting in Primary Rainforest using ROS Concept

Primary rainforest as an old heritage has become widely known because of its old natural, beautiful setting and the richest of its biodiversity. A nature-based trail is a natural path in the rainforest as a medium to explore the uniqueness of the natural beauty assets and the biodiversity of the forest. The development of the nature-based trail settings in a primary rainforest gives the impact towards visitor’s experience indirectly to appreciate the biodiversity. Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) parameters will be used to interpret the effectiveness of the trail. The sustainability of natural resources becomes a major concern towards the management and conservation of the biodiversity.Keywords: Biodiversity; heritage; rainforest; ROS parameterISSN: 2398-4287© 2017. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning &amp; Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia