Medical education in Malaysia: the evolving curriculum (Part 2) / Rokiah Ismail.

In Part 1, we took us through the path of the early implementation of the traditional medical curriculum. Although it worked in the early stages of medical education in Malaysia, it was deemed necessary to continually evaluate the curriculum to ensure that it meets the needs of national development and to keep pace with global trends. What were the triggers that initiated the global trend of curricular change in the 1970’s

The development and evaluation of a web-based diet and diabetes education programme for children with type 1 diabetes

PhD ThesisDiabetes education is one of the essential components of standard diabetes care. Rapid advances in technology have made the internet a viable mode for the delivery of educational interventions to young people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The main purpose of this study was to develop a web-based education programme to assist in diabetes management and to provide support for children with T1D in Malaysia. The data were collected in three phases using a mix method approach. Participants were children with T1D living in Malaysia (n=64), their parents (n=12), the clinicians (n=3) and Malaysian‟ children living in Newcastle (n=12). In Phase one, the data were collected using both qualitative and quantitative methods to understand the experiences and challenges which children face living with diabetes and to identify regularly consumed carbohydrate-rich foods. In Phase two, data were gathered by a semi-structured interview and an open-ended questionnaire with healthy children in Newcastle to elicit views and general usability of the programme. In the final Phase, Phase three, children with T1D and their families were recruited and introduced to the programme and guided in its use at home. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with children, parents and clinicians, and the questionnaires were used with children in order to gain participants‟ views, experiences and acceptance of the system. Children used the programme for a period of six months. Most children reported using the programme to obtain information about carbohydrate content of the food and drink they consumed and adjusting their insulin accordingly. They also reported they had made changes in their food choices based on the information and knowledge they obtained from the programme. Most of them did not record their blood glucose regularly in the programme. The majority felt confident in managing their diet, insulin, and monitoring their blood glucose, however, a few reported lack of confidence and difficulty managing their diabetes. Clinicians indicated that the programme was feasible to use in the clinic setting to teach and review children‟ blood glucose and dietary intake, and to support children when they faced any problems related to their diabetes. The clinicians believed that the programme had the most application for children as a self-education and self-management system. Overall, participants described the programme as useful, accessible and beneficial for managing diet and diabetes. This study demonstrated feasibility of using the web-based education programme. Further research is required to determine the effectiveness of the programme in improving diabetes management of T1D by young people.Malaysian governmen

MUSIK ROCK ALTERNATIF DALAM KALANGAN REMAJA: ISU SUB-BUDAYA REMAJA DAN PEMBANGUNAN INSAN DALAM ERA GLOBALISASI

The debate on the involvement of youth in music is not a new topic in the discourses on youth and life styles. The article discusses a research work on a group of Malay urban youth in Malaysia who were involved in underground rock music and the activities associated with it. The qualitative research based especially on a collection of primary data analyzes the elements of the underground rock music and the dynamics of its particular subculture. It touches both the ideological and behavioral aspects related to the youth’s involvement in underground rock music. The findings show that a group of Malay urban youth favors this type of music not only as a source of entertainment, but also underground rock music provides them with a channel to express their specific feelings, sentiments, and opinions associated with their specific life experiences, both as individuals and as a group within the society. Their involvement is very much related to factors such as the particular characteristic features of the music and the social elements or issues touched upon such as subjects on social consciousness, generational identity, individual’s creativity, social status, choice and freedom. For many youth, these elements have significant meanings for their daily living experiences and lifestyles and they provide them with a strategy needed to position themselves in a certain niche for survival as a group in the changing society like Malaysia. 

Perubahan gunatanah dan kejadian banjir di Lembangan Saliran Kelantan

Pembangunan secara drastik dan berskala besar mampu menyebabkan perubahan kepada alam sekitar serta mendedahkan manusia kepada kejadian bencana. Perubahan guna tanah daripada kawasan hutan kepada pelbagai jenis guna tanah lain seperti perbandaran, petempatan dan industri mampu memberikan kesan kepada kualiti alam sekitar. Perubahan terhadap kualiti alam sekitar iaitu daripada keadaan semula jadi yang akhirnya boleh menyebabkan wujudnya risiko bencana alam. Justeru, kawasan kajian juga tidak ketinggalan menerima kesan dan limpahan aktiviti pembangunan yang dilaksanakan. Pertumbuhan ekonomi yang pesat telah menggalakkan pembangunan dalam sektor gunatanah seperti pembandaran, pelancongan dan rekreasi, kemudahan awam, perumahan dan sebagainya. Selain itu, keluasan gunatanah pertanian dan perhutanan pula adalah semakin mengecil atau terhimpit akibat hambatan pembangunan yang menuntut pelbagai aktiviti pembangunan dilakukan dengan mengubah corak gunatanah tersebut. Justeru, keadaan ini memperlihatkan bahawa manusia mula mengganggu persekitaran semulajadinya bagi memenuhi tuntutan kehidupannya. Oleh itu kajian ini, dengan penggunaan teknik Geographic Information System (GIS) meneliti tahap perubahan gunatanah yang berlaku. Hasil kajian mendapati, sememangnya berlaku perubahan gunatanah yang signifikan dalam kawasan kajian dalam tempoh 26 tahun. Selain itu, kajian ini juga meneliti hubungkaitan antara perubahan gunatanah dan ada kaitannya dengan peningkatan kekerapan dan intensiti bencana banjir yang berlaku di Lembangan Kelantan semenjak kebelakangan ini

KAJIAN SIKAP RAKYAT MALAYSIA TERHADAP KESETIAAN KEPADA NEGARA

Allegiance among Malaysians is a matter that should be given priority to ensure national security. The objective of this study is to examine the attitude of Malaysians on their allegiance to the nation based on predetermined areas. This nationwide study involved a total of six zones with 1500 samples taken among Malaysians and was categorised by race. Cross-tabulation analysis was applied on data from questionnaire for reasons of convienience. The results showed that all zones or states were in good condition except for the central zone, represented by the states of Perak, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor which recorded a moderate value of allegiance to the nation. Hence, this study suggests that the current existing programs that can spark allegiance and patriotism to the country should be continued

Golongan mudamat rempit: suatu ekspresi sub budaya

The research discusses the activities and sub-culture of a Mat Rempit group (outlaw bikers) in Kuala Lumpur. The research problem focuses on the sub-cultural activities and social expressions of specific norms and values of the group not only through motorcycle racing but also through other related activities such as their involvement in music, motorcycle thefts and drugs. Forty-five youths in Kuala Lumpur aged between 17 and 26 were selected using the purposive sampling method, and 7 of them were chosen for in-depth interviews which were conducted from Januari until November 2007. The research aims to describe the Mat Rempit group activities and examine the specific elements existing within their sub-culture and the various social expressions of Mat Rempit group who were involved in using the social and physical spaces as well as the available opportunities to carry out their specific activities and sub-culture. The research shows that amidst the various social transformations that are taking place within the society today, the Mat Rempit sub-culture is a form of social reaction and collective solution of the youths to the conventional norms and values which are perceived to limit their social activities. Mat Rempit activities and sub-culture are indirectly the group’s expression of life experiences and, more often than not, their leisure activities are seen by the public as socially problemati

Sikap masyarakat terhadap penggunaan bekalan air bersih: Pembaziran dan penjimatan

Tanggapan masyarakat yang silap bahawa isipadu air di bumi ini adalah tidak terhad, dan mereka telah melakukan pembaziran air, pembocoran paip air, keracunan air, pencemaran air, ketidak-seimbangan penawaran dan permintaan air, sikap cuai dan tidak bertanggungjawab terhadap penggunaan air telah menyebabkan masalah bekalan air bersih negara khususnya dan dunia amnya semakin merosot. Justeru, baik mengurangkan masalah ini gandingan yang kuat dan kerjasama yang erat antara semua pihak perlu diusahakan agar pengurusan bekalan air dapat disepadukan. Kerjasama kerajaan, pihak industri, NGO's dan masyarakat penggunaan merupakan asas kekuatan bagi memastikan agar sumber ini terus terpelihara dan kuantitinya akan berkekalan

The contribution of ecofeminism philosophy in environmental management research

The diversity of philosophy in exploring knowledge has different directions and different viewpoints. Nowadays, the philosophy behind exploration of knowledge lies mostly in the nature of the interaction between humans and the natural environment based on the ecocentrism philosophy. However, in the struggle for the environment, women also play an important role alongside men and this is highlighted in a form of philosophy known as ecofeminism.Nonetheless, the issue is actually on the structure of knowledge exploration of the woman movement in environmental preservation throughout the decades of their struggle.This paper aims to basically look at the ontology, epistemology, methodology and axiology behind the philosophy of women’s struggle in environmental preservation.This paper found that the women’s struggle has a distinctive contribution that is able to advance their involvement in preserving the environment.This struggle is clear in the context of the structure of knowledge itself based on its ontology, epistemology, methodology and axiology.Among the contributions etched in history today are through the importance of gender in the questionnaire, so that the findings could differentiate between men and women

KESEDIAAN DIRI ANGGOTA MASYARAKAT DARIPADA PERSPEKTIF PSIKOLOGI BERKAITAN BENCANA BANJIR DI DAERAH SEGAMAT

Peningkatan intensiti dan kekerapan bencana banjir kebelakangan ini di daerah Segamat menyebabkan kemusnahan harta benda dan kehilangan nyawa yang signifikan berkaitan dengan tahap kesediaan diri dalam kalangan masyarakat menghadapi bencana banjir. Objektif utama kajian adalah meneliti pengaruh diri masyarakat terhadap aspek kesediaan kognitif, afektif dan psikomotor dalam menghadapi bencana banjir. Seramai 1100 orang sampel masyarakat mewakili 11 mukim terlibat. Hasil kajian mendapati sebahagian besar mukim yang kerap dilanda banjir, menunjukkan hubungan signifikan dengan aspek kesediaan dari segi kognitif, afektif dan psikomotor. Kewujudan pelbagai tahap kesediaan ini bergantung kepada kekerapan kejadian bencana banjir yang berlaku di kawasan mereka. Perkara ini dibuktikan apabila mukim Chaah, Labis dan Pogoh yang tidak menunjukkan sebarang hubungan signifikan antara pemboleh ubah diri masyarakat dengan kesediaan dan menerima hipotesis null kerana kesemua mukim ini jarang dilanda banjir disebabkan topografi yang agak tinggi berbanding mukim lain di daerah Segamat. Hasil kajian ini penting kerana memberi impak terhadap keperluan penambahbaikan rangka kerja bersama dari aspek psikologi dalam Arahan 20 Majlis Keselamatan Negara sedia ada agar sistem pengurusan bencana banjir masa kini menjadi lebih baik

Corporate performance, CEO power and CEO turnover: evidence from Malaysian public listed companies (Prestasi syarikat, kuasa CEO dan pertukaran CEO: bukti dari syarikat tersenarai awam Malaysia)

This paper seeks to determine the impact of firm performance and CEO power on CEO turnover. Research in CEO turnover literature found that corporate performance is frequently used as an indicator to evaluate the effectiveness of CEO effort and findings from most of these studies indicate that the turnover rate of CEO is higher for poor performing firms when compared to well performing firms. Furthermore, social network theory and human capital theory suggest that CEOs gain their power from their educational background; skill and functional background; special expertise; experience; industry specialization; prestige; ownership; age; and length of tenure. This power will entrench the CEO in the company, thus making the decision to fire the underperforming CEO more difficult. Our results show that firms with poor performance and older CEOs are more likely to change their CEOs. In contrast, CEO turnover is less likely to occur when firms exercise CEO/Chairman duality; have CEOs who own a certain portion of company shares; and have CEOs with longer tenure