Competitor Analysis: The Demand And Supply Approach.

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Hotels involvement in sustainable tourism practices in Klang Valley, Malaysia

The hotel sector has been described as an industry of which activities constitute a great impact on the environment. Hotels consume vast amount of energy, water and non-durable goods, and has been reported to discharge huge amount of raw and solid waste in different quantities. Serious impacts on the environment were highlighted, calling for greater hotel’s participation in sustainable tourism practices by committing to environmental management system (EMS). Comprehensive studies among hotels in Malaysia on their contributing efforts in curbing environmental degradation have been inadequate. Hence, a current study was conducted and this paper presents findings on sustainable tourism practices most commonly adopted by Malaysian hotels within Klang Valley. The main findings indicate the use of occupancy sensor/key card control system as energy saving measures, as well as the use of energy-efficient equipments and products. This result, therefore, confirms a number of preliminary studies which indicates widespread adoption of energy management among hotels. Adopting these practices has enabled Malaysian hotels to benefit from improved image to the guests and the local communities as well as the enhancement of a safe and healthy environment for hotel guests and employees

Does Festival-goer is a Risk-Taker?

This paper examines festivalgoers' risk-taking behaviour, focusing on a Malaysian music festival. A qualitative methodology based on in-depth interviews with 15 music festival-goers. The respondents' risk-taking behaviour was examined using DOSPERT, including financial, health and safety, recreation, ethical, and social domains. The findings show that the previous music festival's risks did not affect festivalgoers' motivation to attend. A significant impact on government, organiser, and society. Respondents offered some guidelines for organising a music festival. Since very few papers examine the prospect of risk in music festivals, the adoption of DOSPERT provides much-needed rich and credible data. Keywords: Risk-taking Behavior, Risk, Music Festival, Event eISSN: 2398-4287© 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-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/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6iSI4.291

Sustainable tourism practices among hotels in Malaysia: financial and non-financial benefits

The Sustainable Tourism Practice (STP) is one of the more recent practices within the hotel sector. One of the major reasons for hotels’ involvement in Sustainable Tourism Practices is to achieve some form of benefit. This paper attempts to highlight the significant benefits of STP for the hotel industry in Malaysia. It is believed that studies related to the contributing role of STP to the hotel industry in a developing country like Malaysia are relatively scarce. Therefore, this paper intends to bridge this knowledge gap by uncovering the benefits (i.e. financial and non-financial) hotels stand to reap in adopting various programmes which safeguard the environment. The study utilized the survey questionnaire method involving 60 hotel organisations in Kuala Lumpur and the state of Selangor. The study findings indicate the benefits of improved public image and the provision of safe and healthy environments to the hotel guests as the major benefit of hotels adopting STP. Unlike previous studies which identified financial contributions to the STP among hotels in developed countries, it appears that Malaysian hotels project their image to the guests after which it is expected that they will attract large patronage leading to financial gains. In conclusion, the results of this study have the potential of contributing to the knowledge as well as the hotel organisations

Geotourism activity evaluation: case study in Langkawi Geopark, Malaysia

Langkawi Island has long been known as a tourist destination since the 1980s. Since being recognised as a geopark in 2007, the development of the island has been far more challenging. The objective of this paper is to analyse tourist activities in Langkawi Geopark using geotourism scales, known as SKALAGEO, which was developed for the current study. An in-depth literature review propose that geotourism behaviour comprises of 4 dimensions; that are appreciation (4 items), learning (5 items), culture (3 items) and geological heritage (5 items). Questionnaires were developed and distributed in Langkawi Geopark using convenience sampling. The efforts yielded 339 respondents who agreed to take part in the survey and SPSS analysis was used for the data gathered. The reliability analysis results shows that the 18 scales of SKALAGEO has high reliability scores of 0.927. The descriptive analysis revealed that appreciation has the highest average score (4.5), comparing to other dimensions; learning, culture and geological heritage. The results indicated that the respondents in this study match to the characteristics of geotourist. Regression analysis was also conducted and positive relationship were found between geotourism behavior and tourist satisfaction. The research findings provide supports to the government efforts in improving activities related to geotourism as well as promoting the island as a UNESCO global geopark. In order to improve the quality of geotourism attraction, it is proposed that improvement in knowledge delivery related to geological process need to be increased as this will boost higher tourist satisfaction level among the tourists. Geotourism behavior scales used in this study are found as a useful tool in measuring geotourism behaviour and, therefore, the study has contributed to enhancing knowledge in geotourism literature

School-based assessment : a study on teacher's knowledge and practices

School-Based Assessment is a new policy venture in the highly centralized education system of Malaysia. The traditional system of assessment no longer satisfies the educational and social needs of the third millennium. In the past few decades, many countries have made profound reforms in their assessment systems. Since then, there have been only a few studies that looked into the implementation of SBA in Malaysia. Therefore, this study is conducted to investigate the knowledge and practices of Malaysian primary school teachers who directly involved in the SBA implementation. This study is deemed timely and crucial as it could provide a relevant picture for scholars, practitioners and policy makers in relation to testing and assessment. Descriptive research design was employed to examine the level of knowledge and practices of 400 school teachers in Johor Bahru that has been selected randomly using the Teacher Assessment Knowledge and Practice Inventory (TAKPI). The data were validated using Rasch Measurement Model and analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics. Result showed that 68% from the total respondent scored was in moderate level in SBA knowledge while 75.5% of the teachers seldom applied Assessment for Learning (AfL) practices in SBA context. In regard to the result, teachers still have insufficient knowledge in implementing SBA and inconsistent on applying AfL practices. Implications on the teachers’ competency and further recommendations for future research will be discussed

First time reporting of Key Audit Matters (KAM) by Malaysian auditors

This paper reports on the early first cohort of Audit Reports issued by external auditors in response to the requirement of ISA 701, Communication of Key Audit Matters (KAM) in the Auditor’s Report, which became effective for audits of financial statements on or after 15 December 2016. Based on 15 Audit Reports of financial statements for year ending 31 December 2016 available in early 2017, this paper reports that only one out of 15 had a disclaimer and no KAM reported for the audit as ISA 701 specifies that no KAM should be reported following a disclaimer. The other fourteen audit reports were all clean reports with the number of KAMs reported ranging from one to five. The highest most significant audit matter reported was revenue recognition and inventory valuation followed by asset impairments of both tangible and intangible assets. Justifications by auditors of matters considered most significant ranged from no additional information (it is most significant because it is material) to articulate explicit link with business model and industry specific factors thus compliance with disclosure of KAM may be compliance de jour rather than compliance de facto. Despite the additional requirement to disclose KAM, this study finds no evidence of audit delays. All KAMs disclosed are elaborations of and related to a client’s significant accounting policies choice. From KAM disclosures, readers of audit reports now are informed of the audit risk areas where estimates were made and judgments prevailed challenging auditors to exercise greater skepticism. This preliminary finding provides pointers for greater research into the cost benefits and communicative value of KAM disclosure in the Audit Reports of Listed companies in Malaysia

Sustainability in tourist attractions in Malaysia

Tourist attraction is a core component in tourism system and the main purpose why visitors travel to a destination. This paper discusses the roles of sustainable development practices in four tourist attractions in Melaka, Malaysia. The main purpose of the research is to examine how does the public and private owned tourist attractions survive over the years, that has led them to sustain and still offering their products to the visitors. Results revealed various strategies that were implemented and these strategies are in line with sustainable tourism concept and also focused strategies with regards to operation management of the tourism sites. The sustainable tourism concept reveals that tourism has the characteristics to improve quality of life of the host community, provide quality experience to the visitors and maintain quality environment for usage of both tourist and the host community. Therefore, a comprehensive dimension in sustainable tourism for managing tourism attractions is proposed

Fatal case of amoebic liver abscess in a child

AbstractWe reported a case of amoebic liver abscess (ALA) in a 6-year-old Malaysian boy who presented with fever, lethargy, diarrhoea and right hypochondriac pain. On admission he was diagnosed with perforated acute appendicitis and a laparotomy was done. After surgery he developed acute respiratory distress. Ultrasonography, chest X-Ray and CT scan revealed two ALAs in the posterior segment of right lobe of liver, pleural effusion and collapsed consolidation of lungs bilaterally. Percutaneous liver abscesses drainage was done and intravenous Metronidazole was started. PCR carried out on the pus from the abscess was positive for Entamoeba histolytica. Patient however succumbed to the infection one week after admission

Continuing professional development (CPD): a study on the perception and motives between board of quantity surveyors and their members / Dr Hjh Hamimah Adnan, Nurul Afidaisnaini Janipha, Norfashiha Hashim...[et.al].

With changes taking place within the construction industry, the quantity surveyor's role has significantly evolved. The Board of Quantity Surveyors (BoQS) Malaysia believes that CPD as one of the fundamental processes to confront this challenge and have made CPD compulsory for all its members. Notwithstanding the numerous provisions and initiatives mooted to encourage BoQS members to participate, there have been critics that suggest the CPD provisions offered have somewhat inadequate and ineffective. It was acknowledged that BoQS and its partner organizations such as the Institution of Surveyors Malaysia and others have considered many options and tried to provide wide ranging activities within the CPD provisions to meet the CPD needs of all their members. However, there is a lack of research to ascertain if this have been successful and there is little data to ascertain the extent to which the CPD offered has been effective. It is recognition for the need to address this that this research was undertaken. It provides a systematic analysis of the response of the members to the CPD initiatives promoted, with view for improvements. The context of the research was developed based on the concepts of education, training, development underpinned by learning. The focus of the investigations was on identifying the how the BoQS members respond to the CPD offered. It emerge the BoQS members generally have a certain preference and reason for their CPD activities. While most agree the need for them to learn and continually improve, in the main, they conceive the CPD offered as primarily a means to fulfill the requirements of their professional membership. This raises some fundamental issues concerning the appreciation of learning from the CPD offered as a means for them improve by learning from these activities. This is discussed at the end of the report together with recommendations for further research