UNIMAS Journal (Universiti Malaysia Sarawak)
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THE CONTRADICTORY EFFECTS OF DIGITAL ACCESS AND LIFE SATISFACTION ON VOTING BEHAVIOURS: A RETROSPECTIVE LOOK AT THE 2008 MALAYSIAN GENERAL ELECTION
Get PDFThis paper explores the relationship between life satisfaction and voting intention by analysing the 2008 General Election in Malaysia. The election was significant because of the high turnout rate since 1964 and the rise of digital media in political communication. The latter leads to the second objective of this paper: to investigate whether the presence of digital media reshapes voting behaviours across different levels of life satisfaction. Using the 6th wave of World Value Survey data of 1198 respondents with the Hierarchical Linear Regression Modelling, we show that unhappier voters are more likely to vote. However, by democratising access to information and lowering barriers to connect with voters via digital media, voting intention is levelled irrespective of the degree of life satisfaction. While happier voters pay more attention to the social economic issues and thus are more likely to react to news disseminated via digital media by voting, it is equally likely that unhappier voters provoked by negative news through digital media have greater intention to voice out by casting a vote too
THE ROLE OF TAX FAIRNESS AND TAXPAYER TRUST IN BUILDING VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE IN MSME TAXPAYERS
Get PDFThe aim of this study is to explain the role of tax fairness (procedural and distributive) and taxpayer trust (cognitive) in building voluntary compliance of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) taxpayers in Malang Raya, Indonesia. To achieve this, the study uses a positivist paradigm approach with a judgment sampling method. Data were collected from questionnaires, which were created using the Google Forms platform and distributed online. Furthermore, the response was obtained from 204 respondents. The study results show that the two observed factors, i.e tax fairness (procedural and distributive) and taxpayer trust (cognitive), significantly influences voluntary compliance among MSME taxpayers in Malang Raya, Indonesia
Bacillus Composted Paddy Husk as a Plant Nutrient Source to Promote Vegetative Growth and Nutrient Uptake in Maize: Bacillus composted paddy husk
No full textPaddy husk (PH) is a waste generated from rice production that can be composted into organic fertiliser. Ligninolytic active Bacillus spp. from termite gut were added during the composting process to enhance the agronomic properties of compost produced from PH. This pot study was conducted using maize (Thai Super Sweet hybrid F1) as a test crop to determine the effects of using Bacillus composted PH in supplementing essential nutrients when used in tropical agricultural soil. A total of 144 planting pots, consisting of 12 treatments, were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three blocks, three replications and four sub-samples per replication. Maize growth namely plant height and leave number were recorded from 14 until 48 days after planting. Maize plants were harvested at 48 days after planting (tasseling stage) and total plant dry weights were recorded. Each plant part was ground and analysed for total N, P, K, Mg and Ca. Soil samples from the pots were sampled and analysed for TOC, pH, EC, total N, total P, available P, K, Mg and Ca. The results at 48 days after planting showed that Bacillus composted PH contributed to an increased by 24.29 to 31.67% in plant height, 53.84 to 61.61% in total plant dry weight and 9.09 to 16.67% in leaf number when compared to plants supplied with standard fertiliser. The use of Bacillus composted PH also improved soil pH, increased soil total N, total P, exchangeable K, Ca, and Mg. Maize treated with Bacillus composted PH showed higher nutrient uptake by 42.79 to 67.89% N, 30.05 to 56.25% P, 61.39 to 70.34% K, 47.39 to 69.94% Ca, and 76.62 to 83.74% Mg when compared to maize treated with standard fertiliser. This study suggests that Bacillus composted PH can promote vegetative growth in maize by acting as soil amendment and providing sufficient nutrients to the plant. Therefore, Bacillus composted PH has great potentials in promoting a more environmentally friendly and sustainable cropping practices which can benefit the environment and society
Morphometric Studies of Accessions of Duranta erecta L. (Vebernaceae) Complex in Nigeria : Morphometric studies of Duranta erecta in Nigeria
No full textStudies were conducted to broaden the systematic knowledge of the genus Duranta erecta L., to contribute a better understanding of their taxonomic and evolutionary relationships. Previous studies have pointed out complexity in the taxonomy and nomenclature of the species. A total of 224 samples were collected from six geo-political zones of Nigeria, and were grouped into 38 accessions. The plants were compared using 21 morphological characters involving qualitative and quantitative characteristics. Multivariate analyses such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA) were employed to evaluate the intraspecific variabilities. The results showed that all the plants exhibited significant differences in all the quantitative attributes with the variegated type having the longest and widest leaves ranging from 12.20 cm and 5.08 cm, respectively. The qualitative characters delimited the plants accessions into distinctive groups of eight morphological forms namely; green bush, yellow bush, variegated yellow, variegated white, variegated yellow double, plain yellow, broad green, thorny green type. The PCA showed that leaf length, leaf width, internode length and length of inflorescence were some of the quantitative characters while leaf shape, leaf colour, leaf margin, flower colour and leaf apex are some of the qualitative traits that accounted for the delimitation. Unpaired Weighted Group Multivariate Analysis (UPGMA) using the Euclidian separated the 38 accessions into two major clusters; cluster I (flower producing) and cluster II (non-flower producing) Duranta erecta. Morphological variations and field observations suggested that there could be gene flow among the accessions of Duranta erecta studied and gene flow is an important factor in population genetics, shaping the diversity of species
The Mechanism of Anxiolytic Effects of Moringa oleifera Leaf Extracts Associated with Significant Differential Expression of Crhb, Faah2a, Mao, and Pah Genes in Danio rerio: Mechanism of anxiolytic effects of Moringa oleifera leaf extracts
No full textThe search and development of new therapeutic agents from medicinal plants to alleviate anxiety is well justified due to the increasing cases of anxiety disorder and lack of effective treatment. Moringa oleifera has been used traditionally to treat anxiety. However, there is still lack of understanding on the mechanism for its anxiolytic effect. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anxiolytic effects and the mechanism of ethanolic extracts of the leaves of M. oleifera (MOLE) by observing behavioural changes of the Danio rerio and the differential gene expression analysis using custom RT2 Profiler PCR array. A 14-day chronic behaviour study was conducted using three concentrations of MOLE (500 mg/L, 1000 mg/L and 2000 mg/L) fluoxetine as the positive control. Stress-induced D. rerio treated with 1000 mg/L MOLE showed the lowest level of anxiety compared to other groups as evidenced by a decrease in freezing episodes and freezing time, increased entries into the light region. The fish also showed significant changes in the expression of crhb, faah2a, mao, and pah genes. MOLE with the presence of quercetin and kaempferol are believed to exert its anxiolytic effects through differential expression of gene (i) modulating the function of GABAA receptor (crhb), (ii) inhibiting the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and the production of nitric oxide, (iii) increasing the AEA levels in the brain (faah2a), (iv) increasing the level of dopamine levels in the brain (mao). These findings provide valuable insights into the potential use of MOLE as a treatment for anxiety-related disorders as well as the significance of the molecular pathways involved in its anxiolytic properties
A New Record of Panulirus homarus homarus (Panulirus spp.) from Malaysia Waters with its Molecular Phylogeny: New record of Panulirus homarus homarus from Malaysia
No full textSpiny lobsters Panulirus spp. of the family Palinuridae Latreille, 1802 occupies the shallow tropical and subtropical waters (<100 m depth). These species are ubiquitous and abundant, yet knowledge of its range, biodiversity, and population abundance in Malaysia is limited. Panulirus homarus is listed as “Least Concern” along with other 11 species out of 21 spiny lobster species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) red list in 2022. A total of five species were reported from Malaysia waters. Whilst, this study reports the sixth spiny lobster species, Panulirus homarus homarus, with morphology and molecular genetic information (Cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene) provided. The p-distance within P. h. homarus was 0.2 – 0.6%, n = 12; between P. h. homarus with P. h. rubellus and P. homarus “Brown” was 6.4 – 6.8%, n = 12 and 0.8 – 3.3%, n = 12, respectively. Intra-species p-distance within Panulirus spp. was below 3%, while inter-species was above 10%. This validates the collected specimen as P. h. homarus and P. h. rubellus is the subspecies, but leaving P. h. “Brown” taxonomic status unclear. Thus, genetic information is important in solving many of these systematic and taxonomic problems, because often these species are difficult to distinguished based on morphological criteria. A key to all Panulirus spp. identified in Malaysia waters was constructed. This study updates the marine biodiversity list in Malaysia, where the acquisition of biological knowledge is vital to the protection of the world’s natural resources as well as to the sustainable management of spiny lobster fisheries
EXPLORING THE TIKTOK INFLUENCES ON CONSUMER IMPULSIVE PURCHASE BEHAVIOUR
Get PDFTikTok is one of the most widely used platforms popular among young adults and teenagers and had over 800 million monthly active users in 2020. TikTok enjoys significant user acquisition growth with a rise in brands appearing on the platform. This study explores how TikTok influences consumer impulse purchase behaviour in Malaysia through the lens of the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model comprising product-related visual appeal and product feasibility (stimuli), perceived enjoyment, and perceived usefulness (Organism), and impulsive purchase intention (Response). SPSS and Smart PLS analysed data per one hundred sixty-nine responses from close-ended questionnaires distributed across online channels. The findings indicate that visual appeal and product feasibility positively influence perceived enjoyment and perceived usefulness. The data affirms the positive effect of perceived enjoyment and perceived usefulness among TikTok users on their impulsive buying behaviour. In addition to theoretical implications and suggestions for broadening the research domain, this paper offers practical recommendations for marketers to leverage TikTok's ability to drive impulsive purchase behaviour
A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF HRM SYSTEMS AND FIRM INNOVATION
Get PDFIn this paper, we explored the bibliometric network structure in the major literature on human resource management (HRM) systems and firm innovation. In the search of Web of Science, we identified 173 unique papers, including quantitative papers, qualitative papers, literature review, editorial letters, etc. The VOS viewer bibliometric results showed three clusters of firm innovation from the HRM systems perspective: innovation in products or services, innovation in processes, and innovation in people and organizations. Our paper also described the number of publications, co-authorship information, and affiliated universities and countries per firm innovation cluster
FACTORS INFLUENCING CORPORATE ETHICAL VALUES DISCLOSURES: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW
Get PDFThe objective of this paper is to review the research patterns that examined factors influencing ethical values and practices disclosures among public listed companies in Malaysia. Through a systematic literature review (SLR) process, the paper reports a step-by-step approach to examining past studies and theories by utilizing the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) method. Past articles were identified through Scopus, Web of Sciences, and Google Scholar, which cover a period from when the Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance (MCCG) was established in 2000 until 2021. The results of our systematic literature review managed to categorize these factors into internal (board commitment, board characteristics, and company characteristics) and external (regulatory framework and international guidelines). While the sub-categories in each factor were mostly driven by compliance with the MCCG 2012 and MCCG 2017, the items on ethical practices and actions require more attention for further research. This paper recommends more studies to be conducted to examine these factors from the perspectives of board commitment, board characteristics, and firm characteristics as moderating variables. Our paper recommends large companies to adopt integrated reporting based on a globally recognised framework in promoting greater transparency and accountability as well as reducing duplication. The recommendations in this regulatory framework may influence the Board of Directors’ commitment to report more reflections of quality, and ethical values voluntarily. This paper is among the first of its kind to present a systematic literature review, which examines factors influencing ethical values and practices on disclosures, specifically in developing countries
QUALITY OF WORK LIFE AND EMPLOYEE WORK OUTCOMES: A HIERARCHICAL MODEL WITH MEDIATION ANALYSIS
Get PDFThe paper investigates how the quality of work life (QWL), presented in a hierarchical model, influences employee work outcomes (job performance and retention intention). The paper also examines if job satisfaction mediates the above relationship. Drawing on the social exchange theory, the paper examines these two research questions using 365 employees from Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG) industry. The findings show that QWL is positively associated with job satisfaction, retention intention, and in-role performance. Job satisfaction has a significant positive effect on the outcome variables as well. Furthermore, job satisfaction mediates QWL and employee work outcomes relationship. The hierarchical model of QWL and its impact on employee outcomes through the mediating role of job satisfaction continues to lag. As such, the paper provides practical insights for organizations looking to improve employee satisfaction, performance, and retention through QWL. These findings have implications for research on positive relationships at work. The study has a few limitations that may provide opportunities for future research