Technical efficiency of establishments in Malaysia’s electrical and electronics industries: exporting or vertical trade?

This study compares export intensity and vertical trade intensity in determining technical efficiency (TE) of establishments in Malaysia’s electrical and electronics industries (E&E) amongst other explanatory variables. We measure fragmentation or vertical trade intensity as two-way trade or the overlap of exports and imported inputs weighted by gross output of establishments. In the overall sample of establishments, vertical trade intensity is a significant determinant of (TE) whereas export intensity is not. A bigger scale of production, a higher degree of vertical integration and higher labour quality are positively related to TE whereas higher industrial concentration is negatively associated with TE. In the sub-sample of ordinary trading establishments, export intensity is a significant determinant of technical efficiency whereas in the sub-sample of vertical trading establishments, export intensity is not a significant determinant of TE. Higher export intensity does not necessarily mean higher efficiency of establishments and hence, an unqualified policy of export expansion within the context of vertical trade and global value chains in production should be conducted with caution. Technical progress is not significant in all of the models estimated

An assessment of public transport features in urban and rural settlements in Malaysia

This paper focuses on assessing the features of bus services offered in selected urban and rural settlements in Malaysia. Five definitions of public transport level of services (LOS) according to Transportation Research Board are adopted. Assessment of the LOS has been conducted using both quantitative and qualitative methods of primary and secondary data capture. With a sample of more than 1000 passengers surveyed, the demand side’s perception and aspiration have been collected and analyzed based on the classification of LOS. The overall performance measured in urban and rural were LOS E, which is below the tolerable standard of LOS D. In analyzing the satisfaction levels among the urban and rural passengers, it was found that the majority of the respondents (60.4%) were dissatisfied with the services in both urban and rural areas. Further recommendations are to bridge these gaps by increasing headways, locating designated bus stops or halts at strategic catchment points of alighting and dropping off as well as revised maintenance scheduling and consistent repair of the existing fleet. Finally, operators may also improve on-board comfort and convenient levels as aspired by the passengers. This can be commensurate by the willingness of passengers to pay higher fare rates for the increased quality of such services

Shoot Generation and Callus Induction of Dioscorea hispida Dennst by Different Plant Growth Hormones and Basal Media

Dioscorea hispida Dennst produces tuber which possess valuable medicinal properties but unsustainable harvesting has led to its reduction. The plant propagates slowly because of its low tuber sprouting rate. In average, Dioscorea hispida Dennst tubers took approximately 60 d to break dormancy and sprout. Hence, callus culture is proposed as a possible efficient type of culture for manipulation of this species.  In the present study, calli were induced from stem segments to evaluate callus culture potential of Dioscorea hispida Dennst. Results indicate that the combination of 1 mgL-1 naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 1 mgL-1 6- benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.5 mgL-1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) in Gamborg (B5) medium improved callus multiplication and differentiation in the stem culture as opposed to those in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. The findings from the present study provide the basis of callus culture protocol for stem explant of Dioscorea hispida Dennst with B5 being the more effective basal medium

A preliminary study of sustainable transport indicators in Malaysia: the case study of Klang Valley public transportation

This research centers around the exploration of the applicability and transferability of some international/global sustainable transport indicators in an important city region in Malaysia, namely Klang Valley. The literature review highlights several important measures to identify, determine and select the relevant sustainable transportation indicators. Around 30 out of 1000 indicators were chosen to be tested in the different scenarios of public transportation in Malaysia. The research applied the snowball internet survey method, in addition, face-to-face, snail-mail, and electronic questionnaire. Samples were selected from a list of various professionals relevant to the field of transportation. They include transport planners, traffic engineers, public transport operators and managers, transportation economists, environmentalists, academician and researchers, as well as urban and regional planners. It is found that a number of indicators such as the percentage of bus passenger is suitable and relevant to Klang Valley. However, several other indicators are deemed less suitable to represent the measurement of sustainability of transportation in Klang Valley. Hence, it is suggested by the research that future selection of indicators should have a greater sensitivity to be more realistic with the country current situations, circumstances and fortune. Preliminary findings of the research are intended to be disseminated through another set of focus group discussion