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MALAYSIA’S HALAL ECOSYSTEM: A STRATEGIC MODEL FOR GLOBAL HALAL ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE
No full textThe development of the halal industry in Malaysia has been instrumental in positioning the country as one of the world\u27s fastest-growing economies. Renowned as a global leader in the halal sector, Malaysia has significantly contributed to the halal economy that extends across diverse products and services, mainly in food and beverages, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. The success of the halal industry is predominantly driven by its comprehensive halal ecosystem, built on the collaborative and synergistic involvement of government agencies, industries, and consumers. The successful establishment of the halal ecosystem in Malaysia is significantly driven by key factors, including a robust halal regulatory framework comprising a systematic halal certification system and comprehensive halal guidelines and policies, as well as active halal research and development. This narrative review article delves into the Malaysia halal ecosystem, providing the structural, regulatory, and market forces that shape Malaysia’s global halal economy. Overall, this article highlights Malaysia’s economic significance and its role to serve as a blueprint for other countries to develop their halal industries
WHAT PREDICTS THE TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY IN MALAYSIA’S FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY?
No full textThe present study focuses on the technical efficiency of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Large-scale enterprises (LSEs) in Malaysia\u27s food processing industry by adopting Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Tobit regression. The empirical results provide that the SMEs technical efficiency score in constant return to scale (CRS) and variable return to scale (VRS) are 0.940 and 0.986 respectively which indicates the SMEs can enhance the level of output by 6 per cent for CRS and 1.4 per cent for VRS by using the given level of inputs. Moreover, the technical efficiency level of LSE is 0.673 and 0.942 from CRS and VRS respectively. The finding also suggests that the training cost, research and development, and foreign direct investment positively affect technical efficiency while information and technology, public infrastructure, and trade openness negatively affect the technical efficiency in SMEs. On the other hand, government infrastructure and trade openness have a positive connection with the technical efficiency of LSEs in Malaysia\u27s food processing industry. Contradiction, research and development, and world oil price are negatively affecting the technical efficiency in LSEs which means the higher of these variables, the higher the efficiency in LSEs
USER ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS & CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY: A LEGAL ANALYSIS OF THE POSITION OF FOOD DELIVERY MOBILE APPS IN THE MALAYSIAN CONTEXT
No full textMobile applications, which are popularly known as ‘mobile apps’ are software applications generally used on wireless computing devices such as smartphones or tablets. Since tech giant Apple’s launch of the iPhone in 2007, these mobile apps are getting more attention across nations with the advancement of mobile internet, smartphone technologies, and navigational services. Food delivery mobile apps (FDAs) facilitate convenient and quick food delivery to customers and provide restaurants with better opportunities to generate more revenue without having to increase the seating capacities of their brick-and-mortar outlets. Nevertheless, with these FDAs, users face a myriad of legal problems, including consent mechanisms and the acceptance of the terms and conditions (T&Cs) and privacy policies (PPs). These one-sided conditions warrant investigation from the perspective of consumer protection. This paper aims to uncover the T&Cs and PPs used in the FDAs popular in Malaysia from the perspective of consumer protection and privacy rights, based on the standards of contracts. By adopting a qualitative legal research methodology and analyzing primary and secondary literature, the research has developed several standards and grouped them under the headings of contract standards, contract changes and contract termination to evaluate the T&Cs and PPs of nine of the most popular FDAs in Malaysia. The study analysed the content of the T&Cs and PPs of these FDAs to explore whether they “comply”, “partially comply”, or “do not comply” with the standards developed. The study found that the FDAs failed to comply with these standards, highlighting legislative shortcomings that indicate a lack of supervision in app development processes and compliance. The paper concludes by offering recommendations for policymakers, which included increasing supervisory and monitoring capacity and reforming the relevant legal framework in the future. As the number of FDA users and the frequency of online food ordering have sharply risen in Malaysia, this study is highly relevant for examining the legal aspects, particularly regarding the T&Cs and PPs of these apps
MOBILE THERAPY FOR DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: THE ANTI-DA APP
No full textDepression and anxiety are critical mental health challenges among university students, often stemming from academic stress, social transitions, and personal uncertainties. Traditional counselling services, while beneficial, remain underutilized due to stigma, financial cost, and limited accessibility. This creates an urgent need for innovative and student-centered interventions that can provide immediate, engaging, and stigma-free support. Mobile health applications have shown promise in this regard, yet many lack features that sustain user motivation and active participation. Addressing this gap, the present study introduces and evaluates ANTI-DA, a gamified mobile therapy app specifically designed to help university students manage depression and anxiety. A quantitative pre–post research design was employed with thirty student participants, who completed standardized assessments of depression, anxiety, usability, and intrinsic motivation before and after using the app. Findings demonstrated significant reductions in depression and anxiety levels, alongside high usability ratings, immersive gameplay experiences, and strong intrinsic motivation. The study contributes to students, higher education stakeholders, and the broader community by offering both a practical intervention for future digital mental health solutions. Importantly, aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), advancing efforts to promote accessible mental health support for university students
UNDERSTANDING THE DETERMINANTS OF RESIDENT SUPPORT FOR HALAL TOURISM SUSTAINABILITY IN POST-COVID-19
No full textThis conceptual article focuses on Malaysia\u27s halal tourism sector, which is vital to the country\u27s economic growth. One of the most significant economic sectors where sustainability has gained importance is halal tourism. Without the active support of residents, halal tourism cannot be sustained; nevertheless, while local support for other forms of tourism sustainability has been extensively researched, local support for halal tourism sustainability has received far less attention. Furthermore, it is critically necessary to look into the suppositions that can affect residents\u27 support for sustainable halal tourism. Unfortunately, the quick spread of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2019 resulted in significant losses for the halal tourism industry, both locally and globally, due to the cancellation of majority travel and tour-related activities, including lodging. More research is needed to determine how the pandemic has affected halal tourism in terms of residents\u27 support for halal tourism and its long-term sustainability. Thus, this conceptual study seeks to understand the residents’ attitude and behaviour as well as how residents perceive sustainable halal tourism in their destination. A structured literature review was conducted in this study, with the aim to develop a conceptual framework of residents’ support based on review of literature for sustainable halal tourism development. Importantly, this conceptual work will act as the foundation for future, more focused research in this field
DECOLONIZING MALAYSIAN ART: THE IMPACT OF THE NATIONAL CULTURE POLICY AND ISLAMIZATION IN THE 1980S: (Dekolonisasi Kesenian Malaysia : Impak Dasar Kebudayaan Kebangsaan Dan Dasar Islamisasi Sewaktu Era 1980an)
No full textThis paper presents a critical analysis of Malaysia’s arts and culture under the National Culture Policy (NCP) and the Islamization policies of the 1980s. While these sought to create a unifying national culture on Malay and Islamic values, these have, in return, sparked a big debate on arts freedom, inclusion, and creative freedom. This study, based on a qualitative study, sought to examine in which ways arts practitioners negotiated, resisted, or made accommodations in these regulations. The paper captures, in addition, a struggle between imposed narratives of culture and arts freedom, adding a contribution toward a wider debate on decolonization and postcolonial identity in Malaysia. Comparative studies of Nigeria and South Africa, and debates on globalization and digital arts, place Malaysia on a different trajector
ELEVATING THE STAMP COLLECTING EXPERIENCE THROUGH DIGITAL STAMP ALBUM
No full textPhilately, commonly known as stamp collecting, is a globally embraced and culturally rich hobby with historical significance. This study delves into the transformative influence of StampAlbumCollect, a web-based personalised stamp album application, on the traditional practice of stamp collecting. Departing from conventional reliance on physical albums, collectors now grapple with opportunities and challenges introduced by Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the digital era. StampAlbumCollect, a user-friendly platform harnessing ICT advancements, redefines how collectors engage with stamp collections, offering a seamless experience regardless of location. Beyond organisational advantages, StampAlbumCollect becomes a dynamic hub for knowledge sharing among collectors, acting as a catalyst for community-building in this time-honoured hobby. The study follows an iterative model, collaborating with stamp collectors and analysing existing stamp collection websites to develop StampAlbumCollect\u27s requirements meticulously. This iterative approach ensures adaptability, responsiveness, and continuous improvement based on user feedback, maintaining dynamic alignment with user needs. Feedback from respondents on StampAlbumCollect overwhelmingly reflects positive perceptions concerning practical experience, usability, usefulness, ease of learning, and overall satisfaction. The application receives notable acclaim for its ease of use, user-friendliness, and efficiency. While a few instances of neutrality are present, the predominant sentiment is positive, affirming StampAlbumCollect\u27s success and providing insights for potential enhancements. Future enhancements for StampAlbumCollect may encompass expanded customisation tools, advanced data analytics for user behaviour insights, and the creation of a dedicated mobile application. These advancements further enhance user satisfaction, ensuring StampAlbumCollect\u27s ongoing success and valuable contribution to the evolving landscape of digital stamp collecting
BRIDGING INNOVATION AND IMPACT: A WEB-BASED CROWDFUNDING SOLUTION FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
No full textThis paper presents the design, development, and usability evaluation of a web-based Crowdfunding Platform tailored for Social Entrepreneurs, aimed at supporting IT-driven initiatives with measurable social impact. The platform features campaign creation tools, real-time funding tracking, and simulated payment processing functionalities, enabling aspiring entrepreneurs to secure financial support for community-oriented projects. A field test involving 30 purposively selected participants, including IT students, recent graduates, and young professionals, was conducted to assess the platform’s usability. Participants engaged with the prototype and completed a structured online questionnaire featuring Likert-scale and open-ended items. Findings revealed moderate satisfaction with the campaign management components. However, critical issues were identified related to interface navigation, payment simulation accuracy, and data security, where over 70% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction. Key user recommendations included enhancing user interface intuitiveness, strengthening authentication processes, and incorporating interactive features such as live Q&A sessions and AI-generated feedback. Despite its limitations, the prototype demonstrates significant potential to address financing gaps among tech-based social innovators. This study offers valuable insights for the future refinement of digital crowdfunding ecosystems, particularly in fostering accessible, user-friendly solutions for the next generation of social entrepreneurs
A MOBILE APPLICATION FOR PERSONALIZED DIET PLAN USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
No full textDespite the growing awareness of healthy eating habits, many individuals, especially college students, struggle to maintain a balanced diet due to a busy schedule filled with academic responsibilities and extracurricular activities. Due to the limited time for meal preparation, they may skip meals or opt for high-calorie and low-nutrition food choices. Thus, this GenZDiet mobile application leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) to provide personalised diet plans tailored to individual health goals, dietary preferences, and nutritional needs. To evaluate its usability, a survey was conducted with 30 respondents aged between 18 and 24 years old using a Google form based on the Computer System Usability Questionnaire (CSUQ) framework. Key evaluation criteria include ease of use, clarity of information and security assurance, navigation and interface design, usefulness, and satisfaction. The findings indicated intense user satisfaction, with over 50% of respondents strongly agreeing that the app is intuitive and easy to navigate. Notably, 53.3% of respondents strongly agreed that the interface was user-friendly, and 50% respondents reported high satisfaction in meeting dietary expectations. However, minor improvements were identified, such as AI-driven recommendations, expanding the meal database, and refining the user interface. Overall, the study demonstrates that GenZDiet achieves a positive result and has potential as a practical tool for supporting healthier eating habits in the long term
Computational Analysis of Engineering Licensure Outcomes Under Curricular Change using Propensity Score Matching
No full textThe Philippine higher education sector underwent a significant curriculum transition with the implementation of the K–12 program, which reduced the engineering curriculum from five to four years. This study examines the impact of this change on the licensure examination performance of engineering graduates. A causal-comparative design was used, with propensity score matching (PSM) applied to control for confounding variables such as age, sex, academic performance, exam timing, and degree program. Both nearest-neighbor and full matching methods were tested, with full matching selected for its superior covariate balance and sample retention. Using the matched dataset, logistic regression modeling revealed that graduates under the new 4-year curriculum had significantly lower odds (OR = 0.94) of passing the board exam than those under the 5-year track. The marginal mean comparison showed a 6.06 percentage point decrease in passing probability for the new curriculum group (p < .001), with a Cohen’s d of –0.53, indicating a moderate negative effect. These findings suggest that transitioning to the restructured 4-year engineering curriculum has not yet translated into improved licensure performance. A closer review of curriculum content, implementation fidelity, and academic support programs is needed to address this gap and strengthen outcomes under the reformed education system