USM Journal Management System (Univ. Sains Malaysia)
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Information Technology Capabilities Enhance Business Performance: The Role of Organisational Agility, Ambidexterity, and Regulatory Support
Get PDFIn pursuing a market position, enterprises have increasingly turned to information technology (IT) to help improve their performance. Our research assesses the influence of IT capabilities as a strategic resource for business performance within the context of dynamic capabilities theory. It also examines the mediating role of organisational ambidexterity and agility in the relationship between IT capabilities and business performance, thereby shedding light on the mechanisms through which IT capabilities impact overall organisational success. The role of regulatory support in digital transformation is also investigated. This paper uses Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling to analyse 321 respondents from Vietnamese enterprises. The results highlight the mediating effects of organisational agility and ambidexterity on the relationship between IT capabilities and business performance. These findings confirm that regulatory support moderates the association between organisational ambidexterity and business performance. Limitations and future research directions are discussed in the paper as well
Nexus between Capital Inflow and Economic Growth: Evidence from Indonesia
Get PDFThis research aims to examine the impact of capital inflow, specifically Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Portfolio Investment, on economic growth in Indonesia as an emerging market country. The study uses quarterly time series data from 2004 to 2021 and employs the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) method to analyse the relationship between capital inflow and economic growth. The results show that FDI has a substantial impact on GDP in the short to middle term, while portfolio investment does not contribute as expected to boost economic growth. The instability of Indonesian political conditions and the U.S. economy’s power could create “crowd out” when economic shocks occur. The forecasting analysis result of the main interest variable (FDI and PortfolioInvestment) shows that Indonesian GDP will increase yearly in the long term, while Foreign Direct Investment and Portfolio Investment have a steady growth condition. This article contributes to the ongoing academic debate about the relationship between capital inflow and economic growth, as previous literature shows different results in developed and developing nations. The research will contribute to answering the question of how capital inflow plays a role in growing economies such as Indonesia in the long term
Impact of Exchange Rate Volatility on Economic Growth: Evidence from Selected OIC Countries
Get PDFThis study examines how exchange rate volatility (ERV) impacts economic growth in 18 Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries (1985–2022) through direct and indirect channels. Using the CS-ARDL model and Dumitrescu-Hurlin causality tests, we analyse ERV’s effects via inflation, FDI, external debt, trade, and financial development. Results show ERV significantly reduces long-term growth directly via uncertainty and indirectly through key determinants. While FDI, trade, and financial development support growth, inflation and external debt amplify ERV’s negative effects. Robustness checks (CCEMG and AMG estimators) confirm these findings. OIC policymakers should implement OIC-wide local-currency swap networks and Sharia-compliant hedging instruments (wa?d-based forwards, mur?ba?ah swaps), strengthen Islamic money markets, and adopt inflation control with local-currency trade invoicing to mitigate ERV while boosting growth
Peranan Badan Mubaligh Kristian dalam Perkembangan Pendidikan Formal Wanita di Sarawak, 1848–1930: The Role of Christian Missionaries in the Development of Women’s Formal Education in Sarawak, 1848–1930
Get PDFIn Sarawak, the Christian missionaries carried out their Christianisation by establishing missionary schools. Through the establishment of the missionary school, they not only want to Christianise the Dayak and Chinese communities but also the Malay community. James Brooke was seen supporting the effort because he did not prohibit the missionaries’ actions. However, the effort was not continued after Francis Thomas McDougall retired in 1866. Despite failing to Christianise the Malay community, the missionaries succeeded in introducing a formal education system for women in Sarawak through the establishment of missionary girls’ schools. Therefore, this study was conducted to discussing the role of Christian missionaries in the development of formal education for women in Sarawak. With that, qualitative research has been carried out by analysing the selected sources especially the Sarawak Gazette. Through this study, it can be seen that the Christian missionaries played an important role in the development of women’s education because the establishment of girl’s schools has given women in Sarawak the opportunity to go to school. Its’ also succeeded in changing the public’s perception of intelligent women. Following that, the community began to allow their daughters to go to school. In fact, the Sarawak people’s itself also setting up their own girl’s school. This shows that the Christian missionary were the pioneers of formal education for women in Sarawak.
Badan mubaligh Kristian di Sarawak menjalankan dakwah Kristianisasi dengan mendirikan sekolah mubaligh. Melalui penubuhan sekolah tersebut, mereka bukan sahaja ingin mengkristiankan masyarakat Dayak dan Cina tetapi juga masyarakat Melayu. James Brooke dilihat menyokong usaha tersebut kerana beliau tidak melarang perbuatan para mubaligh berkenaan. Namun demikian, usaha itu tidak diteruskan selepas Francis Thomas McDougall bersara pada tahun 1866. Meskipun gagal mengkristiankan masyarakat Melayu, pihak mubaligh berjaya memperkenalkan sistem pendidikan formal untuk kaum wanita di Sarawak menerusi penubuhan sekolah perempuan mubaligh. Justeru, kajian ini dilakukan untuk membincangkan peranan badan mubaligh Kristian dalam perkembangan pendidikan formal untuk wanita di Sarawak. Penyelidikan kualitatif telah dilakukan dengan menganalisis sumber-sumber yang terpilih. Sumber yang banyak digunakan adalah Sarawak Gazette. Menerusi kajian ini, badan mubaligh Kristian didapati memainkan peranan penting dalam perkembangan pendidikan wanita di Sarawak kerana penubuhan sekolah perempuan oleh badan mubaligh memberi peluang kepada kaum wanita untuk bersekolah. Selain itu, penubuhan sekolah perempuan mubaligh juga berjaya mengubah tanggapan masyarakat terhadap wanita pandai. Susulan itu, masyarakat mula membenarkan anak perempuan mereka bersekolah seperti anak lelaki. Masyarakat Sarawak juga mengikut jejak langkah badan mubaligh dengan mendirikan sekolah perempuan mereka sendiri. Keadaan ini menunjukkan bahawa badan mubaligh Kristian merupakan perintis kepada perkembangan pendidikan formal untuk kaum wanita di Sarawak.
 
Penterjemahan Mahua sebagai Strategi Budaya: Kajian Kes Gerakan Sastera 31 Mei: Translating Mahua as a Cultural Strategy: A Case Study of the May 31 Literary Movement
Get PDFThis article examines the May 31 Literary Movement initiated in the 1980s by Mahua translators in collaboration with Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP). The campaign was initiated to promote national unity through the translation of literary works and cultural performances. On 31st May 1983, DBP convened a meeting of writers from various ethnic backgrounds which resulted in the formation of Coordinating Committee for the Translation of Multiracial Writers and then launched a series of cultural performances and literary translation initiatives. One of the pioneers of this movement, Usman Awang stated that “May 13 represents prejudice and division, while May 31 is a day for promoting interaction through translation, mutual understanding and unity”. Although the movement was small in scale and had limited influence on Mahua literature, it remains a significant milestone in Malaysian literary translation history, marking the first structured collaboration between DBP and the Chinese community on cultural matters. This article situates the movement within a broader historical context, tracing the formation of Chinese bilingual intellectuals since independence and examining how the May 13 Incident shaped their translation practices and identity formation in the evolving post-tragedy political landscape. The finding of this article shows that translation has been employed as a cultural strategy by the Chinese community in their pursuit of the ideal of multiculturalism
The Impact of Insecticides on Mycelial Growth of Metarhizium spp. and Their Efficacy in Controlling Larvae and Pupae of the House Fly (Musca domestica L.)
Get PDFMetarhizium spp. are entomopathogenic hyphomycete fungi with great potential as biological control agents against insects and as a component within integrated pest management systems. This study evaluated 10 Metarhizium spp. isolates for their effectiveness against house fly larvae and pupae. The isolates with the highest infection rates were tested for compatibility with insecticides. NMMet_SS9/2 and NMMet_CLPK4/1 were the most effective, with infection rates of 86.67% and 60.00% for larvae and pupae, respectively. Both isolates were cultured on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) mixed with Cypas® 250 EC (100 mL and 50 mL per 6.25 L) and Tanidil®-T (100 g/L and 50 g/L) to assess the impact of insecticides on mycelial growth. After 28 days, the radial growth of NMMet_SS9/2 (81.33 mm) and NMMet_CLPK4/1 (77.67 mm) on PDA with Cypas® 250 EC (50 mL per 6.25 L) showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) compared to growth on PDA alone. Aspore suspension (1 × 10? spores/mL) of NMMet_SS9/2 and NMMet_CLPK4/1 cultured on PDA with Cypas® 250 EC (50 mL per 6.25 L) was used to control house fly larvae and pupae, resulting in mortality rates of 93.33% (NMMet_SS9/2) and 75.56% (NMMet_CLPK4/1), with infection rates of 77.78% and 71.11%, respectively. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in mortality or infection rates compared to spores cultured on PDA without insecticides. These findings confirm that NMMet_SS9/2 and NMMet_CLPK4/1 are highly effective against house fly larvae and pupae and can proliferate on media containing Cypas® 250 EC at 50 mL per 6.25 L without compromising their insecticidal properties, making them promising candidates for integrated pest management strategies
Indications for Keratoplasty in King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital: Five Years of Experience
Get PDFBackground: This study aimed to describe the indications and surgical techniques for corneal transplantation performed at a tertiary hospital over the past five years.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional chart review was conducted of medical records for keratoplasty cases admitted to the hospital during this period. For each patient, data were collected on demographic characteristics, clinical indications for keratoplasty, associated ocular conditions, the surgical technique used, graft size, postoperative outcomes, suture removal time, and complication rates.
Results: A total of 132 patients (159 keratoplasties) were included. The leading indications for keratoplasty were keratoconus (74/159, 46.5%), corneal decompensation including pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (37/159, 23.3%), and microbial keratitis (10/159, 6.3%). Penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) was the most commonly performed surgical technique (84/159, 53%), followed by Descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK, 35/159, 22%). Postoperatively, mean intraocular pressure remained stable (approximately 16–17 mmHg) throughout follow-up visits. By two months, corneal clarity was achieved in nearly 90% of cases, with gradual improvement in visual acuity up to three months.
Conclusions: The findings highlight key indications and evolving surgical techniques in corneal transplantation, underscoring the importance of early diagnosis and adoption of less invasive procedures to improve patient outcomes. These insights support targeted clinical strategies and resource planning to optimise corneal transplant care
Decision-Making in Surgical Treatment for Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery (PICA) Aneurysm
Get PDFBackground: Posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysm is rare. Endovascular treatment does not provide a decompressive effect, and the complex morphological features of PICA aneurysm make treatment approaches challenging. The objective of this study was to formulate a decision-making guide for PICA aneurysm according to location, based on an illustrative case and a review of the literature.
Methods: From January 2022 until April 2023, a total of 157 aneurysm cases were treated using surgical and endovascular intervention. Fourteen patients were confirmed to have PICA aneurysm based on cerebral DSA/CTA. Demographic data, clinical characteristics, radiological findings, treatment plans, and outcomes were analysed. Outcomes were assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), with scores of zero to three considered good. Statistical analyses included Fisher’s exact test, Chi-square test, and McNemar test, where appropriate.
Results: Of the total aneurysm cases, 8.9% were ruptured PICA aneurysms. Seven cases were located at the proximal PICA (P1 = 4 cases, P2 = 3), two cases at the mid PICA (P3), and five cases at the distal PICA (P4, P5). Out of 14 PICA aneurysms cases, nine were saccular, four were fusiform, and one was a dissecting aneurysm. Three patients underwent endovascular intervention (two saccular and one dissecting), while 11 underwent surgery (1 PICA–PICA in situ bypass with vertebral artery ligation, and 10 craniotomies with aneurysm clipping, with or without aneurysm reconstruction). Seven of 14 patients initially presented with good mRS scores, and at discharge, 10 patients had good scores. At discharge, two of three patients who had endovascular intervention had good mRS scores, and eight of 11 patients who went for surgery achieved good outcomes. Comparative analyses revealed no statistically significant associations between intervention type, aneurysm complexity, or location and outcome (P > 0.05). The McNemar test showed no significant difference between pre- and postoperative mRS scores (P = 0.25). However, a clinical trend toward improvement was observed, with the proportion of patients achieving good functional outcomes increasing from 50% before surgery to 71.4% at discharge.
Conclusions: Favourable outcomes could be achieved when PICA aneurysm is treated with appropriate surgical strategies by experienced surgeons. Neurovascular surgeon must acquire knowledge of different surgical approaches and the technical skills required to perform these procedures
A Correlational Study Between Students’ Competencies in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Vocabulary Mastery, Reading Comprehension, and Critical Literacy
Get PDFCritical literacy has emerged as a crucial ability needed by students, especially those pursuing higher education, as it involves critically evaluating vast amounts of information available today. Reading comprehension is significantly influenced by critical literacy instruction which is a key component to boost critical literacy. However, some studies reported minimal improvement in reading comprehension when students were taught using critical literacy approach compared to the traditional methods. This discrepancy suggests that other factors may affect the relationship between these variables, particularly in vocabulary mastery. This study aims to find the correlation between EFL students’ vocabulary mastery, reading comprehension, and critical literacy in higher education. Data were collected from 69 second-semester Indonesian students who enrolled in the Interpretive Reading Course by assessing their vocabulary scores, final exams, and critical literacy tests. The results have indicated a strong correlation between vocabulary, reading comprehension test results, and critical literacy, with reading comprehension being the most influential factor. Additionally, vocabulary and reading comprehension accounted for a low count of the variance in critical literacy, suggesting other factors may have mostly contributed to this. Consequently, further research with a larger sample size is recommended to investigate other potential factors influencing critical literacy
English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Students’ Engagement, Reading Habits, and Learning Outcomes: A Comparative Study of Extensive and Intensive Reading
Get PDFThis study explores English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students’ engagement, reading habits, and language development in extensive reading (ER) and intensive reading (IR) classrooms at an Indonesian Islamic university. Using a mixed-methods approach, quantitative data were collected from 143 students via a structured questionnaire, while qualitative insights were obtained through semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that ER fosters higher engagement (M = 4.03, SD = 0.40) and stronger reading habits (M = 4.31, SD = 0.65) compared to IR, which, despite its benefits in comprehension (M = 3.87, SD = 0.35), showed lower engagement levels (M = 3.31, SD = 0.99). Students reported that ER’s flexibility and autonomy increased their motivation, while IR’s structured approach supported deep textual analysis but often felt cognitively demanding. These findings suggest that integrating ER’s engaging, student-centred approach with IR’s analytical rigour could enhance reading instruction in EFL settings. The study contributes to existing literature by highlighting the need for a blended reading strategy that balances fluency development and comprehension skills. Pedagogically, it underscores the importance of interactive and student-driven activities in IR to sustain motivation. Future research should explore digital tools and adaptive strategies to optimise reading engagement and skill acquisition in diverse educational contexts