SARJANA is an international peer-reviewed multi-disciplinary journal published twice a year by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya. SARJANA is indexed in UDLedge Social Sciences & Humanities Citation Index (SS&HCI), Google Scholar, the Malaysian Citation Centre - MyCite Citation Report and in the Bibliography of Asian Studies (Bibliography of Asian Studies (BAS) is the most comprehensive Western-language database for research on East, Southeast and South Asia. It covers all subjects with special focus on the humanities and social sciences). OVERVIEW: Discipline(s) / Subdiscipline(s): 1. Arts & Humanities - Philosophy - Literature - Language - Religion 2. Social Sciences - Area Studies - Political Science - Sociology - Anthropology - Development Studies E-ISSN: 2289-5434 Print ISSN: 1823-7746 Publisher: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya Publication type: Print & Electronic Publication frequency: 2 time(s) per year Journal Website: https://ejournal.um.edu.my/index.php/SARJANA/index Contact Info Chief Editor, SARJANA, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia E-mel: sarjana@um.edu.my SARJANA, the journal of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya, is a multi-disciplinary journal published twice a year in June and December by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Contributions of articles based on original research are invited from scholars working in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Articles should be between 5,000 to 8,000 words.
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences,University of Malaya
HEALTH BELIEF MODEL PERCEPTIONS OF MALAYSIAN ADULT E-CIGARETTE USERS: A GENDER ANALYSIS
This study uses the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a tool to answer two research questions: 1) Are there differences in HBM perceptions based on the gender of Malaysian adult e-cigarette users? ; 2) Do gender norms influence e-cigarette use in Malaysia? A survey of 280 Malaysian adult e-cigarette users was conducted. Overall, gender did not have a statistically significant effect on 14 of the HBM perception statements analysed. The chi-square test showed that gender had a significant influence on two of the perception statements, while the ordered logit regression analysis revealed statistically significant differences in three of the perception statements. The implication of these findings on future public health policy aiming to reduce smoking prevalence in Malaysia must take into account the narrowing gender gap in relation to the use of e-cigarettes and the rising popularity of these nicotine delivery devices, particularly among youth.
EXPLORING ETHNIC DIVERSITY AS A CATALYST FOR INNOVATION IN MALAYSIA’S PUBLIC HEALTHCARE
ABSTRACT This research delves into the influence of ethnic diversity on innovation within Malaysian public healthcare facilities. It explores how ethnic diversity within healthcare teams influence innovation. Employing a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative data, this study first conducted multiple regression analysis on survey data collected from healthcare professionals across diverse facilities, followed by in-depth key informant interviews for qualitative exploration and validation of the quantitative findings, to evaluate the influence of ethnic diversity on levels of innovation at various Malaysian healthcare facilities. The results showed a positive correlation between ethnic diversity within healthcare teams and innovation levels. Teams comprising diverse ethnic backgrounds demonstrate a propensity for generating inventive solutions to healthcare challenges and exhibit heightened problem-solving capabilities. The study underscores the significant positive influence of minority ethnic category within teams as a pivotal driver of innovation in Malaysian public healthcare facilities at Ministry, State Health Department, Hospitals, Clinics and Health Institutions. Keywords: Innovation; ethnic diversity; public healthcare sector
EDUCATION, CLASS, AND FEMALE BODILY AUTONOMY IN AHDAF SOUEIF’S "IN THE EYE OF THE SUN" AND FADIA FAQIR’S "MY NAME IS SALMA"
This article examines how education and class intersect to shape female bodily autonomy in two novels by Arab diasporic authors, Ahdaf Soueif’s In the Eye of the Sun and Fadia Faqir’s My Name is Salma. Through comparative feminist analysis, it explores how the protagonists’ bodies are inscribed with cultural meaning and regulated by social hierarchies. Rather than portraying education or social mobility as inherently liberatory, the novels reveal their limitations in the absence of critical agency and emotional resilience. Asya’s intellectual privilege contrasts with Salma’s restricted access to formal learning, yet both narratives show how class mediates bodily control and access to selfhood. The article argues that female bodily autonomy in these texts is not achieved through structural advantages alone, but through the protagonists’ capacity to narrate, reflect, and contest imposed roles. Drawing on feminist literary and cultural frameworks, the analysis of the two novels challenges reductive views of empowerment, presenting bodily autonomy instead as a process of reclamation forged in tension with patriarchal and class-based constraints.
THE MARGINALISATION OF WATER POLITICS IN MALAYSIA’S POLITICAL DISCOURSE
ABSTRACT This article argues that the persistent sidelining of water in Malaysia’s political discourse is not accidental mismanagement but a systemic project of depoliticisation that protects entrenched interests. Combining a critical reading of federal and state law and policy, longitudinal analysis of party manifestos and discourse analysis of political debates and mainstream media, it shows how a technocratic lexicon such as “capacity,” “leakages,” “NRW,” and “mitigation works” strips water of rights-based claims and relocates it to the domain of engineering. The article extends the hydro-hegemony framework to the domestic arena, demonstrating how elite narrative control, concessionary regimes, and opaque bureaucracies reproduce postcolonial hierarchies while rendering affected communities data points rather than political subjects. It identifies “water populism” as a distinctive affective politics in which state elites mobilise territorial grievance, for example interstate river disputes, to deflect accountability without instituting structural reform. Failures of federalism, including legal ambiguities, fiscal asymmetries, and the absence of inter-state conflict resolution, compound these dynamics, while education, religion, and media normalise crisis and mute collective anger, amounting to sovereign neglect. The article contributes a normative and institutional agenda for hydro-democracy in Malaysia: recognising water as a political right, legislating a rights anchored National Water Act, mandating transparency over concessions and performance data, and institutionalising participatory governance across planning, tariff setting, and oversight. It concludes that without reclaiming water from technocracy and populism, Malaysia’s democracy remains hollowed out at its most elemental threshold, namely the guarantee of dignified and equitable access to clean water.
PERANAN JARINGAN SOSIAL DALAM MIGRASI DAN MOBILITI SOSIAL TENAGA KERJA INDONESIA KE MALAYSIA: SATU KAJIAN KES DI RAUB, PAHANG
Migrasi antarabangsa telah menjadi isu hangat yang diperdebatkan dalam abad ke-21. Makalah ini menganalisis proses mobiliti sosial yang dilalui oleh Paman Semara sebelum dan selepas berada di Malaysia. Paman Semara dikategorikan sebagai salah seorang Tenaga Kerja Indonesia (TKI) yang masuk ke Malaysia pada awal tahun 1980an secara tidak sah. Metodologi yang digunakan dalam kajian ini bersifat kualitatif melalui temu bual bersemuka dengan Paman Semara. Oleh itu kajian ini memberi fokus kepada proses mobiliti sosial dalam membantu proses migrasi yang merangkumi fasa kemasukan, penyesuaian diri dan penglibatan dalam pekerjaan. Rata-rata buruh asing yang datang ke Malaysia terdiri daripada mereka yang mahir, separa mahir dan tidak mahir Migrasi terjadi dengan wujudnya jaringan sosial yang kukuh sehingga mampu mengubah status sosial seseorang dalam kehidupan. Sungguhpun operasi pemutihan dilaksanakan oleh kerajaan Malaysia ianya tidak menunjukkan pengurangan dalam jumlah Pendatang Asiang Tanpa Izin (PATI). Program sebegini walau bagaimanapun memberi peluang kepada warga asing yang telah melakukan kesalahan di bawah Akta lmigresen 1959/63 (Akta 155) untuk pulang ke negara asal secara sukarela mengikut syarat-syarat yang ditetapkan. Kata kunci: Mobiliti sosial, jaringan sosial, TKI, Paman Semara Abstract International migration issues are seriously debated in the 21st century. This paper analyzes the social mobility process experienced by Paman Semara before and after arrival in Malaysia. Paman Semara is categorized as one of the Tenaga Kerja Indonesia (TKI) who entered Malaysia in the early 1980s illegally. Thisstudy uses a qualitative approach through face-to-face interviews with Paman Semara. The main focus is on the social mobility process in facilitating the migration process in three stages namely the entry phase, adaptation and involvement in employment. Migrant workers arriving come to Malaysia consist of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers. Their migration occurs in the presence of a strong social network that can change a person's social status. Although the amnesty program was implemented by the Malaysian government, there is no indication of reduction in the number of irregular migrants. Such programs, however, provide an opportunity for foreigners who have committed an offence under the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155) to return to their country of origin voluntarily with conditions. Keyword: Social mobility, social network, TKI, Paman Semara
EMBRACING HALLYU: YOUNG INDONESIAN MUSLIMS NAVIGATING CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND RELIGIOUS IDENTITY
ABSTRACT This study examines how young Indonesian Muslims engage with Hallyu (the Korean Wave) and its impact on their religious and cultural identities. Through qualitative fieldwork in Yogyakarta, this research reveals that participants frequently employ the term ‘modern’ to describe their engagement with Hallyu, reflecting a nuanced embrace of modernity that transcends conventional secularization paradigms. Rather than undermining religious identity, this cultural engagement is perceived as integral to their modern Muslim identity, fostering self-determination and self-realization. The findings demonstrate that Hallyu engagement facilitates dialogue between individual and collective identities within global cultural flows, illuminating the complex interplay between cultural globalization, local identities, and the modernization of Indonesian Islam. This research contributes to scholarly understanding of cultural adaptation and identity negotiation among young Muslims within Indonesia's multicultural and religiously diverse context. Future research should examine diverse manifestations of modernity across various religious and cultural societies, moving beyond Western-centric analytical frameworks.
VEILING AND VISIBILITY: NAVIGATING IDENTITY AND AGENCY IN QAISRA SHAHRAZ’S "THE HOLY WOMAN"
The veil is a complex symbol deeply intertwined with notions of identity, agency, and resistance, carrying diverse meanings across cultures and narratives. This article explores the veiling paradox -- the veil as both a symbol of resilience and a product of the male gaze -- revealing its dual role as a site of empowerment and contention. Qaisra Shahraz's The Holy Woman (2001) celebrates the veil as a form of empowerment, while insights from Arab Muslim writers and Western critiques deconstruct traditional assumptions. The article conceptualizes veiling as a historically layered and culturally contingent practice situated at the nexus of religion, gender, class, and power. By incorporating Islamic feminist hermeneutics, transnational critique, and material-cultural analysis, it provides a comprehensive and adaptable lens through which to examine veiling in Shahraz’s The Holy Woman and within broader Muslim-majority literary traditions. This approach resists reductive interpretations by foregrounding the multiplicity of meanings embedded in veiling practices, thereby acknowledging both their restrictive and emancipatory dimensions. Ultimately, the framework seeks to facilitate critical scholarship that engages with diverse voices, contexts, and interpretive traditions. Keywords: veil, agency, identity politics, Islamic feminism, resistance.
MATERNITY BENEFITS: OVERLOOKED GENDER RIGHTS IN THE FEMINIZED WORKPLACE OF BANGLADESH’S READY-MADE GARMENT SECTOR
ABSTRACT This article explores maternity rights and needs in the women-intensive ready-made garment (RMG) sector in Bangladesh through qualitative research involving 20 female workers, seven factory staff, and three labour rights activists. While some compliant factories follow maternity policies, many violate labour laws regarding employment duration that needs to be fulfilled to be entitled to maternity leave and the value of monetary benefits. Subcontract factories lack maternity provisions, leaving women vulnerable. Even in compliant settings, pregnant workers face health neglect, denial of sick leave, and rejection of options for lighter duties, pressuring some to resign. Mistreatment and forced resignations are common. For those who remain, returning to work eight weeks after childbirth is challenging due to the absence of day-care facilities. These issues heighten stress and hinder the possibility of balancing work and motherhood. The study reveals the exploitation of cheap female labour alongside a disregard for their reproductive roles in this highly feminized RMG industry. It calls for stricter enforcement of existing maternity laws, improved protections, alongside reforms to maternity laws.
GENRE EXPERIMENT IN ASIA: A CIXOUSIAN READING OF ELIF SHAFAK’S MEMOIR, "BLACK MILK"
This article examines the narration and point of view in Elif Shafak’s memoir, Black Milk, which deviates from the traditional, self-centred narrative structure of the genre. Shafak employs various techniques to create a more diverse form of narration, which, in some aspects, overlaps with Hélène Cixous's principles of feminine writing. Her memoir not only recounts personal memories but also engages with broader themes and voices, creating a narrative that extends beyond the individual self. A similar trend is also observable in some Malaysian writers, such as Shih-Li Kow, who employs various tools to write her experimental novel, The Sum of Our Follies. This inclusive approach in writing can be understood through the lens of Cixous's ideas, which challenge conventional writing forms and allow different voices and texts to interact. This article argues that Shafak has written her memoir by adapting Western theories of memoir writing to demonstrate her own experimental and personal writing strategies, which reflect her cultural background. This approach serves as a reminder of Cixous’ definition of feminine writing, and I believe some traces of it are also observable in other Asian female writers, such as in Kow’s novel. Keywords: Experimental writing, Memoir, Feminine writing, Genre
TRIANGULATING DATA TO INVESTIGATE THE E-CIGARETTE AND VAPE PHENOMENON IN THE KLANG VALLEY: A MIXED METHODS APPROACH
This paper explores how mixed methods in social science research can unlock deeper insights into the fast-evolving phenomenon of e-cigarette and vape (ECV) use among adults in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. Employing a two-phase Explanatory Sequential Strategy of Inquiry, the study combines diverse datasets which includes the National E-Cigarettes Survey 2016 conducted by the Ministry of Health, an original survey completed by the users of ECV, and in-depth interviews with the users and other stakeholders, resulting in the blending of statistical patterns with rich, lived experiences. By triangulating primary and secondary data, this paper not only provides a blueprint for navigating complex, understudied topics but also offers practical guidance for policy makers to understand emerging public health trends both locally and globally. Keywords: Health Belief Model; mixed methods; public health; vape; e-cigarettes.
KE ARAH KEHIDUPAN YANG LESTARI : KESAN CUKAI EKSAIS MINUMAN BERGULA TERHADAP PENGGUNA
Impak negatif minuman bergula terhadap kesihatan mendorong kerajaan melaksanakan cukai eksais ke atas minuman bergula sebagai langkah intervensi. Oleh itu, objektif kajian ini dijalankan adalah bagi mengenal pasti kesan pelaksanaan cukai eksais terhadap pembelian dan perbelanjaan pengguna ke atas minuman bergula. Analisis penjelajahan faktor (Exploratory Factor Analysis/EFA) diaplikasi terhadap 388 responden yang terdiri daripada belia berusia 15 hingga 40 tahun di kawasan Lembah Klang. Kaedah EFA ini dapat merumuskan data agar hubungan dan corak kajian boleh ditafsir dan difahami dengan mudah. Hasil kajian mendapati bahawa cukai eksais ke atas minuman bergula mempengaruhi pembelian dan penggunaan pengguna melalui tiga faktor utama iaitu kesan terhadap harga, cukai sebagai strategi campur tangan kerajaan, dan kaedah kos efektif. Kenaikan harga minuman bergula akibat cukai menyebabkan pengguna beralih kepada minuman tidak bergula. Selain itu, pembatalan subsidi gula dan pelaksanaan cukai eksais dikenal pasti sebagai strategi berkesan dan kos efektif dalam mengubah tingkah laku pengguna. Oleh itu, cukai eksais ke atas minuman bergula dilihat mampu memberikan impak langsung terhadap tingkah laku pengguna secara efektif serta berpotensi kekal berkesan dalam jangka masa panjang. Kata kunci: Cukai gula, minuman bergula, analisis faktor, kos efektif, kesihatan awam
PERANAN AGEN KAWALAN SOSIAL TIDAK FORMAL DALAM MENGEKALKAN PEMULIHAN DARIPADA PENYALAHGUNAAN BAHAN
Proses pencapaian pemulihan kekal daripada penyalahgunaan bahan merupakan satu perjalanan yang kompleks dan sering kali memerlukan sistem sokongan yang kuat daripada agen-agen kawalan sosial tidak formal. Kajian ini memberi tumpuan kepada penerokaan peranan agen kawalan sosial tidak formal, terutamanya ahli keluarga, agama, dan rakan sebaya, dalam membantu seseorang individu sepanjang perjalanan pemulihan. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk mengenal pasti agen-agen yang terlibat dan memahami jenis sokongan khusus yang diberikan dalam menyumbang kepada pemulihan yang berjaya. Penyelidikan ini menggunakan reka bentuk kualitatif dan melibatkan temu bual secara mendalam dengan individu yang telah pulih daripada penyalahgunaan bahan selama lebih daripada tiga tahun. Informan dipilih melalui pensampelan bertujuan dan bola salji untuk mendapatkan pengalaman individu yang pelbagai. Penemuan kajian ini membuktikan agen kawalan sosial tidak formal seperti ahli keluarga, agama, dan rakan sebaya memainkan peranan penting dalam menyokong dan membantu pemulihan bekas pengguna bahan. Keluarga merupakan salah satu sumber sokongan emosi dan rohani yang penting dalam meningkatkan kesedaran tentang bahaya penyalahgunaan bahan serta memberikan motivasi terbaik untuk berubah. Kepercayaan agama seterusnya memberikan ketenangan dan kestabilan terutamanya semasa menghadapi proses transformasi, dengan memudahkan perkembangan peribadi dan evolusi kepercayaan individu. Sementara itu, rakan juga merupakan sumber penting yang berperanan dalam menawarkan khidmat sokongan emosi dan dorongan untuk menjalankan aktiviti-aktiviti yang lebih produktif. Sokongan ini adalah penting untuk membentuk tingkah laku positif, yang seterusnya mendorong pemulihan yang berterusan. Oleh itu, dengan mengenal pasti jenis sokongan yang boleh diberikan oleh keluarga, rakan, dan agama, kajian ini dapat menyumbang kepada pembentukan strategi pemulihan yang lebih komprehensif serta meningkatkan hasil pemulihan kekal dalam kalangan pengguna bahan.
ELECTORAL REPERCUSSIONS OF INFRASTRUCTURAL DEFICIENCY: ANALYSING THE WATER SUPPLY CRISIS AND VOTER BEHAVIOUR IN MALAYSIA’S 14TH GENERAL ELECTION
This study examines the extent to which the water supply crisis influenced shifts in political support during Malaysia’s 14th General Election (GE14). Grounded in empirical analysis, the study proposes a Theory of Water Induced Political Realignment, positing that failures in basic welfare provision, particularly prolonged disruptions in water supply, can act as significant catalyst for changes in voter behaviour, especially when the state is perceived as ineffective in resolving the issue. The findings indicate that the water crisis was a salient determinant in the electoral fortunes of competing parties during GE14. Voters residing in constituencies affected by chronic water shortages were more inclined to transfer their support to opposition parties perceived as offering credible and pragmatic solutions. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of how infrastructural governance intersects with democratic accountability, offering critical insights for electoral strategy and public service delivery in Malaysia and other democratising contexts. Keywords: Water Supply Crisis, Voter Behaviour, Electoral Accountability, Infrastructure and Politics, Malaysia’s 14th General Election
KOORDINASI UMNO DALAM POLITIK DAN PILIHAN RAYA DI SINGAPURA: FAKTOR, STRATEGI DAN PRESTASI, 1954-1959
Kajian ini membincangkan perkembangan politik Singapura pada awal 1950-an dengan memberi tumpuan terhadap penglibatan parti politik utama dari Tanah Melayu iaitu UMNO. Berdasarkan kepada kajian yang dilakukan, UMNO berjaya mengukuhkan kedudukan dalam politik Singapura melalui sokongan dari pengundi Melayu terhadap parti itu dalam tempoh 1955-1959. Pengukuhan UMNO dilakukan berdasarkan strategi yang direncanakan oleh pemimpin parti tersebut. Pilihan raya 1955 menjadi penentu kepada kedudukan UMNO dalam politik Singapura. Pilihan raya 1959 pula membuktikan kedudukan UMNO sebagai parti yang berjaya mendapat sokongan dalam kalangan pengundi Melayu di Singapura. Kajian ini dihasilkan dengan menggunakan sumber primer dari National Archive, Kew dan National Archive Singapore sebagai sumber utama penulisan. Selain itu, penulisan turut menggunakan akhbar Utusan Melayu, The Straits Times, Singapore Standard dan Berita Harian yang diterbitkan dalam tempoh tersebut bagi mendapatkan kesinambungan dengan dokumen sumber primer tersebut. Dapatan kajian ini menunjukkan penglibatan UMNO dalam politik Singapura merangkumi strategi yang disusun oleh parti itu seperti strategi pemilihan calon, kempen dan kawasan yang ditandingi. Selain itu, dapatan kajian ini turut menunjukkan prestasi UMNO merupakan hasil kesinambungan strategi kepimpinan parti yang berjaya memanfaatkan sentimen masyarakat Melayu sehingga mempengaruhi perubahan pola pengundian dalam pilihan raya Singapura antara 1955 hingga 1959.
Pendekatan pencegahan penggunaan dadah melalui pendidikan di peringkat bangku sekolah sebenarnya telah lama dilakukan. Antara pendekatan itu ialah melukis poster berkaitan penyalahgunaan dadah. Individu yang lahir pada era 80-an pastinya melalui pengalaman melukis dan mewarna poster tersebut. Antara poster yang popular adalah gambar tengkorak dengan lilin di atas kepala. Poster ini memberikan mesej bahawa dadah adalah bahan berbahaya dan boleh membawa kepada kematian. Memandangkan masalah penyalahgunaan dadah semakin meruncing dan membahayakan keselamatan negara, kerajaan telah mengisytiharkan dadah sebagai musuh nombor satu negara pada tahun 1983. Kini, mereka yang lahir di tahun 80-an tersebut pastinya telah berusia lebih 40 tahun, usia yang lebih kurang sama dengan musuh nombor satu negara itu. Namun, penyalahgunaan dadah tetap berleluasa di negara. Pada masa yang sama, perang ke atasnya tetap tidak pernah berhenti sehingga ke hari ini.
TIPOLOGI PROTOKOL PEMILIHAN KARYA SASTERA DALAM PEMBELAJARAN BIDANG ESTETIKA BAHASA KADAZANDUSUN
ABSTRAK Kepelbagaian indikator pemilihan karya sastera dalam pembelajaran bahasa menimbulkan kekeliruan dalam menentukan bahan yang sesuai untuk pembelajaran Bidang Estetika (BE) bahasa Kadazandusun di sekolah peringkat menengah atas. Demi mengatasi kekeliruan itu, rangkuman indikator dan sub-indikator dari pelbagai sumber kepustakaan dan temu bual dijalankan. Tinjauan kepustakaan umum dan kepustakaan khusus Kadazandusun dijalankan untuk memperoleh data-data naratif indikator dan sub-indikator. Manakala temu bual diadakan dengan guru-guru bahasa Kadazandusun untuk mendapatkan maklum balas berbentuk data naratif tentang kaedah yang mereka gunakan untuk memilih karya sastera. Berdasarkan data-data naratif indikator dan sub-indikator yang diperoleh, rangkuman dijalankan dengan menggunakan kaedah Conventional Content Analysis (CCA). Analisis dijalankan untuk mengkategori tema-tema indikator dan sub-indikator. Rangkuman yang dihasilkan dari analisis CCA dibangun menjadi Tipologi Protokol Pemilihan Karya (TPPK) sastera Kadazandusun. Hasil rangkuman menunjukkan terdapat enam (6) indikator dan 133 sub-indikator dalam TPPK. Enam indikator itu terdiri daripada bahasa, sastera, guru, pelajar kurikulum dan budaya masyarakat. Sementara 133 sub-indikator terangkum dalam indikator bahasa (16), sastera (36), guru (35), pelajar (24), kurikulum (9) dan budaya masyarakat (13). Berdasarkan pengkategorian tema dari sumber kepustakaan khusus dan temu bual guru, maka indikator dan sub-indikator TPPK memiliki kontekstualiti sebagai kriteria pemilihan karya sastera untuk pembelajaran BE bahasa Kadazandusun. Seterusnya TPPK digunakan untuk menganalisis kandungan karya sastera Kadazandusun genre puisi dan prosa untuk memilih karya yang sesuai sebagai bahan pembelajaran BE bahasa Kadazandusun di sekolah peringkat menengah atas. ABSTRACT The diversity of indicators for selecting literary works in language learning creates confusion in determining suitable materials for teaching the Aesthetic Field (BE) of the Kadazandusun language at the upper secondary level. To address this confusion, a synthesis of indicators and sub-indicators from various sources of literature review and interviews was conducted. A general literature review and specific Kadazandusun literature were carried out to gather narrative data on the indicators and sub-indicators. Interviews were conducted with Kadazandusun language teachers to obtain narrative feedback regarding the methods they use to select literary works. Based on the narrative data obtained from the indicators and sub-indicators, a synthesis was conducted using the Conventional Content Analysis (CCA) method. The analysis was performed to categorize the themes of the indicators and sub-indicators. The synthesis resulting from the CCA analysis was developed into the Kadazandusun Literary Work Selection Protocol Typology (TPPK). The synthesis revealed that there are six (6) indicators and 133 sub-indicators in the TPPK. These six indicators consist of language, literature, teachers, students, curriculum, and community culture. Meanwhile, the 133 sub-indicators are categorized under the language (16), literature (36), teacher (35), student (24), curriculum (9), and community culture (13) indicators. Based on the categorization of themes from the specific literature sources and teacher interviews, the indicators and sub-indicators of the TPPK possess contextuality as criteria for selecting literary works for teaching the BE of the Kadazandusun language. The TPPK is then used to analyse the content of Kadazandusun literary works in the genres of poetry and prose to select suitable works as teaching materials for the BE of the Kadazandusun language at the upper secondary level.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL NETWORK SITES USE, STRESS, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS AMONG UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA (USM) STUDENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Social media has become a tool that facilitates almost all areas of our lives be it shopping, work, entertainment. However, the rate of consumption of social network sites (SNS) increases during natural disasters, military conflicts and states of emergencies such as the recent Covid-19 pandemic. This occurs due to various factors ranging from the necessity to stay updated about recent news and measures to the need for escaping from negative affect such as stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms. However, SNS can become a source of heightened stress, anxiety and depression symptoms if not well managed or used excessively. The aim of the current study is to investigate the relationship between SNS use, stress, anxiety and symptoms of depression in the context of Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, the study attempted to establish the criteria to measure excessive SNS use. A total of 266 participants aged 18-26 years old students of a public university in Penang, Malaysia completed an online survey containing SNS use self-report, Bergen’s Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and Depression, Anxiety, Stress scale (DASS-21). Findings suggested a significant relationship between SNS use and stress, and SNS use was not a significant predictor for anxiety and depression levels. Additionally, the findings showed that in accordance with BSMAS mean scores and SNS daily use of the current sample, more than 4 hours of SNS use could be considered as excessive. If excessive use was defined as a discrepancy between current and ideal SNS use and BSMAS scale, an interval of more than 1 hour between actual and ideal SNS use is to be considered as excessive.
A STUDY ON EDUCATION FOR REFUGEES: WHICH MODEL WORKS BEST FOR MALAYSIA?
In 2021, Malaysia achieved impressive completion rates of 99.8% for lower secondary education and 97.8% for upper secondary education. However, only 4% of marginalized non-citizen children are enrolled in primary education, and just 16% in secondary education. These figures are significantly lower than global refugee enrolment rates, which are 68% for primary and 37% for secondary education. Given the global resettlement rate that is below 1%, it is crucial for Malaysia to increase refugee learners’ enrolment in education programs. This study employs a systematic literature review to compare education models from six other refugee-hosting countries - Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon - to identify the most effective education model for refugees in Malaysia. The findings uncovered that there is no universal approach as different models are effective at varying context and time frame. The literature review also reveals coherent views on Alternative Learning Centre model as the most appropriate framework for Malaysia’s current context. However, given the prolonged stay of refugees, the paper argues for gradual integration into the national education system. Hence, the recommendations address models relevant to both scenarios, operationalizing them by leveraging accessible resources through their socio-ecological system.
STUDENT ACCULTURATION JOURNEY: CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE AND ACCULTURATION AMONG MALAYSIAN STUDENTS IN FRANCE
The understanding of cultural intelligence in France is significant to develop deep comprehension and appreciation of the French language, enabling effective cross-cultural communication and engagement in the French-speaking world. Despite existing studies in cultural intelligence development little is known about Malaysian-French cultural adaptation and acculturation. In response to this gap, this research elaborates on the development of Malaysian-French cultural intelligence and explores the changes in the acculturation process for acquiring cultural intelligence among Malaysian students in France. A total of 60 Malaysian students completed the 39 items E-CQS (Extended Cultural Intelligence Scale). Results showed that the stay enhanced high motivational CQ along with metacognitive CQ, cognitive CQ, and behavioural CQ. There was a significant correlation between language proficiency and student CQ. However, there was no correlation between students' period of residency in France and cultural intelligence level. Interestingly, participants demonstrated the highest CQ score in the dataset resided in France for a short duration. The findings of this study have shown the importance of the positive acculturation journey of Malaysian students in demonstrating an excellent level of CQ, as supported by findings indicating that the quality of exposure to diverse cultural environments is more influential than the duration of residency in the host country.
HALAL HERBAL MEDICINE MARKET IN MALAYSIA AND INDONESIA: CHALLENGES AND ITS GLOBAL SIGNIFICANCE
ABSTRACT Malaysia and Indonesia have tropical climates with a wealth of natural resources forming strategic raw material capital for producing halal herbal medicines. This research focuses on analysing the halal herbal medicine market in the context of Indonesia and Malaysia's halal herbal medicine industry. This research also uncovers the awareness level of world community to use natural treatment by adhering to halal and Islamic herbal medicine, known as the basic treatment of Thibbun Nabawi. The potential for developing halal herbal medicinal products to meet basic needs based on demand and sharia compliance is analysed. The development of standardised and Islamic-oriented treatment is also discussed, giving rise to new concepts such as sharia-compliant treatment, which refers to Islamic considerations regarding the availability of drugs and treatment measures that are alcohol-free, free from haram ingredients, well-produced and halal.
THE NARRATIVE OF SURVIVAL: FOOD AND EATING AS MOTIFS IN PARASITE BY BONG JOON-HO
ABSTRACT The 2019 Oscar-winning movie, Parasite, contains numerous references to food and eating. It perfectly illustrates the cultural vigor and potency of an Asian movie industry capable of commanding global attention in the same vein that its food culture has done so far. I am interested in studying this movie from the standpoint of the struggle for existence which is embodied in its title. Any form of struggle as such involves subsistence and nourishment. In this paper I wish to look at this matter starting from investigating the implications that the title of the movie has. Then I will proceed to explore the significance of food and eating as an idea that dominates the movie creating a network of signification that underlies its storyline. By doing so, I will try to review the implicit and explicit ways through which eating and food feature in the narrative structure of the movie making them recurrent motifs.
AMALAN PENJAGAAN KESIHATAN MASYARAKAT MELAYU KEDAH DARI PERSPEKTIF BUDAYA: PRINSIP, PRAKTIS, DAN IDENTITI
ABSTRAK Bagi setiap masyarakat, sistem nilai dan tingkah laku adalah dibentuk oleh ekologi dan kebudayaan, terutamanya dari aspek penyembuhan penyakit dan kesihatan diri. Bagi masyarakat Melayu Kedah, paradigma kesihatan tersebut adalah pola berstruktur (structured pattern) semenjak dari zaman tradisi lagi, susulan pada masa itu sistem kesihatan dan perubatan moden masih belum meluas. Makalah ini berusaha untuk mengkonstruksi sistem penjagaan kesihatan masyarakat Melayu Kedah dari perspektif budaya sebagai menyingkap fungsi, praktis, dan identitinya yang khusus. Data dikumpulkan menggunakan pemerhatian ikut serta dan temu bual mendalam. Kajian lapangan dijalankan di Daerah Baling dengan menemu bual 15 warga tua (tiga daripadanya adalah bomoh perubatan tradisional), tujuh dewasa, dan tiga anak muda. Kajian mendapati bahawa punca penyakit Orang Melayu Kedah adalah disebabkan oleh tiga etiologi, iaitu (i) alam ghaib, (ii) pengaruh persekitaran dan fisiologi tubuh, serta (iii) gabungan kedua-duanya. Masyarakat Melayu Kedah melindungi diri dan kesihatan mereka melalui tiga amalan, iaitu (i) ritual perlindungan diri dan tanah kediaman bagi menyekat sihir, (ii) ritual khusus untuk memagar diri dan rumah daripada dimasuki oleh makhluk ghaib, serta (iii) amalan tertentu (amalan fizikal dan spiritual) yang memusatkan perhatian kepada diri-sendiri. Praktis-praktis tersebut simbolik melambangkan identiti kebudayaan tempatan dan keperibadian diri mereka. ABSTRACT For every society, the system of values and social behaviors is shaped by ecology and culture, especially in terms of disease healing and personal health. For the Kedah Malay community, the health paradigm is a structured pattern since the traditional era, as at that time the modern health and medical system was not yet widespread. This paper seeks to construct the health care system of the Kedah Malay community from a cultural perspective by revealing its specific functions, practices, and identity. Data were collected using participatory observations and in-depth interviews. The field study was conducted in Baling by interviewing 15 elderly people (three of whom were traditional medicine shamans), seven adults, and three young people. The study found that the cause of the disease among Kedah Malays is due to three etiologies, namely (i) the supernatural, (ii) the influence of the environment and physiology of the body, and (iii) the combination of both. The Kedah Malay community protects themselves and their health by conducting three specific practices, namely (i) self-protection and residential lands retuals to prevent magic, (ii) specific rituals to fend themselves and homes from being possessed by supernatural beings, as well as (iii) certain practices (physical and spiritual practices) that focus on the self. These practices are symbolic to their local cultural identity and their personality.
AFFECT, NARRATIVES AND POLITICS OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN MIGRATION BY CARLOS M. PIOCOS III
Southeast Asia displays a dynamic migration flows, especially since the 1970s. The economic transformations and industrialization in Asian Tigers, coupled with neoliberal adjustments, have led to significant waves of migration across the region. Notably, intra-regional migration from countries like Indonesia and the Philippines to wealthier destinations such as Singapore and Hong Kong have been prominent. This movement, predominantly involving the participation of local women, middle-class mothers, and wives in the workforce, has created a demand for feminized labor, particularly for child and elderly care as well as domestic services. Consequently, governments in these destination countries have sought helpers and domestic workers from neighbouring nations. During this period, Indonesia and the Philippines faced issues like domestic poverty, widespread unemployment, and internal crises, prompting the development of labor export programs. These programs served both as a political administrative tool and a means to address escalating employment and fiscal crises. Hong Kong and Singapore emerged as major hubs for domestic workers from Indonesia and the Philippines. The migrant workforce has made significant contributions to the national economies of Hong Kong and Singapore, and their home countries have benefited from foreign exchange remittances, helping to alleviate domestic unemployment. In recognition of their contributions, the governments of the Philippines and Indonesia and media called these migrant workers as heroes (modern-day heroes and foreign exchange heroes respectively). However, the official narratives promoted by these governments do not effectively address the real-life challenges faced by domestic workers, including discrimination, abuse, and exploitation. Filipina and Indonesian domestic workers often experience marginalization, discrimination, and social exclusion, shaping their precarious living conditions. These challenges are vividly portrayed in literary and cinematic narratives, highlighting the workers' experiences of discrimination, victimization, and the sacrifices they make for their home countries.
THE LEADERSHIP ROLE OF CREATIVE GUILDS IN PROTECTING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TO SUSTAIN THE MALAYSIAN CREATIVE INDUSTRY
Malaysia have witnessed the rise and downfall of the nation’s beloved singer, song writer, composer and actor, Tan Sri P. Ramlee that passed away in 1973. Year 2023 marks the end of the 50 years of copyright protection of the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee where his copyrighted works which was previously being granted royalty to the remaining family members will now be opened to the public domain. However, many legislative bodies and entities have initiated to extend the duration of copyright protection to 70 years as practiced in Singapore and the United States. The objectives of this study are firstly, to explore the leadership role of the creative guilds in Malaysia and secondly, to understand the advantages of copyright literacy among the stakeholders in the creative industry. This study uses a qualitative method by analysing a webinar of three panellists of representatives from different guilds in Malaysia discussing on the 50 Years of P. Ramlee copyrighted works. The webinar recorded were transcribed verbatim and analysed using the website version ATLAS.ti. This study as such brings to the fore the following emerging themes. The first theme discovered is the importance of unifying the creative guilds in Malaysia and have a powerful leadership to spearhead the direction of copyright protection and benefits to elevate the creative economy. The second theme that emerged is the lack of legal understanding of contract produced among the creative industry players which contributed to the limited monetary return in the long run in Malaysia. Keywords: Malaysia, creative guilds, creative industry, creative economy, intellectual property, leadership, COVID-19
KEKANGAN BURUH DALAM PEMBANGUNAN SEKTOR PERIKANAN DI SEMENANJUNG MALAYSIA
Penulisan ini memfokuskan kepada isu kekurangan sumber tenaga manusia tempatan dalam sektor perikanan marin di Semenanjung Malaysia. Kedudukan Semenanjung Malaysia yang menghadap Laut China Selatan di sebelah timur dan Selat Melaka serta Laut Andaman di sebelah barat membolehkan pihak kerajaan di Semenanjung Malaysia membangunkan sektor perikanan marin dengan mengembangkan aktiviti pengeluaran perikanan di Zon Ekonomi Eksklusif dan sehingga ke Lautan Pasifik. Input paling penting dalam apa-apa aktiviti ekonomi adalah sumber tenaga manusia. Pekerjaan sebagai nelayan di laut dalam yang bekerja di atas bot-bot besar adalah dari jenis aktiviti ekonomi yang memerlukan sumber manusia yang tahan lasak dalam melakukan kerja-kerja berbahaya dan berat. Keadaan ini telah menyebabkan pekerjaan sebagai nelayan di Malaysia kurang mendapat sambutan, sehingga sektor perikanan mengalami masalah kekurangan nelayan tempatan untuk bekerja di atas bot-bot perikanan di laut dalam. Data Perangkaan Perikanan Malaysia Tahun 2021 menunjukkan pembangunan sektor perikanan di Semenanjung Malaysia menghadapi masalah kekurangan tenaga kerja tempatan yang berminat untuk menjadi nelayan. Keadaan ini berpunca dari beberapa faktor yang menyebabkan pembangunan sektor perikanan di Semenanjung Malaysia tidak mencerminkan kedudukannya yang strategik di rantau ini untuk mengakses sumber-sumber perikanan di laut dalam dan lautan antarabangsa. Penulisan ini akan meneliti daya saing dan potensi sektor perikanan di Semenanjung Malaysia serta isu dan masalah utama yang dihadapi. Kekangan buruh sebagai isu utama dalam usaha mencapai pembangunan mampan perikanan akan diberi fokus dan seterusnya mencadangkan dasar dan peraturan jangka panjang untuk mengatasi masalah yang berlaku. Menurut laporan dari Banci Sendi 2017/2018 yang dijalankan oleh pihak Lembaga Kemajuan Ikan Malaysia (LKIM), populasi nelayan di Malaysia semakin meningkat usia mereka kerana tidak ramai golongan muda yang berminat menjadi nelayan pelapis. Daripada segi demografi nelayan, didapati lebih separuh nelayan berumur 50 tahun dan ke atas, manakala hanya satu perempat sahaja yang berumur antara 20 hingga 39 tahun. Kurangnya minat golongan muda untuk terlibat sebagai nelayan telah menyumbangkan kepada kemerosotan kemajuan sektor perikanan sebagai penyumbang pembangunan ekonomi yang penting bagi masyarakat di pesisir pantai. Penulisan ini akan meneliti isu-isu yang berkaitan dengan populasi nelayan muda yang semakin berkurang sehingga menjejaskan usaha pembangunan sektor perikanan di Malaysia pada masa hadapan. Kata Kunci: Nelayan, Buruh, Populasi, Penuaan, Perikanan
KEMELESETAN EKONOMI DUNIA 1929: KESAN TERHADAP SEKTOR PERTANIAN DI SEBERANG PERAI, PULAU PINANG, 1929-1936
ABSTRAK Kajian ini meneliti sejauh mana Kemelesetan Ekonomi Dunia yang bermula pada tahun 1929 mempengaruhi pemikiran dan tindakan British dalam melindungi kepentingan sektor pertanian di Seberang Perai, Pulau Pinang, dari tahun 1929 sehingga tahun 1936. Objektif kajian ini ialah untuk meninjau kesan-kesan Kemelesetan Ekonomi Dunia terhadap sektor pertanian, eksport pertanian dan penglibatan buruh di Seberang Perai dalam tempoh yang dinyatakan. Seterusnya kajian ini menganalisis dan menilai langkah-langkah yang diambil dalam melindungi kepentingan sektor pertanian di Seberang Perai serta kesan-kesan yang timbul. Kajian ini merupakan penyelidikan mikro sejarah yang menggunakan kaedah penyelidikan kualitatif serta kuantitatif. Bahan dan sumber kajian ini diperoleh dari Arkib Negara Malaysia, Arkib Negara Malaysia Cawangan Negeri Kedah, Arkib Negara Malaysia Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Pulau Pinang, Perpustakaan Hamzah Sendut, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Perpustakaan Tun Sri Lanang dan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Dapatan kajian ini menemui bahawa kemelesetan ekonomi yang berlaku telah memberikan kesedaran kepada British untuk melindungi sektor pertanian di Seberang Perai ekoran sumbangan signifikan sektor ini terhadap pendapatan kerajaan dalam tempoh yang dinyatakan. Kajian ini mempunyai kepentingan tersendiri dalam menjadikan pengalaman sejarah sebagai rujukan dalam pemantapan polisi dan dasar ekonomi negara. Malah ia boleh dijadikan sebagai rujukan oleh pihak berwajib dalam menghadapi ancaman kemelesetan ekonomi yang terjadi dari semasa ke semasa. Kata kunci: Kemelesetan Ekonomi, Sektor Pertanian, Tanah Melayu, British, Seberang Perai, Pulau Pinang
COMMUNITY POLICING: TAHAP PERSEDIAAN WARGA PDRM KONTINJEN KUALA LUMPUR DALAM PELAKSANAANNYA
Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menilai tahap persediaan dalam pelaksanaan Community Policing dari sudut pandangan warga Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) Kontinjen Kuala Lumpur berdasarkan salah satu Model Penilaian Stufflebeam iaitu Penilaian Input. Terdapat enam elemen yang dikaji menerusi penilaian input: (1) persediaan sumber maklumat; (2) persediaan kendiri; (3) sokongan ketua; (4) pengurusan kewangan; (5) sokongan agensi lain dan (6) promosi. Seramai 487 orang responden terdiri daripada Pegawai Kanan Polis (PKP) dan Pegawai Rendah Polis (PRP) mengikut daerah dan kontinjen dalam pentadbiran PDRM Kontinjen Kuala Lumpur telah dipilih secara rawak berstrata sebagai sampel kajian bagi menjawab borang soal selidik. Secara keseluruhannya, warga PDRM Kontinjen Kuala Lumpur mempunyai tahap persediaan yang tinggi untuk melaksanakan Community Policing (min=4.03, sp=0.57). Kajian ini membuktikan bahawa Community Policing di Kontinjen Kuala Lumpur adalah berkesan, masih relevan dan perlu diteruskan agar konsep kebersamaan antara PDRM dengan masyarakat menjadi satu budaya dalam sistem kepolisan di samping terus membantu PDRM dalam mengurangkan kadar jenayah.
CENSORSHIP OF MALAYSIAN DRAMA IN ENGLISH: THE CASE OF CHIN SAN SOOI’S REFUGEE: IMAGES (1980)
In Malaysia, historically, freedom of artistic expression has been regulated through censorship laws and licensing procedures at both national and state levels. This study investigates the censorship of Malaysian drama in English (MDE) using the staging of Chin San Sooi’s Refugee: Images as an illustrative example. It explores how the play as well as contemporaneous MDE navigated censorship regulations for public staging in a climate marked by ambiguity, arbitrariness and improvisation. It shows that the frustration endured by playwrights as being due to the lack of a unified, consistent and systematic approach to censorship, which also explains the occasional instances of excessive caution, if not institutional overreach. It argues that the topicality and, by extension, the controversiality of the subject matter, is another factor that affected censorship. Lastly, it shows that some elements in the plays could be construed as political activism to effect social change by questioning, if not challenging, some of the sacred cows of the Malaysian constitution. This study concludes that for a newly independent country and a fledgling democracy, Malaysian authorities were relatively tolerant of dissenting playwrights as long as they respected the triumvirate of sensitivities—race, religion and politics—in multiethnic Malaysia.
CULTIVATING AGENCY: HOW LOW-INCOME WOMEN EMPOWER THEMSELVES THROUGH COMMUNITY GARDENING IN URBAN MALAYSIA
This study explores the Kebun Komuniti Projek (KKP), a community garden initiative in Pangsapuri Mutiara Magna, Malaysia, to examine its potential as a model for addressing urban poverty, with an emphasis on women. The research focuses on the themes of social support, and patronage to understand the impact of the initiative on the empowerment and resilience of the participants. Utilizing qualitative data collected from in-depth interviews and field observations, the findings reveal that KKP empowers its members through diverse income-generating opportunities, fostering a strong sense of belonging and support networks that mirror kinship. The initiative also develops patronage relationships at the grassroots level, leading to a greater sense of unity and collaboration within the community. The study concludes that the KKP model effectively contributes to alleviating urban poverty among women, particularly those experiencing multiple dimensions of marginalization. The model's emphasis on flexible participation, robust social support networks, and strong community patronage has the potential to inform and complement existing poverty alleviation strategies, in similar low-income groups.
IN CAMPS: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, ASYLUM SEEKERS AND REPATRIATES. BY JANA LIPMAN
In Camps: Vietnamese Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Repatriates demonstrates how the survival of the Vietnamese refugees was intricately linked to the geopolitics and local politics of their host countries. The book explains the changing refugees’ identity. From refugees, asylum seekers, and eventually repatriates, the Vietnamese refugees’ status is contingent. Lipman narrates not only the struggles of the Vietnamese refugees who fled to survive and seek permanent resettlement, but also raises critical questions on asylum and refugee policy at the national and international levels. By incorporating sources from UNHCR archives, local and international newspaper articles, as well as government documents from the United Kingdom, United States, and Hong Kong, Lipman’s study underscores the contingencies inherent in refugee policy.