Electronic government procurement adoption behavior amongst Malaysian SMEs

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between a model of electronic procurement (e-procurement) adoption behavior and the level of Government e-procurement adoption amongst Small Medium Enterprise (SME) in Malaysia. Data was collected through questionnaires that were distributed to SME selected randomly in all SME in Malaysia.The data were analyzed using factor analysis, reliability analysis, independent-sample t-test, descriptive statistics, Pearson Correlation and multiple regressions. Regression results reveals that ‘power’, ‘trust’ and ‘value’ have a positive relationship with the level of e-procurement adoption amongst SME in Malaysia.All dimensions, namely; the power of supplier, power of procurement, trust on supplier, trust on information technology, value of implementation system efficiency and value of cost efficiency were also correlated with the level of e-procurement adoption amongst SME. Past studies on e-procurement are beset by problems of buyer-seller relationship perspective.In addition, these studies are skewed towards Government-SME relationship perspective which the Government possesses more power than SME and provide a better incentive to educate and influence SME to adopt e-procurement.In investigation the relationship between a model of e-procurement adoption behavior and the level of Government e-procurement adoption amongst SME in Malaysia, this study also tries to provides recommendation to Malaysian government for improving the level of e-procurement adoption amongst SME

Food Supplementary Programmes Management Practice in Primary School in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

The purpose of the research is to determine the profiles of the Food Supplementary Program (RMT) teachers and to find the relationships between their knowledge, experiences, training and workload factors with the implementation of RMT management. A total of one hundred forty teachers from selected primary schools in Negeri Sembilan have been chosen to participate in this study. The selection of the respondents was made through a stratified random sampling technique. The instruments used in the study were teachers’ profile questionnaires, RMT management knowledge questionnaires and RMT management implementation questionnaires. The reliability of these instruments is 0.859 dan 0.949 respectively. The analysis of the content validity had been established by three experts. Majority of the respondents in the study were female teachers, age below 40 years old, Malays, with at least SPM qualification, with below twenty years of teaching experiences and have less than five years experiences in managing the RMT Program. Majority of them are also have the teaching workload between 21 to 30 periods per week, spending less than three hours a week in managing the RMT program and have one to two portfolios. Majority of the respondents have never attended any course on RMT and only a few were supplied with the RMT management manual. The level of teachers’ knowledge was at intermediate level (M = 18.4, SD = 3.4) and the level of the RMT management implementation was at excellent level (M = 3.9, SD = 0.5). The findings showed a positive but no significant relationship between teachers’ knowledge and the RMT management implementation (r = 0.181, p = 0.032). However, there was no significant relationship between teachers’ workload, teachers’ experiences with the RMT management implementation. The findings show that from the aspect of the RMT management implementation, the SJK schools have better RMT management implementation than SK school. (t = 3.451, df = 138, p < 0.05 ). In conclusion, although the RMT management implementation is at excellent level, there were some schools did not follow the correct procedure. It was due to the lack of standard procedures required. Therefore, the standard procedures of managing the Food Supplementary Program should be made compulsory as an act and implemented in all schools. Besides, all the selected teachers should undergo the appropriate training on how to manage the program based on an act provided

An ecological approach: a viable option for aquaculture industry in Malaysia

Aquaculture sector in Malaysia is poised to playa major role to compensate for the declining capture fisheries, and is expected to emerge as one of the major agricultural contributors to the national economy. The industry is anticipated to increase the production to 600,000 mt, generating returns up to US$2.63 billion by 2010. This is a significant increase of approximately 360 at US$255.34 million. Aquaculture involves utilization of natural resources such as clean water, vast tracks of land, feed materials and fertilizers to produce desirable products with simultaneous production of organic and chemical wastes. Thus, the successful development of this sector is dependent on the nation's ability to utilize its resources efficiently and sustain its growth without adversely affecting the aquatic environment. At present, most aquaculture practices in Malaysia generate adverse impacts on aquatic environment, the very resource that determine the sUccess and the sustainability of the aquaculture industry. Wetland habitats such as mangroves, estuaries, sea-grass beds, coral reefs and mudflats are particularly vulnerable, especially when the impacts exceeded the ecosystem's resilience and carrying capacity. However, carrying capacity in various ecosystems is poorly known and thus the tendency to exceed the upper limit seems to be common in most environments. Adverse impacts associated with aquaculture, especially the intensive systems, include habitat destruction, discharge of effluents with high organic contents, contamination of the aquatic environment with chemicals, eutrophication, disease outbreak, effects of escaped- exotic species and decrease in biodiversity

The effect of liquidity and solvency on profitability: the case of public-listed consumer product companies in Malaysia

The optimal level of liquidity and solvency has been one of the key financial components essential for a smooth operation, particularly in maintaining firm performance. Successful companies will normally manipulate the two closely interrelated financial elements; liquidity and debt structure to maximize the firm’s value as well for achieving an optimal hedging strategy. Subsequently a careful attention to these two elements will help companies to achieve a lower reduction in a bankruptcy costs and to reduce the likelihood of financial distress. The illiquidity problem, unless remedied, will lead to insolvency as the business liabilities exceed its assets. For larger organizations, maintaining a good level of liquidity can ensure the stability of the business. Thus, this study sought to examine the effect of liquidity and debt on the profitability among large firms in consumer product sector in Malaysia. In order to meet the objectives a quantitative panel data methodology was employed. The data were obtained from the audited financial statements of 116 firms in consumer product sector for the period of three years (2012 – 2015). The findings reveal that liquidity in term of quick ratio has positive and significant effect on profitability. While, current ratio has negative but insignificant effect on profitability. The result further reveals that solvency has no significant effect on profitability. The study recommends that the firms can improve their performance by increasing the level of liquidity and maintaining their optimal debt structure level

Depression and coping strategies among sexually abused children : a preliminary study

Background: Child sexual abuse is a complex life experience and it is associated with depression. Sexually abused children cope with the experiences differently. Depression is a major mental health concern worldwide. There is no previous local study on screening for depression and coping strategies used in child sexual abuse in Malaysia. Objectives: This study aimed to describe the psychosocial factors and coping strategies used and its association with depression in sexually abused children. Methods: The study consisted of 2 stages. First, the validation of the Malay version of COl and followed by a cross sectional study of depression and coping strategies used, participated by 65 sexually abused children and adolescents attending HUSM. The following measures were used: general questionnaire, semi-structured questionnaire of coping strategies and the validated Malay version-COl. Depression was defined as score above the optimum cut-off point on Malay version-COl determined at the validation study. Results: The validation study showed that at the cut-off score of 18, the COl had 90% sensitivity and 98% specificity in detecting depression. In the study sample, 16 (24.6%) participants had been depressed and 49 (75.4%) participants had not been depressed. In coping strategies, 57 (87.7%) used emotion-focused coping strategies, 6 (9.2%) used problem or task-focused coping strategies and 2 (3.1 %) used both emotion and problem-focused. Among emotion-focused coping strategies, participants used (i) deciding than nothing can be done to change things, (ii) denial and (iii) suppression. Conclusion: The screening of depression in the vulnerable group such as child sexual abuse was important, as for early detection and treatment. By recognizing the coping strategies used in sexually abused children, it can be helpful for clinician and counselor in their counseling session

THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT AGGREGATE TYPES AND GRADATION ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF BITUMINOUS MIXTURES

Mineral aggregate constitutes approximately 95% of hot-mix asphalt by weight. Thus it contributes a lot on the characteristic of bituminous mixtures. This study is to determine the effect of different aggregate types and gradation on the characteristics of bituminous mixtures. Granite and limestone are tested for aggregate suitability as highway construction material and each of them were employed to produce two aggregate gradations, which are well-graded and gap-graded. Lab tests were done to determine the characteristics of the bituminous mixtures of each combination. The results were compared with the specifications of the Jabatan Keija Raya (JKR). From the result obtained, both granite and limestone are usable as highway construction material. However, granite is more recommended for highway purpose as it has higher strength and more durable compared to limestone. A well graded mixture is proved to be able to carry and spread load imposed on it better than a gap-graded mixture

Immunology of the Outer Membrane Proteins of Pasteurella Haemolytica A2, A7 and A9 in Sheep

Pneumonic pasteurellosis is a common respiratory disease of goats and sheep throughout the world, including Malaysia. In Malaysia, Pasteurella haemolytica A2 is most commonly isolated from cases of pneumonic pasteurellosis in sheep and goats followed by Pasteurella haemolytica A7 and A9. Vaccination has been used widely to control the disease with uncertain success rate. The reasons for vaccination failure in the field were due to incompatible strains, unsuitable antigen as vaccine component and improper vaccination programme. Therefore, the attentions have been focused on the concept of a novel vaccine, which includes subunit vaccine. The outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Pasteurella haemolytica A2, A7 and A9 have been extracted using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SOS-PAGE). Each serotype gave two to three major polypeptide bands with some minor bands. Immunoblotting, carried out using homologous and heterologous antisera against the OMPs from all serotypes. The results showed that the 30 kDa band of Pasteurella haemolytica A7 could be recognised by all antisera, and was thus concluded as the major and common immunogen. The in vivo tests using the OMPs of the three serotypes revealed that sheep injected with the 100/lg OMP followed by a booster dose on day 21 showed highest antibody level on day 28 post-injection. Animals vaccinated with the OMP of Pasteurella haemolytica A7 showed good immune response upon challenge with significantly (p<0.05) less severe lung lesions regardless whether challenged with Pasteurella haemolytica serotype A2, A7 or A9. Those animals vaccinated with the OMP of Pasteurella haemolytica A2 failed to protect against challenge with live Pasteurella haemolytica A9 while those vaccinated with the OMP of Pasteurella haemolytica A9 failed to protect against challenge with live Pasteurella haemolytiva A2 and A7. It is concluded that the OMP of Pasteurella haemolytica A7 provides cross-protection to challenges uSing live Pasteurella haemolytica A2, A7 and A9. Thus, the OMP of Pasteurella haemolytica A7, particularly the 30 kDa, could be the best candidate for a subunit vaccine against pneumonic pasteurellosis in sheep

Mechanical and Physical Properties of Titanium Alloy Ti6Al4V-2Y

This report will discuss the effect of pinning a foreign element, yttrium into titanium alloy using FFC Cambridge Process. Pinning of yttrium is expected to improve mechanical and physical properties of current titanium alloy grade 5. Titanium alloys are widely used in various applications such as in the aerospace industries as bodies of aircraft and in biomedical field as in implants and prosthetic limbs. This project’s objectives are to determine the mechanical and physical properties of titanium alloy Ti6Al4V-2Y and to identify the effect of different yttrium concentration pinned into titanium alloy. The methodology of this project is observing the titanium alloy under the Variable Pressure Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (VP-FESEM) observation, Vickers Hardness Test, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Optical Microscope observation. The results show that Ti6Al4V-2Y has porous surface. From observation, grain size of Ti6Al4V-2Y is smaller than Ti6Al4V-7Y and subsequently the hardness value of Ti6Al4V-2Y is higher than Ti6Al4V-7Y. It is concluded that mechanical and physical properties of Ti6Al4V-2Y has been determined and the effects of different yttrium concentration pinned into titanium alloy has been identified

REDUCTION OF REACTIVE POWER LOSSES IN THE RADIAL DISTRIBUTION LINES AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH HARMONICS

The objective of this Final Year Project is to design and implement the real world problem as part of the preparation towardsthe future workingexperience in a specific area of Electrical Engineering field. Besides, this project is a requirement for the undergraduate students in order to complete their studies. The topic chosen for this project is "Reduction of Reactive Power Losses in the Radial Distribution Lines and its Relationship with Harmonics". The introduction part will elaborate the fundamental term and terminology of the topic. The project objective is to investigate the effectiveness of inserting capacitors to rectify the problem. Brief descriptions of the theory used are covered in the literature review. This report also states the methodology used during this project. The last part is the conclusion which describe the student's expectation from this project i

Counselling and Religious and Spiritual Values: A Malaysian Study

The developing interest which led to this research project started when I was employed as a counsellor and a counsellor educator in an Islamic faith-based academic institution in Malaysia. Within these positions, I noticed that my encounters with religious and spiritual values in counselling and teaching practice did not match with what I experienced in the counsellor education programme. This is perhaps due to the Malaysian counselling practices that had its history from Euro-American counselling models which emphasise the practice of objective and value-neutral stance. Within these models, counsellors’ conceptual and theoretical understandings of counselling were strongly shaped and developed. Therefore, the study draws on this history and questions the effects of this stance in Malaysian counselling practices. In particular, this study explores how Malaysian Muslim counsellors are positioned when religious and spiritual values intersect with their counselling knowledge. This study employed poststructuralist and social constructionist frameworks as its theoretical and methodological base. Positioning theory, deconstruction, power/knowledge, language, and the making of meaning are some of the approaches used in this study. As a mixed methods project, the study used a survey and interview conversations to generate research data. The survey was to gain general views about participants’ perceptions of the topic researched, and the interviews were to investigate the ways taken by counsellors in working with religious and spiritual values. Both quantitative and qualitative findings show that there are similar understandings among participants about the lack of training on how to address religious and spiritual values in counselling, and the gap that exists between counselling models, and religious practices. In qualitative findings, these participants reported that they have to find their own ways to weave both counselling and religious knowledges together in order to help clients. Hence, through this study, a religiously sensitive counselling approach that uses a value-investigating practice is suggested