The trend analysis of Islamization in Malaysia using Islamization index as indicator

This paper empirically analyses the trend of Islamization in Malaysia using the Islamization Index as an indicator to determine whether the time series dataset of the Islamization index possess deterministic trends or stochastic properties.The result determines the appropriateness of the employment of the Islamization index as a proxy of Islam in the empirical study of Islam and economic performance such as economic growth and development, and not as a spurious relation as in the case of the non-stationary stochastic trend

Stay-at-home: impact of pandemic covid-19 on the use of indoor space in Malaysian households

The prolongation of the Pandemic COVID-19 has undermined the healthcare system and negatively impacted the economy and social development on a global and regional scale. At the human settlement level, responding to the pandemic situation has altered the broad spectrum of our daily routine down to the family and individual levels. Prior to the lockdown popularly known as the Movement Control Order (MCO), which the government introduced, the public was urged to limit outdoor movements and stay at home hence, encouraging the adoption of Work From Home (WFH) for employees and Home-based Teaching and Learning (PdPR) for the academic community and school students. Other than technological readiness for online working and teaching, the new normal also prompted new challenges for households in utilizing indoor spaces at home, especially for quarantine as well as for WFH and PdPR activities. In this light, a series of household surveys using questionnaires to determine the preference and usage of indoor space among households have been conducted in 39 locations/settlements across peninsular Malaysia. A total of 504 respondents participated and fieldwork and interview processes. Findings of the study indicated a majority of respondents have to designate indoor spaces/rooms for home quarantine (58%), and the three indoor spaces, in particular, have been monitored regularly by respondents during the pandemic, namely living areas (39%), kitchen (25%) and bedroom (21%). During MCO, most of them spent 1 to 4 hours per day for PdPR (43%), and 47% of respondents have a designated learning space at home for PdPR. In summary, pandemic COVID-19 has raised awareness among households regarding the selection and usage of indoor space to conduct various activities while they have to stay at home

Financial instability, trade openness and energy prices on leading african countries sustainable growth

This study aimed to examine the effect of financial instability, energy prices and trade openness on economic growth for leading African countries (Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa). We employed the second-generation cointegration test and the Dumitrescu and Hurlin (DH) heterogeneous panel Granger causality test over the period from 1970 to 2016. The result of cointegration analysis revealed that, there is the existence of a cointegration relationship between the financial instability, oil prices, and trade openness on economic growth sustainability for leading African countries. While, the causality test has revealed a unidirectional causal relationship, which running from financial instability to real economic growth, oil price to real economic growth; and a bidirectional causality running between trade openness and economic growth. The empirical results also showed that, the intervention by leading African country's policymakers could create rigidity or financial repression policies rather than a more stable financial system which could achieve by financial rules and regulations being designed to widen the space for the growth and stability of oriented macroeconomic policies

Export market orientation strategy, external environment, and export performance of SMEs in Malaysia

Globalization phenomena have changed the trends of business performance all over the world. As a result, many researchers embarked upon different journeys to examine the aftermath of globalization. Many past studies examined the relationship between export market orientation (EMO) and export performance from different parts of the world. Nevertheless, the importance of export market orientation on the firm's export performance is still a hot debate amongst the researchers. The research examined the relationship between export market orientation, external environment, and export performance for manufacturing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. The survey was done on 779 manufacturing companies listed with the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) involved in the exporting activity and fit the SME criteria. Data was further analyzed using Partial Least Square (PLS) techniques. The research found that EMO had a significant influence on the export performance. However, the research could not support that the external environment moderated the relationship between the EMO and export performance

The impact of entrepreneurial self efficiency and enabling business environment on business performance of female-led handicraft manufacturing SMEs in Sri Lanka

Recent literature indicates that SMEs in Sri Lanka fall short of exploiting the full potential of current technological means The study Examine the internal and external factors that contribute to the success of women-led small scale handicraft entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka.The field survey carried out among 158 female-led small and medium scale handicraft producers in western province in Sri Lanka.As the study hypothesized, both external factors based dynamic effective index (EFBDEI) and owner’s entrepreneurial self-efficiency index (OSEI) have significant positive impact on business performance during the last five years. However, relatively, the leaders’ entrepreneurial self-efficiency index has shown greater magnitude than the external factors based dynamic effective index on success or failure of female-led business. Thus, policy makers need to be drawn their attention not only the improvement of infrastructure facilities but also the importance of owners entrepreneurial self -efficiency improvement of small and medium scale female-led business owners in Sri Lank

Discovering pattern of space layouts from low-income housing: a discussion of the new normal preparedness after the Covid-19 pandemic

By the end of 2021, it is expected that the coronavirus (COVID-19) will shift from pandemic to endemic phase as the number of vaccinated people is increasing over time. It gives us hope as the endemic phase will allow us to live together with the virus. During the Covid-19 situation, people have become more creative and innovative for familiarising themselves with the New Normal. The next question is how is the existing housing for the low-income group ready to be suited with this situation? Therefore, this study will examine the concept of space design in housing units for the lower income group. The study adopted a case study approach based on housing layout from Kuala Lumpur, Bandung and Buckinghamshire. These housing layouts were analysed using the Space Syntax method for describing the meaning of space layout from a low-income perspective. This study found two consideration points, (1) the willingness of space to accommodate small business activities and to avoid the spread of epidemics in the domestic space, and (2) the willingness of the government to educate the public to cultivate small home entrepreneurship with the existing low-income routine and limited domestic spaces

Prevailing familial, social and cultural obstacles in keeping tobacco-free homes in urban areas of Bangladesh: A mixed-method study.

BackgroundMillions of children and others across the world are being dangerously exposed to tobacco smoke and toxins in their own homes. Whilst there is limited interest in laws and interventions controlling tobacco use in public places in Bangladesh, no attention has been given to preventing tobacco-use inside homes. This study explores the familial and socio-cultural factors that provide obstacles for ensuring tobacco-free homes in Bangladesh.Materials and methodsA mixed-method design was adopted and from among the 1,436 tobacco users identified in a population of 11,853, 400 (tobacco users) were selected for cross-sectional survey. This survey involved a probability proportional sampling procedure, and 24 In-Depth Interviews. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to explore the association of familial and socio-cultural factors with tobacco-use at home adjusted by other demographic characteristics. Thematic content analysis was done on the qualitative data, and then inferences were drawn out collectively.ResultsThis study revealed that the prevalence of tobacco-use in the home was 25.7% in urban residential areas in Bangladesh. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that familial and socio-cultural factors were significantly associated with tobacco-use at home: marital status (OR 3.23, 95% CI: 1.37-6.61), education (OR 2.14, 95% CI: 1.15-3.99), smoking habits of older family members (OR 1.81 95% CI: 0.91-2.89), tobacco being offered as hospitality and for entertainment (OR 1.85, 95% CI: .94-2.95) and lack of religiosity practice (OR 2.39, 95% CI: 1.27-4.54). Qualitative findings indicated that social customs, lack of religious practice, tobacco-use of older family members, and lack of family guidance were key obstacles for enabling tobacco-free homes in urban areas.ConclusionUse of tobacco at home is continuing as part of established familial and socio-cultural traditions. If tobacco-use at home is not addressed seriously by the authorities then the emerging threat of second-hand smoke exposure and harmful consequences of tobacco- use will be exacerbated

Variation within fields of potentially available soil nitrogen using hot KCI technique

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:4303.4478(134) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo