A reformation model of compliance to improve the property tax revenue generation in Malaysian local governments

This study is aimed at proposing an extension on Fisher’s model of compliance behavior based on empirical findings on property tax revenue generated in Malaysian local government. Adequate delivery of facilities and services alongside community engagement can significantly influence property tax revenue generation. The methodology adopted is a quantitative approach. Questionnaires are administered to about 300 respondents (taxpayers). The findings reveal that poor provision of facilities and services combined with lack of community engagement in local government delivery process results in poor property tax revenue generation. The negative effect is as a result of non compliance in property tax which increases proportionally with inadequate provisions of facilities and services within the local government set-up. This established the fact that in order to improve compliance behavior there is absolute need for adequate delivery of facilities and services alongside community engagement. This requires the need for an extension of the existing Fisher’s Model of compliance behavior which is applicable within the context of the case study area. Therefore, an extension of Fisher’s Model of compliance proposed is based on these requirements. The proposed model can assist the local governments in dealing with issues associated with noncompliance. Sufficient provision of facilities and services in conjunction with community engagement will motivate the taxpayers to settle their tax obligations. This will certainly encourage community development and improve property tax revenue generated. This study introduces a new property tax compliance model which emphasized on a new approach to property tax by interfacing provision of facilities and services with community engagement within the framework of Fisher’s Model

Risk-driven behaviour in the African leopard:how is leopard behaviour mediated by lion presence?

Agricultural expansion is restricting many carnivore species to smaller tracts of land, potentially forcing increased levels of overlap between competitors by constraining spatial partitioning. Understanding encounters between competitors is important because competition can influence species densities, distributions, and reproductive success. Despite this, little is known of the mechanisms that mediate coexistence between the African leopard (Panthera pardus) and its competitors. This project used GPS radiocollar data and playback experiments to understand risk-driven changes in the leopard’s behaviour and movement during actual and perceived encounters with lions (Panthera leo). Targeted playbacks of lion roars were used to elucidate immediate and short-lived behavioural responses in leopards when lions were perceived to be within the immediate area. To investigate the post-encounter spatial dynamics of leopard movements, the project used datasets from high-resolution GPS radiocollars deployed on leopards and lions with overlapping territories in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Leopards were found to adapt behaviours and movements when lions were perceived to be nearby. Specifically, roar playbacks elicited longer periods of vigilance than controls, and movement directions were influenced by speaker locations. Further, leopard movements were quicker and more directional after encountering lions. However, adjustments in behaviour and movement were short-lived. The results provide insights into mechanisms used by the leopard to coexist with its competitors and are a useful case study of the methods that could be used to investigate encounter dynamics within other systems

CORRELATION BETWEEN NEURAL RESPONSE TELEMETRY (NRT) MESUREMENT LEVEL AND BEHAVIORL (T-LEVEL AND C-LEVEL) IN PRELINGUAL COCHLEAR IMPLANT PATIENTS

 Objectives: To study the correlation between Neural Response Telemetry (NRT) measurement level and behavioral (Threshold level and Comfort level) in pre lingual cochlear implant patients age between 2 -10 years old at one and three months post implant. Methods: A cross sectional study conducted at University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center from September 2010 to January 2012. Total numbers of hundred patients were involved in this study.All recipients implanted with Nucleus 24 cochlear implant and had full insertion and normal activation of the electrode array. Comparison between intra-operative NRT measurement level and behavioral (T-level and C-level) in cochlear implant patients at one month and three months post implantation were obtained respectively. Results: This study showed the intra-operative NRT levels were seen to fall between the T and C levels in one and three months respectively. There was also a positive correlation between NRT value measurements and both T and C value measurements in both one and three months (p value 0.01). There is a fair strength of the linear relationship between NRT and behavioral level in both one and three month post implant as shown by the r value (0.4 at one month, 0.2 at three months) Conclusion: It is useful to use the NRT values to predict the behavioral T and C values in prelingual children and an additional tool for the mapping. Key words: Neural Response Telemetry (NRT); Threshold level; Comfort level; Nucleus 24 cochlear implant.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS): Towards Maximizing the potential of its Human Resource Development (HRD)

As strategic education agenda works to prepare competent graduates, human resource development has become crucial for uplifting the internal strength of the university. University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) relatively a ‘young’ university has been engaged in establishing learning interaction among its staffs towards excellence. This paradigm is paramount to the strategic human resource provider as it allows not only the students who will be graduating but the young faculty members and its administrative staffs to excel. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the keys to successful university undertaken by UMS. In less than ten years, the faculty members as well as the administrative staffs manage to position the university at par to that of other established higher learning institutions in the nation. With the establishment of learning interaction, human resource development of UMS have shown some impact for promoting educational excellence among Malaysians. Indeed competent human resource plays an important role to meet the vision and the mission of UMS- strive to excel.Human Resource Development; Higher Education

Analysis of existing effectiveness and method to enhance the lightning, shielding and earthing protection schemes applied on the Parit Raja’s Telecommunication Tower System

Lightning, one of nature’s most destructive forces, continues to wreck havoc on lives and property especially in today’s electronic environment. It has been shown by field experiences that telecommunication towers are one of the preferential points for direct lightning strike. This is mainly connected with the specific features of their construction where the presence of high telecommunication towers and their topographical location mostly at an open area or at hills. The potential of lightning strike toward communication tower is high. A telecommunication tower located at Parit Raja town was chosen as a case study. The location of the tower is good to channel the coverage toward the community. Unfortunately this tower is very vulnerable to lightning strike and can giving impact to the surrounding buildings located nearby the tower itself such as mosque, petrol pump, post office and the Bank Simpanan National (BSN) bank. This thesis presents work that look at the current protection scheme against the lightning strike and the effect on a telecommunication tower system and the surrounding. Analysis study had been made towards existing protection component or system and their effectiveness in mitigating the lightning strike impact on the Parit Raja tower system. The investigation of the lightning protection system used by the communication tower is sufficient enough to direct the overload voltages of a lightning strike. Also, the analysis on the existing grounding earthing system is able to accommodate and dissipate the surge current to the earth. The method such as rolling sphere and cone protection had been used to identify the safety area on the site due to direct strike. Some suggestions to enhance the tower system protection such as installation external ground bus bar, radial system, and new installation for connection of coaxial cable and underground cable. Overall from this project, the weaknesses of system protection were identified in the tower Parit Raja and the proposal as improvement for the protection scheme in the future

The commercialisation of knowledge management practices to k-based development in Malaysia

This paper studies the connection between the commercialization of knowledge management practices and its contributions toward the knowledge-based development in Malaysia. Theoretical relations in this paper were tested through an empirical study carried out among public-listed organisations in the industrial products, consumer products, and service industries in Malaysia. The findings of this paper revealed that it is important for corporations to focus on knowledge management in the development of the organisation’s corporate strategy. Empirical evidence supported the view that firms with knowledge management capabilities and understanding will utilise these capabilities to drive their quality strategy, thus performing better than those that do not. In addition, the finding serves as an initial move among private sector business toward a knowledge-based country. This paper concludes that these practices have a positive incidence not only on the performance of the firm but it also gives some initial contributions toward the development of Malaysia as a knowledge-based country

An Optimised Investment Model of the Economics of Integrated Returns from CCS Deployment in the UK/UKCS

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