The safety of drinking bottled water based on law of negligence : Malaysian perspectives.

The law of negligence plays an inmportant role in protecting individual from polluted and contaminated drinking water. The use of the law of negligence in the area of an individual's protections is largely in reply to the neccesity of each individual tp protect his right and interest in consuming drinking water. Therefore, this wil examine the use of the law of negligence in relation to the individual protection on the drinking water safety from Malaysian legal perspectives, identify cases and actions which deals with the individual protection on polluted and contaminated drinking water from the Malaysian legal perspectives and lastly, discuss the law of negligence as a means to protect individual from the polluted and contaminated drinking water in Malaysia

Safety issues related to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in fish and shellfish in relation with current Malaysian laws.

Dioxins (PCDDs) and furans (PCDFs) exposure has been linked to birth detects, child growth retardation, reduced levels of male reproductive hormones, altered ratios of male to female births, diabetes and cancer. These show that PCDDs and PCDFs give awful impact to man-kind. This paper will highlight on the concentration of the contaminants in fish and shellfish as well as the estimate intake of the contaminants based on data from other countries. This paper also will identify the relevant regulatory framework presently available in Malaysia that governs the environmental management of PCDDs and PCDFs. In response to aggressive attempts globally to control PCDD/Fs emissions over the last 35 years, human exposures to PCDD/Fs from the environment have declined significantly. The primary source of human exposure to PCDDs and PCDFs is animal foods including fish and shellfish. The sources of these contaminants in the foods are not well understood and are probably varied. Data on the levels of PCDD/Fs measured in various fish samples collected from one country to another varies which correlate with the varied species of fish and shellfish available besides the human industrial activities nearby. As for Malaysia, the information on the level and type of PCDD/Fs present in food especially fish and shellfish is still lacking and need to be made available in order for specific recommendations (kind of species, frequency and size of meals) regarding human consumption to be made. This paper also has noticed that there is no specific legislation in Malaysia that governs the safety and environmental management on PCDDs and PCDFs. However, there are several legislations that regulate the safety and environmental management of PCDDs and PCDFs which include Environmental Quality Act (1974); the Occupational Safety and Health Act (1994); the Customs Act (1967) and the Food Act (1983). The enforcement of these legislations is not the responsibility of a single government agency. Different government departments may enforce the legislation relevant to the operation of that department. Hence, the Environmental Quality Act (1974) is the responsible of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Occupational Safety and Health Act (1994) is by the Ministry of Human Resources whilst the Food Act (1983) is by the Ministry of Health and as for the Customs Act (1967) under the supervision and administration of the Ministry of Finance. Finally, this paper concluded that Malaysia has a sufficient regulatory framework in which may adequately control on PCDDs and PCDFs emission in various life cycles. However, there is no legal provision on the control of exposure toward PCDDs and PCDFs especially for human consumption by setting specific maximum residue level for various groups of food

Shortcomings Technology Transfer In Indonesia: A Critical Appraisal

Abstract This study aimed to analyses shortcomings technology transfer in Indonesia. As we have indicated, that government have failed to create technology transfer for Indonesia. Even though the transfer of technology is strongly campaigned as a principal means of relieving world poverty, there is no reliable and credible evidence that shows a significant correlation between technology transfer under the patent regime and the collective mastery of a nation to access information, knowledge and technology (INT) effectively in order to improve the quality of people’s lives

Shortcomings Technology Transfer In Indonesia : A Critical Appraisal

this study aimed to analyses shortcomings technology transfer in indonesia, As we have indicated, that goverment have failled to create technology transfer for indonesia. Even though the transfer of technology is strongly campaigned as a principal means of revieving world poverty, there is no reliable and credible evidance that shows a significant correlation between technology transfer under the patent regime and the collective mastery of a nation to access information, khowledge and technology (INT) effectively in order to improve the quality of people’s live

Trans fatty acids content of biscuits commercially available in Malaysian market and comparison with other countries

The fatty acid composition and trans fatty acid (TFA) contents of biscuits products were determined by gas chromatography, using a highly polar 100m capillary column (HP-88) and flame ionization detection. Total TFA ranged from 0.00 - 0.52 g/100 g total fatty acids and 0.12 - 0.68 g/100 g total fatty acids for local packed and unpacked biscuits, respectively. In imported biscuits, total TFA was higher ranging from 0.03 - 3.09 g/100 g of total fatty acids. Trans 16:1 was the most abundant, with values ranging from 0.01% to 38% followed by trans 18:1 Δ11 (0.01% - 13.11%), trans 18:1 Δ9 (0.01% - 4.68%), trans 18:2 (0.23% - 2.77%) and small quantities of trans 18:1 Δ6. CLA, the natural TFA constituted from 0.1% to <70% TFA. These results and comparison with published data indicate that Malaysian biscuits contained considerably low proportion of trans fatty acids following the wide use of palm fat

Penilaian iklim keselamatan persekitaran kerja terhadap komuniti kakitangan kerajaan di Putrajaya

Iklim keselamatan merujuk kepada persepsi yang dikongsi pekerja berkaitan keselamatan persekitaran kerja yang mempengaruhi prestasi keselamatan organisasi. Kajian dijalankan untuk menilai iklim keselamatan di Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani (MOA) Putrajaya melalui persepsi pengendalian aspek keselamatan oleh pihak pengurusan dan pekerja berdasarkan kepada 7 dimensi iklim keselamatan. Dimensi iklim keselamatan ialah (i) keutamaan, komitmen dan kecekapan keselamatan pihak pengurusan, (ii) pemerkasaan aspek keselamatan pihak pengurusan, (iii) keadilan keselamatan pihak pengurusan, (iv) komitmen keselamatan pekerja, (v) keutamaan keselamatan dan risiko tidak diterima pekerja, (vi) komunikasi, pembelajaran dan kepercayaan kompetensi rakan sekerja (vii) kepercayaan pekerja terhadap keberkesanan sistem keselamatan. Pendekatan kuantitatif digunakan dengan mengedarkan soal-selidik sebanyak 205 responden di MOA. Soal selidik kajian menggunakan Nordic Occupational Safety Climate Questionnaire (NOSACQ-50) iaitu satu alat diagnostik menilai status iklim keselamatan organisasi. Data dianalasis secara deskriftif melalui min dan peratusan. Hasil kajian menunjukkan secara keseluruhan iklim keselamatan di MOA adalah pada tahap yang agak rendah. Penilaian ke atas tiga dimensi pengendalian aspek keselamatan oleh pihak pengurusan mendapati iklim keselamatan yang agak tinggi bagi dimensi keadilan keselamatan, agak rendah bagi dimensi keutamaan, komitmen dan kecekapan keselamatan serta rendah bagi dimensi pemerkasaan keselamatan. Selanjutnya, penilaian terhadap empat dimensi pengendalian aspek keselamatan oleh pekerja mendapati iklim keselamatan adalah tinggi bagi dimensi kepercayaan terhadap sistem pengurusan keselamatan, agak tinggi bagi dimensi komitmen keselamatan serta dimensi komunikasi, pembelajaran dan kepercayaan terhadap kompetensi rakan sekerja serta agak rendah bagi dimensi keutamaan keselamatan dan risiko tidak diterima. Kajian ini mencadangkan agar pihak pengurusan atasan mampu memperbaiki iklim keselamatan di MOA

Changes of lower limb kinematics during 2000m ergometer rowing among male junior national rowers

Rowing involves cyclic motions that have a number of similar repetitions of joint excursion. Similar movement patterns, physiological, muscular activity and biomechanical aspects were observed while rowing on dynamic ergometer and on water. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the changes of lower limb kinematics during 2000m rowing on dynamic ergometer among male junior national rowers. Ten male junior nationallevel rowers participated in the study. 24 passive reflective markers were attached on their lower extremity and their rowing motions were captured. Each phases of rowingcycle was interpolated to 100 time points separately. The lower limb joint kinematics were compared across every 500m sections to evaluate its changes during 2000m rowing trial. There was a statistically significant difference between stroke rates for every 500m of 2000m rowing trial as determined by one-way ANOVA (F(3,36) = 4.880, p = 0.006). Kinematical variabilities were observed across splits particularly in frontal and transverse planes of lower limb joints

Level of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in selected marine fish (pelagic) from Straits of Malacca

Fish is a good source of protein, supply important vitamins and other essential nutrients including essential fatty acids (EFA), the EPA and DHA which help to reduce risk of death from coronary heart diseases. However, diet and food of animals’ origin are the most predominant sources of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to human which accounts to over 90%, with fish as one of the major routes of contaminants in human body. PCBs are a group of extremely stable aromatic chlorinated compounds which are relatively resistant to biological degradation and very persistent in the environment. This study has identified the type and level of 12 congeners of PCBs that are most toxic to humans. The maximum permitted level of PCBs in muscles meat of fish and fishery products is 4 pg/g, as recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) using the WHO-TEFs. Meanwhile, the highest amount of PCBs concentration was in Rastrelliger kanagurta (Indian mackerel), with the level of PCBs at 1.37 pg/g wet weight. Other species like Scomberomorus guttatus (Spanish mackerel), Pampus argenteus (Silver pompret), Megalapsis cordyla (Hardtail scad), Eleutheronema tradactylum (Fourfinger threadfin) and Chirocentrus dorab (Dorab wolfherring) showed PCBs levels ranging from 0.35 pg/g to 1.05 pg/g wet weight. Thus, the PCBs in all the samples were below the permitted level. It can be concluded that the studied pelagic fish are safe to consume. Although the levels were not high, it is still important to set limits for the PCBs in fish and shellfish species so as to make a better estimation of the risk of exposure to human through dietary intake of fish, specifically fatty fish to meet nutritional requirement for EPA and DHA

Evaluation of Minerals Content of Drinking Water in Malaysia

The drinking and mineral water samples obtained from different geographical locations had concentrations of the selected minerals lower than the standard limits, except for manganese, arsenic, and fluoride. The concentrations of manganese and arsenic in two mineral water samples were slightly higher than the standard international recommended limits. One mineral water sample had a fluoride concentration higher than the standard limits, whereas manganese was not detected in nine drinking and mineral water samples. Most of the selected minerals found in the tap water samples were below the international standard limits, except for iron and manganese. The concentrations of iron and manganese in the tap water samples were higher than the standard limits, which were obtained from one and three of the studied locations, respectively. The potable water obtained from various manufacturers and locations in Peninsular Malaysia is safe for consumption, as the minerals concentrations were below the standard limits prescribed by the Malaysian Food Regulations of 1985. The data obtained may also provide important information related to daily intake of these minerals from drinking water

Environmental education through outdoor education for primary school children

Global environmental education has long been introduced as early as the 18th century, but in Malaysia, it still can be considered as a new start, in the year 1979. Since then, various plans and programs have been implemented to produce environmentally literate society, involving school, local and international community. However, awareness and attitudes towards the environmental sustainability amongst Malaysians are still far behind compared to some other developed countries such as Japan, South Korea and Australia, though we are getting closer to the goal of Vision 2020 to become a developed country. Environmental education taught in primary schools in Malaysia is a cross-curricular subject, but its effectiveness on the level of knowledge, awareness and attitude of the environment amongst students are still low. Therefore, this research will identify: (i) the relationship between environmental education with outdoor education, and (ii) the importance and impact of this relationship to increase students’ knowledge, awareness and attitude of the environment. The objective of this study is to generate an understanding of the implementation of outdoor education as an effective method and why it is said to be one of the best ways to educate children about the environment. Based on case studies in Malaysia, the level of knowledge and awareness of school children on the environment are presented. Results of these studies are useful for the development of effective implementation of environmental education programs. The last part outlines the importance of outdoor education to teach environmental education to pupils in primary schools