Conflict of Interest

The Malaysian Journal of Computing and Engineering Technology (MJCET) is committed to transparency, impartiality and integrity throughout the research, peer review and publication process. Authors, reviewers, editors and Editorial Board members must disclose any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest that could influence or reasonably appear to influence, the conduct or reporting of research, peer review or editorial decision-making.

A conflict of interest does not necessarily indicate misconduct or render a manuscript unsuitable for publication. However, failure to disclose relevant interests may undermine confidence in the research and the integrity of the scholarly record. MJCET therefore requires full disclosure and appropriate management of competing interests.

1. Authors’ Responsibilities

All authors must disclose financial and non-financial interests that could reasonably be perceived as influencing the research, its findings or their interpretation. Such interests include, but are not limited to:

• Financial interests: research grants, funding, employment, consultancies, honoraria, paid expert testimony, stock ownership, patents, royalties or other financial benefits.
• Non-financial interests: personal relationships, professional affiliations, academic competition, institutional responsibilities or other commitments that could affect objectivity.

Authors must acknowledge all sources of financial support for the research, including the names of funding organisations and grant numbers, where applicable. Funding disclosure must be distinguished from a declaration of competing interests because research funding does not necessarily constitute a conflict of interest.

Authors must disclose relevant interests arising during the three years preceding the commencement of the work and throughout the research and manuscript preparation process. Interests arising outside this period must also be disclosed if they could reasonably be perceived as influencing the submitted work.

Every manuscript must include a Conflicts of Interest statement. Where no relevant competing interests exist, authors must state:

“The authors declare no conflicts of interest.”

Where competing interests exist, authors must identify the relevant interests and explain their relationship to the submitted work. All authors share responsibility for ensuring that the declaration is accurate and complete. MJCET may request additional information or clarification before reaching an editorial decision.

2. Reviewers’ Responsibilities

Reviewers must disclose any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest before accepting a review invitation. They must promptly notify the handling editor if a conflict arises or becomes apparent during the review process.

Relevant conflicts may include recent co-authorship or research collaboration with an author, shared institutional affiliation, personal relationships, financial interests, direct academic competition or other circumstances that could compromise impartial assessment.

Reviewers who have a conflict that could reasonably affect their objectivity must decline the invitation or withdraw from the review. The handling editor will determine whether an alternative reviewer is required.

Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts and must not use unpublished information obtained through peer review for personal, professional or financial advantage.

3. Editors’ and Editorial Board Members’ Responsibilities

Editors and Editorial Board members must disclose any interests that could compromise, or reasonably appear to compromise, their impartiality. These include financial interests, personal relationships, shared institutional affiliations, recent research collaboration with authors and other relevant professional or academic relationships.

An editor or Editorial Board member with a relevant conflict must not participate in the assessment, reviewer selection or editorial decision-making for the manuscript concerned. The manuscript must be reassigned to an independent editor who has no relevant competing interests. Where necessary, MJCET may appoint an independent editor from outside the Editorial Board.

Editors must ensure that conflicts are managed consistently and that editorial decisions remain independent and based on scholarly quality, originality, methodological rigour, relevance to the journal’s aims and scope and compliance with publication ethics.

4. Manuscripts Submitted by Editors and Editorial Board Members

Editors and Editorial Board members may submit manuscripts to MJCET. Such submissions are subject to the same editorial screening, peer review requirements and acceptance criteria as all other submissions.

The submitting editor or Editorial Board member must not participate in any aspect of the editorial process for their own manuscript, including the selection of reviewers, editorial deliberations or the final publication decision. An independent editor must oversee the entire process and ensure that reviewers are selected impartially.

MJCET will maintain appropriate confidentiality and prevent preferential treatment arising from an author's editorial position, institutional affiliation or professional relationship with the journal. Editorial Board membership does not guarantee acceptance or confer priority in publication.

5. Disclosure, Assessment and Management of Conflicts

MJCET assesses disclosed conflicts on a case-by-case basis and takes appropriate measures to protect the independence and credibility of the publication process. Depending on the circumstances, these measures may include:

• requesting additional disclosure or clarification;
• appointing alternative reviewers or an independent handling editor;
• restricting the involvement of individuals with competing interests; and
• requiring a correction to the published record where a material omission is identified after publication.

Authors, reviewers and editors must provide accurate and complete information when requested. MJCET reserves the right to seek further information whenever necessary to establish whether a conflict exists and determine the appropriate response.

6. Post-Publication Disclosure and Corrective Action

If a conflict of interest is identified after publication, MJCET will assess its nature, significance and potential effect on the research or editorial process. Where necessary, the journal may publish a correction, issue an expression of concern or retract the article, depending on the circumstances and the extent to which the integrity or reliability of the published work is affected.

The journal will take appropriate steps to preserve the accuracy and transparency of the scholarly record. The discovery of an undisclosed conflict will not automatically result in retraction; the response will depend on the evidence and the seriousness of the breach.

7. Breaches and Sanctions

MJCET takes breaches of this policy seriously. Breaches include failure to disclose a relevant conflict of interest, knowingly providing false or misleading declarations, concealing material information or failing to withdraw from an editorial or review assignment despite a relevant conflict.

Where a potential breach is identified, MJCET will assess the available evidence and, where appropriate, request an explanation from the individual concerned before determining the necessary action. Sanctions will be proportionate to the nature, severity and consequences of the breach.

Depending on the circumstances, sanctions may include:

For authors

• rejection of the manuscript or suspension of editorial consideration pending clarification;
• correction of a published article where a disclosure statement is incomplete or inaccurate;
• retraction where the breach materially compromises the integrity or reliability of the published work; and
• notification of the relevant institution, employer or funder where justified and appropriate.

For reviewers

• cancellation of the review assignment;
• removal from the journal’s reviewer pool; and
• restriction or termination of future review invitations in serious or repeated cases.

For editors and Editorial Board members

• removal from responsibility for the affected manuscript;
• temporary suspension of editorial duties; and
• removal from the Editorial Board in serious or repeated cases.

Deliberate concealment, false declarations, repeated non-compliance or conduct that compromises editorial independence may warrant stronger sanctions. Where appropriate, MJCET may refer the matter to the relevant institution, employer or funding organisation, subject to applicable confidentiality requirements and relevant procedures.

The journal will distinguish between inadvertent omissions and deliberate or reckless non-disclosure. Individuals concerned will be given a reasonable opportunity to respond before a final decision is made, where appropriate. MJCET will document its assessment and actions and apply its procedures consistently.

8. Editorial Independence and Accountability

MJCET is committed to ensuring that competing interests are disclosed, assessed and managed transparently. The existence of a disclosed conflict will not automatically disqualify a manuscript from consideration. Editorial decisions must remain independent, fair and based on scholarly merit.

This policy applies throughout submission, peer review, editorial decision-making and post-publication assessment. MJCET reserves the right to take appropriate action when new evidence emerges or when a breach threatens the integrity of the research, the editorial process or the published scholarly record.