Social and Management Research Journal

Accelerating EV Adoption in Malaysia: Performance and Effort Expectancy as Key Drivers

Muhammad Syafiq Abdul Rahman — 2024-12-30

Adopting electric vehicles (EVs) is essential for reducing carbon emissions and achieving Malaysia’s sustainability objectives. This research examines the key determinants affecting electric vehicle adoption in Malaysia, focusing on Performance Expectancy (PE) and Effort Expectancy (EE) as outlined in the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). PE denotes the conviction that the utilisation of EVs can yield favourable results, including cost savings, environmental advantages, and enhanced driving experiences. EE reflects the perceived ease of using EVs, including the simplicity of charging and maintenance. These psychological factors shape consumer intentions and behaviours toward EV adoption. Despite steady growth in EV sales from 2021 to 2023, Malaysia’s adoption rates remain low compared to neighbouring countries, hindered by barriers such as high upfront costs, limited charging infrastructure, and concerns about EV performance. To address these challenges, it is essential to implement specific measures that enhance public awareness, improve infrastructure, and foster trust in electric vehicle capabilities. This research presents a conceptual framework based on UTAUT, examining the impact of performance expectancy and effort expectancy on consumer decision-making. The findings provide important insights for stakeholders, emphasising the necessity of prioritising user-friendly technologies, dependable infrastructure, and stable government policies. Understanding these determinants enables policymakers and industry stakeholders to formulate strategies that promote electric vehicle adoption, facilitate Malaysia's shift towards sustainable transportation, and align with global decarbonisation initiatives. The proposed framework establishes a basis for future empirical research, facilitating a more in-depth examination of consumer behaviour. This study highlights the necessity of aligning technological innovation with consumer expectations to facilitate significant advancements in the transportation sector. These insights are essential for progressing Malaysia's low- carbon economy and fulfilling its long-term environmental goals.

Resident’s risk perception and acceptance towards the sitting of waste incinerator

Han Man Lau — 2024-09-30

Local acceptance has appeared as a main barrier to the development of waste incinerators, especially in urban areas with high population density. To provide an understanding of resident’s opposition to the waste incinerator project, this study aims to examine the resident’s awareness, acceptance, and risk perception towards the sitting of the waste incinerator. 326 residents had been surveyed and 271 sets of data were successfully collected via a questionnaire survey at Kepong, and it was subjected to data analysis. The results revealed that waste incinerators are perceived as high-risk facilities; thus, it is not surprising to learn that residents are skeptical towards the operation of waste incinerators as well as their safety is secured by the operator. Across the findings, the housing prices (38.8%), the probability of inhaling acidic gases (38.8%), and road damage caused by the transportation of solid waste for the incineration process (31.3%) should be highly noted. The results further indicate that there is a need for government and plant operators to reassure residents of the safety measures that can mitigate the potential risk associated with the operation of waste incinerators.

Conceptualizing Mentorship Pedagogy on Entrepreneurship Intention

Suhailah Kassim — 2024-09-30

This study uses the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to evaluate how mentorship pedagogy affects student entrepreneurial intention. This study explores how mentorship affects HLIs students, focusing on its impact on entrepreneurial mindsets, the complex relationship between mentorship and entrepreneurial ambition can be examined using Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) which includes attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavior control, Higher education students will be the samples for this study. Mentorship pedagogy is used to determine how it affects students’ attitudes towards entrepreneurship. The study also explores how mentorship develops subjective norms through social interactions and normative beliefs and increases perceived behavioural control by providing students with skills, resources and a supportive environment. The purpose of this conceptual paper is to understand how educators as mentors can influence student’s entrepreneurial intention using TPB as a guiding model. The purpose of this conceptual paper is to foster student ambitions towards becoming entrepreneurs. This study also contributes to the ongoing conversation on improving student’s entrepreneurship intention.

Traditional corporate reporting in the era of integrated reporting: views of accounting practitioners in Bangladesh

Abdul Alim Baser — 2024-09-30

This paper explores the accounting practitioners’ views on traditional corporate reporting during the integrated reporting (IR) era in Bangladesh. Semi-structured interviews with professional accountants in Bangladesh were conducted to gauge their insights on traditional corporate reporting practices. Using stakeholder theory, the findings of the interviews indicate that traditional corporate reporting in Bangladesh is insufficient and less reliable for stakeholders’ decision-making. The reliability of traditional corporate reporting is largely compromised due to the absence of due diligence by the preparers. Yet, this is still practiced due to regulatory compulsions in Bangladesh. Moreover, the preference for financial information by investors also mildly catalyses the current practice. The findings of this study imply the need for better reporting in place of traditional corporate reporting. It thus signifies the worth of IR as a better corporate reporting model.

A Preliminary Study on Timebanking Awareness in Malaysia

Normi Sham Awang Abu Bakar — 2024-09-30

The timebanking concept has been introduced to benefit from the service exchange between the service provider and requester. In essence, this concept eliminates fiat money as a payment mechanism, and the currency used is the hour the participants used to complete a task. Apart from its implementation in several other countries, the concept of timebanking is still fairly new in our communities. Thus, a user awareness survey was conducted to investigate the level of awareness of the timebanking concept among the members of the society, and also the level of willingness to participate in the timebank system. The results show that 51% of the participants assert that they are aware of the concept of a timebank. In addition, 86% of the participants stated they were willing to participate in the timebanking project. These encouraging results show that there is a possibility that the timebank concept will be acceptable to Malaysian communities in general.

Tied to Tech: The Connection Between Personality Traits and Nomophobia

Nurul Shahmimi Nasran — 2024-11-30

The formation of mobile information and communication technology, particularly smartphones, has significantly influenced human contact, employment, education, entertainment, and lifestyle during the past decade. Despite the clear advantages of smartphones, the worries related to their usage are increasingly worrisome for end users, parents, educators, professionals, and researchers. A significant issue that has lately arisen is nomophobia, characterised as the anxiety of being unable to access or utilise one’s smartphone. This study investigates the prevalence of nomophobia among smartphone users and how Big Five Personality traits influence nomophobia behaviour. A total of 244 smartphone users were surveyed utilising the purposive sampling technique. Nomophobia the Scale and the Big Five Inventory served as devices for data collecting. A multiple regression analysis was performed to ascertain whether the big five personality traits forecast the degree of nomophobia. The data were analysed via IBM SPSS version 28. The results indicated that most smartphone users in the Klang Valley, Malaysia, had moderate levels of nomophobia. The regression analysis results demonstrated that all research variables (extroversion, openness to experience, awareness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) showed a significant correlation with nomophobia. The study concluded with several limitations regarding sample size and diversity, self-reporting bias and lack of qualitative information. This study may be further up by looking from another perspective, including longitudinal data, environmental context and other intervention variables.

Social media marketing adoption: Is it important for homestay operators in Malaysia?

Noraihan Mohamad — 2024-11-30

Social media marketing has become a vital tool for businesses to promote their products and services, yet its adoption among SMEs in Malaysia, particularly homestay operators, remains limited. This study examines the factors affecting the adoption of social media marketing by homestay operators in Malaysia. Based on a cross-sectional research design, data were collected from 208 operators in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, and Johor via a self-administered questionnaire. Structural Equation Modelling identified that customer pressure and preference, as well as competitive pressure, significantly influence the adoption of social media marketing. In contrast, perceived cost and digital skills were found to have a lesser impact. These results offer valuable insights for policymakers to understand adoption trends among Malaysian SMEs. Social media marketing presents a cost-effective strategy for SMEs, providing extensive connectivity and interaction capabilities. The study underscores SMEs’ need to embrace new technologies to enhance their marketing strategies and improve business outcomes.

Integrating zakat for refugee: UNHCR’s role in collaborative zakat distribution framework

Siti Mazlita Yamaludin — 2024-11-30

The global refugee crisis has reached unprecedented levels, with over 117 million refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) projected by 2023, many of whom are from Muslim-majority countries and eligible for zakat. Zakat, a key Islamic social finance tool, holds immense potential to address the urgent needs of these vulnerable populations. However, its utilisation remains underexplored in humanitarian contexts. This study investigates the role of zakat in supporting refugees and IDPs, focusing on the collaboration between zakat institutions and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 1 (No Poverty) and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities), this research examines how zakat can contribute to reducing the economic and social hardships faced by displaced populations. The study adopted a qualitative approach, conducting a content analysis of the Islamic Philanthropy Annual Report 2023 by UNHCR. The research objectives are twofold: (1) to evaluate UNHCR’s effectiveness as a third-party distributor of zakat to aid refugees, and (2) to propose a zakat distribution framework for refugees in Malaysia. The findings highlight the significant impact of strategic partnerships between UNHCR and zakat institutions, demonstrating enhanced efficiency in delivering zakat to refugees and IDPs. This study offers original insights by conceptualising a third-party zakat distribution model and advocating for the inclusion of refugees in zakat policy frameworks. It contributes to policy discussions on optimising zakat for humanitarian aid and underscores its potential to address refugee and displacement challenges globally.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of fire safety systems and preparedness among students at higher learning institutions

Nur Aliesa Mohd Zul — 2024-11-30

The main objective of this study is to determine the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding fire safety systems and preparedness among students at Universiti Islam Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah (UniPSAS). A cross-sectional survey was conducted to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding fire safety among students at Universiti Islam Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah (UniPSAS). The survey collected data from a diverse group of students across different departments at a single point in time. Researchers used a structured questionnaire to evaluate how well students understood fire safety, their attitudes, and how they practiced safety measures. The survey included various campus facilities. A cross-sectional survey, which consists of two main sections, was conducted. The first section focuses on sociodemographic information, and the second delves into the KAP components. The questionnaire aims to gauge students' understanding, thoughts, and actions related to fire safety and preparedness during a fire incident. A total of 157 students participated in the study. Over half of the participants have good knowledge, positive attitudes, and good practices toward fire safety systems and preparedness. However, very few participants know how to use fire control measures in case of a fire accident. The study findings indicate that UniPSAS students exhibit a commendable level of awareness regarding fire safety, coupled with a moderate understanding of fire safety measures.

Evolution, framework, and comparison between Chinese and foreign countries on tourism utilisation of intangible cultural heritage resources based on scientific knowledge map

Bowen Zhang — 2024-11-30

This study screened 2,605 relevant core articles from 2000-2023 from the WOS and CNKI databases. With the help of CiteSpace software, a visual analysis tool, the evolution path and development trend of tourism utilisation research on intangible cultural heritage resources in China and foreign countries were analysed. Citespace was chosen to analyse research on tourism use of ICH resources, mainly based on its power and visualisation advantages in bibliometric analysis. The study found that the process of relevant research in China and foreign countries is different, with foreign research starting earlier than that in China. However, Chinese research is progressing rapidly, with a fast but unstable growth rate in the number of articles published. Secondly, the spatial distribution, creative design, and aesthetic judgment of intangible cultural heritage tourism will likely become the direction of future research. Finally, research on the originality of intangible cultural heritage resources utilised in tourism, stakeholder research, and research on the creative development of tourism products are the hotspots of domestic and international academics' attention. This study systematically summarises the research on the tourism utilisation of intangible cultural heritage resources in different cultural contexts. It puts forward relevant suggestions for the future development of tourism utilisation of intangible cultural heritage resources in China and abroad.

RESTSERV: restaurant service quality model for Malaysia

Ishmael Kelvin Jensen — 2024-11-30

This paper aimed to assess the culture, cultural value, and service quality perceptions of Malaysians in the restaurant industry. The literature review revealed culture and value are separate factors, but they are related to service quality. A 32-item Likert scale questionnaire was developed and distributed to Malaysian restaurants in the peninsular and East Malaysia. A total of 396 participants responded to the questionnaires. After thorough examinations of the research instrument through SmarthPLS, findings revealed six items were dropped, and all variables met the accepted criteria. Thus, this paper has developed RESTSERV, as a tool to measure service quality in the Malaysian restaurant industry.

The Role of Self-Efficacy and Mindfulness in Driving Innovative Behavior Among Entrepreneurship Educators in Higher Education Institutions: A Conceptual Paper

Hadezah Amit — 2024-11-30

This conceptual paper highlights the connection between self-efficacy, mindfulness, and innovative behavior among entrepreneurship educators in higher education institutions (HEIs). Self-efficacy, as articulated in Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory, is considered a crucial factor influencing educators' confidence in adopting and sustaining innovative teaching methodologies. Mindfulness, or present-moment awareness, is identified as a crucial mediator that enhances educators' capacity to adapt, reflect, and regulate their emotions, hence amplifying the influence of self-efficacy on innovative behavior. The concept posits that entrepreneurship teachers with elevated self-efficacy and mindfulness are more inclined to exemplify the inventiveness, problem-solving abilities, and adaptability essential for preparing students for the intricacies of the contemporary business environment. The document highlights the practical ramifications of professional development programs that enhance both self-efficacy and mindfulness, along with the ways institutions might facilitate educator creativity. Additionally, the framework advises that subsequent empirical research examine the proposed relationships utilizing quantitative methodologies, including structural equation modeling (SEM), and explore the influence of contextual factors such as institutional support. This study contributes to the growing literature on the psychological factors influencing innovative behavior in education, offering insights into how higher education institutions might more effectively equip educators to excel in dynamic teaching environments.

The determinants of stock market performance: evidence from Malaysia during COVID-19

Mohamad Irfan Akmal Harun — 2024-11-30

The stock market’s performance is critical in determining the direction of the current economy. Researchers have extensively documented the factors that influence the stock market for years. However, few studies focused on macroeconomic factors in Malaysia, especially during COVID-19. The study used weekly macroeconomic data during COVID-19 to assess the stock market determinants. Furthermore, the research confirms whether the determinants impacted the stock market during COVID-19. This paper used weekly data from the Malaysia Stock Exchange Composite Index, interest rates, inflation rates, and COVID-19 death cases from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022. The study looks at autoregressive distribution lag models (ARDL) and diagnostic tests to avoid econometric problems. The study found that COVID-19 cases had an insignificant and positive relationship towards stock market performance in the short run; however, there was a significant negative relationship in the long run. In light of this, the study contributes to broadening the current literature reviews by incorporating interest rates, inflation rates, and some control variables, COVID-19 cases, into the determination of the relationship between the Malaysia stock index during a pandemic.

The role of nuklear Malaysia as a hybrid organisation to promote science culture: a study using triple helix model

Bashillah Baharuddin — 2024-11-30

This research paper investigates the Malaysian Nuclear Agency’s (Nuklear Malaysia) role as a Hybrid Organisation in promoting a scientific culture to help Malaysia achieve its vision of becoming a developed, high-income nation. The analysis focuses on two primary activities led by Nuklear Malaysia as a key agency in nuclear science and technology: (1) education and training and (2) technology transfer to industry stakeholders. The Malaysian Government's initiative to leverage nuclear science and technology for social and economic development is supported by international entities such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA Technical Cooperation Programme has significantly contributed to Malaysia's national infrastructure development, particularly in human capital development. Through this Programme, Malaysia received assistance through fellowships, scientific visits, training, meetings, workshops, provision of experts, and procurement of equipment, which provided a strong foundation for Malaysia to continue sustaining the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology in national socio-economic development. This paper examines the activities related to promoting science and technology transfer, emphasizing their impact on strengthening the role of science in enhancing the nation's social and economic landscape. For this study, the modified Triple Helix Model is used to interpret the relationship by substituting the role of academia with public research institutions due to their similar functions in fostering science and technology for industrial development. Thus, the model demonstrates how Nuklear Malaysia, as a hybrid organisation, can expand the application of nuclear science and technology for social and economic progress by advancing sectors such as medicine, manufacturing, environment, agriculture, and oil and gas through its scientific innovations. Furthermore, as a hybrid organisation, Nuklear Malaysia plays a crucial role in translating government policies into actionable strategies for relevant industries.