The use of e-business in the agriculture sector: A comparative case study of the Malaysian palm oil industry and the Australian input industry

E-commerce and e-business have been suggested as a key strategy in the new millennium.Though e-business is not something new, firms in the Malaysian palm oil industry can be labeled as traditional firms due to passive approach in utilising e-business.Why is this happening? What went wrong? This paper attempts to review the use of e-business in the Malaysian palm oil industry in the face of globalisation.A case study is presented to compare the utilisation of e-business between a firm from the Malaysian palm oil industry and a firm from the Australian input industry.The recommendations of this study are to learn from the success of the Australian experience

Consumers’ perceptions and experiences of food quality in purchasing fresh food from retail outlets in Malaysia

Malaysia, like many other developing countries, is experiencing major change within its retail food industry. A number of pull factors including an increase in personal disposable income, greater urbanisation, changes in lifestyle and an increasing interest in food safety have contributed to the emergence of modern supermarkets and hypermarkets in Malaysia. Previous studies into the impact of modern food retailing suggest that many consumers will shift their food purchasing behaviour from the traditional retail outlets to modern retail formats which offer better quality products, lower prices, a more comfortable environment and the convenience of one-stop shopping.A shopping-mall intercept survey of more than 500 food shoppers in the Klang Valley revealed that despite the expansion of modern retail formats in Kuala Lumpur, most consumers still purchase the majority of their fresh/chilled meat and fresh fruit and vegetables from traditional retail outlets. Although modern retail outlets and traditional markets share many of the same variables which influence respondents’ choices of retail stores, the traditional markets for fresh/chilled meat are anticipated to remain strong as many consumers perceive that the food available from these markets is guaranteed Halal and safe to eat. Furthermore, consumers still appreciate the personalised service offered by trusted and knowledgeable vendors, which is seldom offered when purchasing fresh food from a modern retail outlet. Among the main drivers for consumers to purchase their fresh fruit and vegetables from a traditional market were the ability to bargain on price, the lower price offered and the wider range of fresh produce available.In the attempt to identify the relationship between the perceived quality cues and quality attributes in respondents’ decisions to purchase fresh food, the findings from this study reveal that a number of variables were utilised by respondents to evaluate a multiple number of desired values. The freshness of both fresh/chilled meat and fresh fruit and vegetables signifies that the food will have a good taste, a good texture/mouth feel, be healthy and nutritious and represent good value for money. Fresh/chilled meat that is free from growth promotants and fresh produce that is free from chemical residues indicates that the food is safe to eat, healthy and nutritious and has been produced in a manner that was not harmful for the environment or worker welfare. The findings of the study have practical implications for producers, food marketers and the government

Evaluating the Role of Energy Efficiency Label on Consumers’ Purchasing Behaviour

AbstractThis paper was designed to explore the influence of energy labelling toward the consumer purchasing behaviour. Based on information from a total of 117 samples, this paper finds mean correlations between consumers’ awareness, knowledge, attitude, social norm and energy efficiency labels with purchase intention. Energy labelling shows a negative correlation with green purchasing behaviour. This finding demonstrates that energy labelling was fruitless to deliver a good message in encouraging consumer buying decision. Energy labels have to be understood, trusted and valued as a tool for consumers’ decision making. It is believed that the use of energy labels alone is not considered enough to protect the environment. Thus, all the stakeholders should enhance some other factors as a complementary to the energy labelling programs

PENAWARAN MAKANAN MENERUSI MEDIA SOSIAL OLEH WANITA B40 ((Food Supply Through Social Media by B40 Women))

ABSTRAK Penularan global pandemik Covid-19 sebenarnya telah menggalakkan aktiviti perniagaan dilakukan secara dalam talian. Malah, didapati wanita dari kumpulan B40 juga turut terlibat secara aktif dengan penjualan makanan menerusi media sosial untuk menjana pendapatan bagi menampung kehidupan seharian. Justeru, objektif kajian ini adalah untuk menganalisis bagaimana wanita B40 menggunakan media sosial untuk menjual makanan di Lembah Klang. Menerusi aplikasi analisis faktor, didapati wanita B40 memilih untuk menjual makanan melalui media sosial kerana pemasaran yang tidak terhad, lebih fleksibel dan kurang risiko. Malah, mereka menggunakan lebih dari satu nombor telefon untuk menguruskan akaun media sosial tersebut bagi tujuan perniagaan. Dalam masa yang sama, mereka juga ada mendapatkan nasihat daripada role model yang telah berjaya dan bantuan kewangan daripada kerajaan mampu mempengaruhi kejayaan perniagaan mereka.   Kata Kunci: Penawaran makanan, media sosial, wanita, analisis faktor, Lembah Klang  ABSTRACT The global transmission of the Covid-19 pandemic has actually encouraged business activities to be done online. In fact, it was found that women from the B40 group are also actively involved in selling food through social media to generate income in order to cover their daily lives. Therefore, this study aims to identify factors that influence B40 women doing food business through social media in the Klang Valley. Through the application of factor analysis, it was found that B40 women chose to sell food through social media because of unlimited marketing, more flexibility and less risk. In fact, they use more than one phone number to manage the social media account for business purposes. At the same time, they also seek advice from role models who have been successful and financial assistance from the government can influence their business success. Keywords: Food supply, social media, woman, factor analysis, Klang Valle

Pengambilan suplemen untuk tujuan penjagaan kesihatan dan meningkatkan prestasi akademik dalam kalangan pelajar universiti

Dalam dunia yang dilingkari dengan kemajuan sains dan perkembangan teknologi pada masa kini, penggunaan makanan tambahan atau suplemen menjadi semakin relevan dalam kalangan masyarakat terutamanya pelajar. Berdepan dengan jadual yang padat, yakni menghadiri kuliah dan menjalankan pelbagai aktiviti di dalam mahupun di luar kampus, pelajar universiti perlu berada dalam keadaan sihat dan cerdas sentiasa. Makanan tambahan atau suplemen dilihat dapat memberi manfaat kesihatan kepada pelajar, namun penggunaan makanan tambahan secara berlebihan mengundang pelbagai risiko. Maka dengan ini, satu kajian telah dijalankan bagi mengenalpasti tujuan dan kesan pengambilan suplemen dalam kalangan pelajar di Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Seramai 90 orang responden telah menjawab soal selidik yang telah dibangunkan. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa pelajar mengambil suplemen bagi tujuan penjagaan kesihatan dan meningkatkan prestasi akademik mereka. Majoriti pelajar didapati memperoleh kesan positif dengan penggunaan suplemen. Dapatan kajian awal ini diharapkan dapat membantu dalam menyalurkan pengetahuan disamping memberikan maklumat mengenai penggunaan suplemen dalam kalangan pelajar universiti di Malaysia

Persepsi pelajar FEP terhadap perkhidmatan bas UKM

Kewujudan kaedah pengajaran dan pembelajaran (P&P) yang menuju ke arah pembelajaran di luar kelas telah mengubah corak penggunaan pengangkutan oleh pelajar. Keperluan pelajar dalam memenuhi tuntutan aktiviti kokurikulum, kuliah di samping aktiviti berdasarkan penilaian bukan peperiksaan telah membawa kepada permintaan tinggi terhadap pengangkutan awam yang lebih fleksibel dan efisien. Justeru, kajian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis persepsi pelajar Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) berkaitan faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi pelajar menggunakan pengangkutan bas yang disediakan oleh pihak universiti. Kajian ini melibatkan 150 orang responden yang terdiri daripada pelajar prasiswazah Fakulti Ekonomi dan Pengurusan (FEP). Pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui pengedaran borang soal selidik berbentuk soalan tertutup dan skala Likert. Hasil kajian dianalisis menggunakan perisian Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) secara deskriptif dan faktor analisis. Dapatan kajian menggunakan kaedah faktor analisis mendapati empat (4) komponen faktor penting yang mempengaruhi permintaan pelajar iaitu “kualiti perkhidmatan”,“kepuasan dan positif”, “sukar diharapkan” (unreliable) dan “ride-hailing”

Microcredit Coverage in Malaysian Macroeconomic Context: An Evidence Using Panel Data Analysis

This paper aims to examine the effect of macroeconomic condition on microcredit coverage in Malaysia. The Microcredit Organizations (MO) was established to complement the mainstream financial institutions, but challenges remain with microcredit performances associated with microcredit coverage. The paper accordingly investigates the effects of macroeconomic condition on microcredit coverage in the Malaysian context. To achieve the objective, the static panel data technique is adopted, which comprises 13 states and three Federal Territories in the country, spanning 2011 to 2015. The findings reveal the resiliency of MO towards macroeconomic conditions in Malaysia. The increase in the inflation rate and agriculture GDP (LNAGDP) share shows significant negative and positive effects (non-resilient) on microcredit coverage. The main findings will assist in addressing the newly identified macroeconomic condition to improve on micro credit performance. Policy implications emanating from the study are expected to be relevant to the government, MOs and borrowers. The government accordingly can make important contributions to borrowers by maintaining macroeconomic stability (inflation and LNAGDP share) through appropriate policies in order to achieve good microcredit coverage. MOs may revisit the existing quality regulation (MOs risk weighing loan disbursement) based on the macroeconomic condition which, in turn, can be used in outreaching more microcredit borrowers. Finally, this study may also help to elucidate specific understanding of the government and MO objectives in outreaching microcredit borrowers

DETERMINANTS OF WOMEN LABOR FORCE PARTCIPATION IN STEM OCCUPATIONS

ABSTRACT  While traditionally men have made up a sizable majority of individuals employed in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), the participation percentage of women in these fields is relatively low. The objective of this study is to analyse the type of working environment desired by women in order to encourage them to enter in and survive the STEM industry. The study conducted a number of systematic literature reviews on women and the STEM work environment. This review is guided by the PRISMA Statement review method (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyzes). A systematic literature review, conducted using the Scopus and Web of Science database, identified 17 relevant past studies. Further analysis of these articles resulted in two main themes being identified; namely psychosocial working environment and physical working environment. The two themes were further analysed into a total of 11 sub-themes. Several recommendations are highlighted for future qualitative studies to be conducted on the working environment, on encouraging working women to participate in the STEM industry and on women employees sustaining themselves in the industry. Keywords: working environment, women, joining, sustaining, STEM 

Keterlibatan belia dalam “meremajakan” sektor pertanian di Malaysia

Sektor pertanian merupakan salah satu sektor di Malaysia yang memberi sumbangan yang besar terhadap perdapatan dan pertumbuhan ekonomi negara. Namun, seiring dengan Malaysia yang semakin menuju ke arah negara berstatus maju, minat golongan belia terhadap sektor pertanian semakin pudar dan seterusnya menyebabkan penglibatan belia dalam sektor pertanian semakin berkurangan. Maka dengan ini, satu kajian telah dijalankan bagi mengenalpasti faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi kecenderungan belia terhadap sektor pertanian di Malaysia. Kajian juga akan mencadangkan beberapa strategi bagi memupuk minat belia terhadap sektor pertanian. Seramai 150 orang belia telah menjawab soal selidik yang telah dibangunkan. Hasil kajian mendapati faktor utama yang mempengaruhi belia bagi melibatkan diri dalam sektor pertanian adalah monetari insentif. Dari segi strategi, belia memilih kempen melalui media sosial sebagai langkah yang paling efektif bagi memupuk minat belia dalam sektor pertanian. Implikasi kajian mencadangkan pihak berkepentingan perlu memberi pendedahan awal dan pengetahuan tentang kelebihan bekerja dalam sektor ini kepada belia. Hal ini agar belia lebih cakna dan dapat menanam minat untuk turut serta dalam membangunkan sektor pertanian di Malaysia

Understanding the Relationship Between Perceived Quality Cues and Quality Attributes in the Purchase of Meat in Malaysia

This study utilizes the Total Food Quality Model to gain a better understanding of how Malaysian consumers make their decision to purchase fresh/chilled meat. We examine the association between quality cues and desired values (quality attributes) with regard to food that is guaranteed Halal, safe to eat, healthy and nutritious, has a good taste, represents good value for money, and is produced in a way that protects the environment and worker welfare. The findings reveal that different quality cues assume different levels of importance when pursuing different desired values