UTAR Institutional Repository (Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman)
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The influence of Robo-advisory services on Malaysia university student’s investment intention
Get PDFThe emergence of robo-advisory services has transformed the landscape of investment by offering automated, algorithm-driven financial planning with minimal human intervention. As financial technology (fintech) continues to advance, understanding the behavioral intentions of young investors toward these services is crucial. This study investigates the influence of perceived risk, trust, and perceived ease of use on the intention to adopt roboadvisory services among Malaysian university students. The study adopts the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as the theoretical foundation, integrating elements of trust and perceived risk to examine how these factors impact adoption intentions. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire distributed to university students across Malaysia, and a total of 135 valid responses were analyzed using Jamovi statistical software version 2.6.24. Descriptive and inferential analyses, including multiple regression, were employed to determine the relationships among the variables. The findings reveal that both trust and perceived ease of use have significant positive effects on students' intention to use robo-advisory services. Conversely, perceived risk demonstrates a significant negative relationship, indicating that concerns over data security, financial loss, and technological uncertainty remain barriers to adoption. These results highlight the need for fintech developers and financial service providers to focus on building secure, user-friendly platforms that foster trust and address risk concerns, particularly when targeting young, techsavvy investors. This research contributes to the growing body of literature on fintech adoption in emerging markets and offers practical implications for improving the design, communication, and implementation strategies of robo-advisory services in Malaysia. Future research could expand the sample size and explore other demographic groups to enhance generalizability and provide deeper insights into consumer behavior in the digital investment space.
Keywords: Robo-Advisory Services; Perceived Risk; Trust; Ease of Use; Technology Acceptance Model
Subject Area: HG4501-6051 Investment, capital formation, speculatio
Meta-analysis and comparative study of different oils and cooking methods on glycemic response of brown and white rice
Get PDFRice, a staple food, has a high glycemic index (GI), contributing to adverse metabolic health outcomes. To mitigate this, different processing technologies and cooking methods have been developed to alter starch proportions, including rapidly digestible (RDS), slowly digestible (SDS), and resistant starches (RS). Retrogradation, achieved by cooling cooked rice, recrystallises gelatinised starch into a more resistant form. Additionally, incorporating oils to rice during cooking forms amylose-lipid complexes (ALC), slowing glucose release. However, the combined effects of retrogradation and oil treatments on nutritional composition and glycemic response remain underexplored. This study examined the impact of palm oil (PO) and coconut oil (CO) on the starch profile of brown and white rice using three cooking methods (A: stir-frying raw rice with oil before steaming, B: adding oil to cooking water during steaming, C: stir-frying steamed rice with oil), followed by refrigeration at 4°C for 12 hours. A meta-analysis showed that retrogradation significantly (p<0.05) increased RS and decreased RDS in white rice. Proximate analysis revealed changes in moisture, crude fat, and carbohydrate content across treatments. Brown rice with both oil treatments showed the lowest release of glucose across three cooking methods. Both oil treatments demonstrated a reduction in the RDS and an increase in the RS in both rice across three cooking methods. A greater integrity of swollen starch granules was observed in oil-treated rice across all cooking methods via scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, the indigestible RS demonstrated prebiotic potential by promoting the growth of Lacticaseibacillus casei and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus while reducing oligosaccharides over 24 hours. CO-treated white rice prepared using Method A showed the greatest probiotic growth. These findings highlight the potential for oil treatments and retrogradation to reduce the glycemic response of rice while improving gut health, addressing a critical research gap and offering practical dietary strategies for metabolic health management
Predicting consumer purchase intention towards green cosmetics in Malaysia, extending the theory of planned behavior
Get PDFThis study investigates the factors influencing consumer purchase intention towards green cosmetics in Malaysia by extending the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). Amid rising environmental and health concerns, green cosmetics have gained prominence, prompting a need to understand what drives consumers to choose sustainable alternatives. The research incorporates five key constructs—attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, environmental concern, and health consciousness—to assess their impact on purchase intention. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire distributed to Malaysian respondents aged 18 and above who are financially independent. A total of 403 valid responses were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and SmartPLS for Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Findings revealed that attitude, perceived behavioural control, environmental concern, and health consciousness significantly influenced purchase intention, whereas subjective norms showed an insignificant effect. These results highlight the growing importance of personal values and self-efficacy in encouraging green cosmetic consumption. This study contributes to academic literature by expanding the TPB framework and offers practical implications for marketers and policymakers aiming to promote sustainable consumer behavior. Recommendations for future research and industry practices are also discussed to further enhance the adoption of eco-friendly cosmetic products in Malaysia. Keywords: Green Cosmetics, Purchase Intention, Consumer, Malaysia, Theory of Planned Behavior, Environmental Concern, Health Consciousness
Subject Area: HF5410-5417.5 Marketing. Distribution of product
Accessing the factor on the intention to stay in a workplace in Kuala Lumpur.
Get PDFThis study investigates the factors influencing employees’ intention to stay in their workplaces in Kuala Lumpur, focusing on extrinsic rewards, advancement opportunities, constituent attachments, lack of alternatives, work location, and job satisfaction. The research applies Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory and the Theory of Organizational Equilibrium to explain the relationship between these variables and retention intention. A quantitative approach was adopted, with data collected from 384 employees across diverse industries in Kuala Lumpur using a structured questionnaire. The respondents were predominantly young (under 30), highly educated professionals with short tenure (below 2 years), suggesting a highturnover demographic. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 29.0.0.0, employing descriptive analysis, normality test, reliability tests, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The normality test confirmed that all variables were within acceptable ranges. Reliability analysis (α: 0.677–0.886) indicated high internal consistency. Pearson’s correlation revealed that job satisfaction, extrinsic rewards, and advancement opportunities had the strongest positive relationships with retention intention. Multiple regression analysis identified job satisfaction, extrinsic rewards, and advancement opportunities as the most significant predictors. In contrast, location and constituent attachments had minimal impact. The study suggests that employers in Kuala Lumpur should prioritize career development, competitive compensation, and job satisfaction to reduce turnover. Limitations include a young, educated sample bias (majority under 30, short tenure) and a Kuala Lumpur-centric focus, suggesting future research should explore generational differences and regional variations.
Keywords: employee retention; intention to stay; extrinsic rewards; advancement opportunities; job satisfaction; constituent attachments; lack of alternatives; work location; talent management
Subject Area: HD4801-8943 Labor. Work. Working clas
以“以诗为词”与“自是一家”论苏轼密州词 : A Study of Su Shi’s Mizhou Lyrics by “Poetry as Lyrics” and “Styling Oneself”
Get PDF苏轼自熙宁四年起外任，先后在杭州与密州任职，开启了其词创作的重要阶 段。在杭州三年间，苏轼正式涉足词坛，创作多为纪游、酬唱、赠妓之作，题材 较为狭窄，受限于“酒食地狱”的社交环境。熙宁七年调任密州后，其词风发生 重大转折，北方旷野的环境激发其豪放之气，创作出《沁园春·孤馆灯青》《江 城子·密州出猎》等豪放词作，标志着“以诗为词”“自是一家”的词学理念逐 步成型。本文以苏轼密州词为研究对象，第二章将阐释 “以诗为词”、“自是一家” 词学理论。第三章将其密州词分为忧国爱民、思乡怀人、唱和酬答、人生感慨四 类，并结合其生平与思想，深入探讨苏轼对词体内容与风格的革新，彰显其在词 史发展中的重要地位。最后第四章将分析词风革新的三大动因：生活环境的变迁、 苏轼独特的思想品格，以及其有意摆脱艳词风格的追求。
【关键词】苏轼、密州词、以诗为词、别是一家、豪
Determinants of Malaysia' intention towards private retirement scheme (PRS) participation in Klang Valley, Malaysia
Get PDFThe increasing interest in Private Retirement Schemes (PRS) in Malaysia highlights a changing retirement planning environment influenced by demographic changes, economic factors, and shifting societal norms. PRS is a crucial element of Malaysia's multi-tiered pension system, intended to complement the mandatory pension fund, the Employee Provident Fund (EPF).
The study aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of the social, marketing, and personal aspects of PRS in Malaysia. Specific objectives of the study include investigating the determinants within social, marketing, and personal dimensions that influence attitudes and intentions towards PRS participation in Malaysia, analysing the relationship among firm-created social media, user-generated social media communication, and social influence of the social aspects and attitudes towards PRS, examining the relationship among transaction costs, advertisement, and brand image of the marketing aspects and attitudes towards PRS, and examining the relationship among financial literacy, financial risk tolerance, personal trust, and investment experience of the personal aspects and attitudes
towards PRS. The study also explores the mediating effect of attitudes towards PRS and the moderating effects of government support, age, and income.
This research is guided by theoretical frameworks such as Theory of Planned Behaviour, Symbolic Interaction Theory, and Life Cycle Theory. A quantitative study with 501 respondents in Klang Valley was conducted using convenience sampling. Statistical methods like SPSS and SmartPLS were employed to test hypotheses. The results reveal significant mediating effects of social influence, transaction costs, advertisements, financial literacy, risk tolerance, personal trust, and investment experience on attitudes towards PRS. Additionally, income significantly moderates the relationship between attitudes and PRS participation.
Contrary to the initial assumption that PRS would serve as an alternative to EPF, the findings suggest that while PRS contributes to diversification in retirement planning, it does not present itself as a standalone substitute for EPF. Rather, it complements the EPF by offering more flexibility to certain segments of the population. The findings also highlight critical policy implications: to encourage broader participation in PRS, targeted government incentives, enhanced financial literacy programs, and marketing strategies that reduce perceived transaction costs are essentials.
Keywords: Social aspects, marketing aspects, personal aspects, private retirement scheme, Malaysi
Surface defect inspection system with anomaly detection system
Get PDFThis project proposes a Surface Defect Inspection System with Anomaly Detection Approach to enhance quality control in manufacturing by leveraging deep learning and computer vision techniques. The system utilizes the pretrained ConvNeXt-v2-Tiny architecture as backbone of model that using Fully Convolutional Masked Autoencoder method for self-supervised learning and trained on the MVTec Anomaly Detection Dataset, to classify and detect surface defects such as scratches, cracks, and contamination. By employing this strategy, I fine-tuned the pretrained model that could adapt to MVTec Dataset and extract the good features from "good" samples only, then evaluate the accuracy on test dataset which includes both "good" and "defective" samples to detect the anomalies on that particular samples by comparing the Mahalanobis Distance score with threshold. The final results demonstrate robust performance on detecting both "good" and "defective" samples with correct predicted classes and correct predicted defect types on a well-designed web interface. The system aims to address challenges in traditional inspection methods by offering an automated, scalable, and efficient solution for industrial manufacturing sections
Full-stack MQTT-based IoT system using two-tier networking
Get PDFThis project investigates the creation of a two-tier wireless mesh network (WMN) framework specifically designed for Industry 4.0 applications, with the goal of improving network stability, scalability, and cost-efficiency in industrial environments. The Fourth Industrial Revolution, often known as Industry 4.0, aims to disrupt traditional industrial processes by merging sophisticated technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), cyber-physical systems, and cloud computing. A strong and efficient network infrastructure capable of supporting a wide range of industrial applications is key to this integration.
The current reliance on traditional star topologies and wired networks presents significant limitations, including single points of failure, limited scalability, and high deployment costs. This project addresses these challenges by implementing a WMN that eliminates single points of failure and adapts to dynamic factory floor environments. The proposed two-tier WMN consists of a backbone network of sink nodes and a secondary network of routers, employing dynamic routing algorithms to minimize the impact of network disruptions.
Through a comprehensive review of existing wireless networking technologies and protocols, such as B.A.T.M.A.N. on ESP32 platforms, this project highlights the potential of WMNs to overcome existing network limitations. Although prior studies (e.g., [23]) evaluated BATMAN-adv on ESP32 platforms, this project applies the approach using ESP8266 devices, which are more cost-effective and sufficient for proof-of-concept. The project scope includes the implementation of a 2-tier dynamic routing mesh network within the edge tier of IoT applications, focusing on reliability and network operability. The results demonstrate a scalable, cost-effective, and robust network solution suitable for Industry 4.0, aligning with national policies aimed at advancing the manufacturing sector
Monthly river flow forecasting in Kelantan with ARIMA and deep learning LSTM
Get PDFThis project aims to develop a web-based river flow forecasting system tailored to Malaysian rivers by integrating two prominent time series forecasting models: ARIMA and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM). The system focuses on Sungai Kelantan and Sungai Sokor, leveraging daily river discharge data sourced from the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Malaysia. The core objective is to deliver accurate monthly forecasts through a user-friendly interface powered by Streamlit. The methodology follows the CRISP-DM framework, including systematic data preprocessing, model training, and evaluation using Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and classification metrics. Forecast accuracy, especially for extreme flow conditions, is validated through comparative performance analysis. The final product allows real-time river flow forecasting with interactive model selection and visualization, contributing to improved decision-making for flood preparedness and water resource management in Malaysia
Malaysian food calorie tracker
Get PDFThis project is regarding a growing trend – Website Development. The process of building and managing websites is known as website development. It includes each detail from developing complicated web applications to designing a straightforward webpage. By choosing typical Malaysian foods, users of the Web-Based Malaysian Food Calorie Tracker can quickly record and keep track of their daily caloric consumption. In addition to helping users manage macros and create individual calorie goals based on their health objectives, the portal includes comprehensive nutrition information. Its user-friendly design promotes Malaysia's various culinary traditions while encouraging healthy eating practices. This project focuses on the development of a web-based calorie tracker for Malaysian in Malaysia. Personal health and nutrition awareness are becoming more and more important, specifically customized for local dietary habits in Malaysia. As wellness awareness increases globally, many Malaysians find it difficult to track their daily calorie intake because there aren't many localized and culturally relevant tools available. Most calorie tracking applications that are currently available are designed for Western diets and frequently ignore Malaysian cuisine, which leaves local users with inaccurate or incomplete data. This project addresses localization and user-friendliness as two major issues. Since many health monitoring applications don't support Malaysian foods and are hard to use for people who aren't familiar with nutrition tracking, there has been an obvious need for a comprehensive and culturally relevant solution. After conducting the research and analysis, many current platforms, including MyFitnessPal, health.family.my, and Channel News Asia’s Calorie Calculator, in order to determine their advantages and disadvantages. A more specialized solution—a web-based Malaysian Food Calorie Tracker— is suggested considering this research. Users of the app can log their daily intake, look for different cuisine in food databases, read comprehensive nutritional data, and get tailored suggestions. The system provides a clear, user-friendly interface by utilizing dynamic web technologies and relational databases. By making nutritional tracking simple, relatable, and accessible to all Malaysians, the finished product seeks to promote healthy living