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Road traffic accidents are increasingly recognised as a serious public health concern. Each year road traffic accidents cause 1.2 million deaths worldwide and the number is expected to increase by 65 percent in 20 years. One of the challenges to solving this issue is that many accident investigation studies employed methods that gave less emphasis on systemic factors of road traffic accidents such as enforcement and government policies but rely on a direct cause-effect chain to analyse an accident causation process. By contrast, more contemporary approaches of investigating accidents are based on systemic accident models that can be used to analyse the interactions between various components of a sociotechnical system. Different systemic accident models, however, can lead to different analyses and subsequently different conclusions. As such, this study sought to compare three different systemic accident models, namely, the Driving Reliability and Error Analysis Method (DREAM), System-Theoretic Accident Model and Process (STAMP), and AcciMap in analysing the accident causation process of the 2013 Genting Highlands Bus Crash, which was the deadliest road traffic accident in Malaysia. Using DREAM, this study found that most of the contributing factors originated from maintenance errors and road design issues. On the other hand, STAMP identified inadequate controls and flaws within the road transportation system as contributing factors while AcciMap indicated various direct and indirect factors across different levels within the system. Findings of this study suggest that DREAM can present the accident factors in a succinct graphical representation by using a classification system thus making it easy to carry out and simple to understand. In addition, although both AcciMap and STAMP analyse road traffic accident across different system levels, STAMP is more comprehensive and flexible. However, because STAMP is time consuming and complex, it is more suitable for analyzing major road traffic accidents.

Baitul Maal is deemed as a vital financial institution in the past, apart from its role as the state's treasury in managing all types of revenues and expenditures that the Islamic State had, previously, Baitul Maal served as the assurance body to ensure the public security and preserve the welfare of the public, due to this important function, the modern Muslim civilization, especially in Indonesia, once more intend to establish the identical institution and have the aspiration to replicate the past function of Baitul Maal. When this research is conducted, the main purpose of this research is to compare the role and function of the past Baitul Maal with the role and function of present Baitul Maal in Indonesia, identify and analyze the similarities and differences between the two generations, is the present Baitul Maal truly reflects the role and function of the past Baitul Maal or it is just merely a name? The result of this research implies that there are several similarities and differences between the two institutions, the similar aspect between the two generation is in the aspect of concept and philosophy of Baitul Maal, both institutions has identical concept in making the state as the welfare state, and for the philosophy aspect, both institutions has similar philosophy in developing the people with balance in their spiritual and financial aspect. Whereas the different aspect between the two institutions is in the aspect of definition, source of wealth or revenues, expenditures, and organizational structure, In general, the past Baitul Maal serve as the state's treasury while the present Baitul Maal serve as the charitable body, due to this different characteristic between the two institutions, the past Baitul Maal has a wider type of revenues to be managed and larger type of expenditures to be spent, whilst current Baitul Maal is limited to the sadaqah types fund only that consist of Zakat, Infaq, Sadaqah, and Waqf, thus, its expenditures is also limited and only can be spent to the beneficiaries and the needy, moreover, in term of organizational structure, the past generation structure was established based on the revenues and expenditures while present generation structure was formed based on modern corporate governance, Additionally, in this research, the researcher includes the innovative aspect of present Baitul Maal, issues and challenges of the present Baitul Maal, and predict the prospect of the present Baitul Maal in the future. Keywords: Baitul Maal, Comparison, State's treasury, Charitable Body, Revenues, Expenditures, Sadaqah, Issues and Challenges, Prospect.

Beyond emergence of global Halal industry, Halal is one of the significant bloc markets. The South Korean food industry endeavours to advance its competition in the global Halal food market under various and active industry supports of government. However, South Korean government involvement shows lack of framework and contains limits in its support system. Criticism toward ineffective government support arises as one of the major issues surrounding Halal food industry development and export promotion, the goal of South Korea. This research highlights three major segments, which are identification and comparison of Malaysian and South Korean government’s involvement framework in Halal food industry development. Lastly, the emphases on the applicability of Malaysian experience of government involvement methods and approaches into South Korean government. The study applies qualitative research methodology that included two tracks of data collection which are literature review and interviews. During data collection, library research sources, existing literatures such as government documents, journal articles and related reports utilized. In the case of interviews, open-ended interviews of ten practitioners conducted. Data was collected and analyzed under inductive sorting out procedure, and the utilization of Atlas.ti software to visualize outcomes. This study determines the framework of two government involvement cases through visualized structure map, and compares its differences based on designed criteria. To suggest applicable framework in South Korea which is based on Malaysian experiences, several theoretical concepts are applied. In this study, South Korean government’s involvement in Halal food industry development is categorized under three criteria which are approach, action, and framework level which needs be customized in non-Muslim countries and their environment.

Several researchers have investigated the energy consumption of office buildings in Malaysia. In this study, energy consumption of low energy buildings, strategies, an overview of electricity usage in buildings, and performance evaluation of green buildings in Malaysia, will be conducted. The Faculty of Design and Architecture (FRSB), University Putra Malaysia (UPM) was selected as a case study for this research. The results of this study will become a reference for UPM, as the owner of the FRSB building, to become a pioneer of energy efficiency programs. These results will be compared with the Malaysian Code of Practice Standard for Energy Efficiency and Use of Renewable Energy for Non-Residential Building (MS 1525:2007); in order to identify compliance with that standard. This study will also identify the factors that contribute towards energy consumption for the FRSB building and provide recommendations for minimizing energy usage for education buildings; particularly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and create awareness for building designers and occupants alike. The findings will show that the FRSB building complied with MS 1525:2007, in terms of Overall Thermal Transfer Value (OTTV) and overall energy usage. The results presented in this study will confirm that this building’s electricity usage comes mostly from air conditioning and lighting systems. This study will provide suggestions for using a Building Management System (BMS) to control overall energy usage and for the installation of photovoltaic panels; which may help to provide energy by itself. The recommendations provided will attempt to overcome the problems caused by occupant’s behaviour towards energy use.

This is a multimodal genre analysis study of Malaysia Regional E-Travel Guidebooks (MRTGs) by adapting the frameworks of Bhatia (2004) and Kress and van Leeuwen (1996, 2006). The analysis focused on examining the rhetorical structure, communicative purposes, linguistic features, professional practices, and visual components present in MRTGs. The analysis is done to understand how this genre-which successfully helped Tourism Malaysia to improve its tourism industry- is built up and written. To accomplish the study's objectives, a combination of textual analysis and semi-structured interviews was employed, utilizing specialized software tools such as Atlas.ti and Sketchengine. The study revealed that MRTGs exhibit a distinct structure comprising ten core moves (Headline, Introducing the Country, Urging Action, Targeting the Market, Trivia, Justifying the Destination, Endorsement, Related Info, Service Info, and Closing Info). Notably, the findings highlight the strategic deployment of linguistic features to capture the readers' attention, promote the featured destinations, motivate action, and furnish pertinent information about Malaysia. MRTGs adeptly employ a synergy of informational value, salience, and framing to offer travellers a comprehensive and captivating informational resource. Additionally, the visual elements employed in MRTGs effectively convey meaning and engage readers with the featured destinations. Crucially, the findings show that professionals within Tourism Malaysia believe that MRTGs are essential for attracting and assisting travellers, and ensuring visitor satisfaction, with a focus on transitioning to online platforms and continuous improvement. This study provides multifaceted insights that extend beyond the specific context of MRTGs, contributing significantly to the domains of genre analysis, professional communication, digital marketing, visual communication, and destination marketing. Additionally, it elucidates practical implications for professionals in the tourism industry, enhancing their comprehension of the art of crafting compelling and effective promotional materials with regards to English for Tourism.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the most severe manifestation of coronary artery disease which is the leading cause of death globally. In Malaysia, there is an increasing number of AMI among young patients aged less than 45 years. The presentation of AMI at younger age suggests the possibility of genetic predisposition. Since LPA and APOE genes are known to be involved in lipid metabolism, they may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis leading to AMI. However, to date, there is no reported study on the association of LPA copy number variations (CNV) and APOE polymorphism with AMI in young patients. The aim of the current study is to assess the association of LPA CNV and APOE polymorphism with AMI in young adults. This study was conducted on 40 men grouped into 20 young acute myocardial infarction (YAMI) patients and 20 healthy controls. DNAs were purified from blood. The APOE genotyping was performed using multiplex PCR technique while LPA CNV was performed using digital PCR and the analysis of copy number was performed using QIAcuity Software Suite version 1.2 (QIAgen, Germany). Chi –square and Kruskall-wallis tests were used for data analysis. In order to improve the statistical power to signify the role of APOE polymorphism in CAD, meta-analyses were performed from this current result and selected studies among Asian populations using Comprehensive Meta-analysis version 3 software program. No significant association of LPA CNV with AMI was found (p = 0.459) in young adults. Although APOE genotypes and alleles were not significantly associated with AMI in young adults (p=0.484), this study found that E3/E3 genotypes and e3 allele were the commonest genotypes and allele. Lipid parameters were also found to be not significantly associated with LPA CNV status as well as APOE genotypes. However, from the current meta-analysis, APOE genotypes of E3/E3 was found to be protective whilst E3/E4 and e4 allele were found to increase the risk of CAD. In conclusion, this study found that there was no association of LPA CNV and APOE polymorphism with AMI in young adults, but the meta-analysis reaffirmed the role of APOE genotypes and e4 allele in the development of CAD. In pursuance of assessing the contribution of LPA gene CNV and APOE genotypes to our local population, a larger sample representation is recommended.

This study proposes a hybrid crowdfunding model to enhance financial services for microenterprises in Indonesia. The hybrid concepts of the proposed model are threefold namely product offering, services provided and service modes. The model encourages community involvement by engaging local investors who are geographically close to the microenterprises, allowing them to retain offline interactions with each other. Thus, this model suggests ways of improving and meeting the needs of microenterprises in Indonesia by providing affordable financial services. The research applied a mixed qualitative and quantitative methodology. The interview was conducted to validate the hybrid crowdfunding model's suitability, sustainability, and prospects. The experts confirmed the proposed model have the suitability for unbanked and marginalized communities. Besides, the experts opine that the model is applicable in Indonesia, which has large Muslim population and microenterprises. They emphasized that the model could significantly enhance financial accessibility for these businesses by fostering a sense of community-based support. Additionally, experts highlighted the potential for this model to increase financial inclusion, especially in underserved rural areas, by leveraging local networks and trust. The quantitative part of the study examines the factors influencing the behavioural intention of microenterprises to use the proposed hybrid crowdfunding model. An extended technology acceptance model (TAM) was adopted, which incorporates perceived risk (PR), perceived trust (PT), government support (GS), and two moderating variables, Age and Experience, in addition to two original TAM factors, perceived ease of use (PEOU) and Perceived Usefulness (PU). All predictors' direct and indirect effects are examined using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) and logit regression. The result of the PLS-SEM found that all hypothesized relationships between predictors (PR, PT, PEOU, PU, GS) and the criterion (BI) are statistically significant. Age moderates the relationship between predictors, namely perceived risk (PR), government support (GS), and endogenous variable behaviour intention (BI). On the other hand, the moderating effect of experience on the relationships between the constructs specified is found to be insignificant. Based on the logit regression result, both the basic and interaction models (the simple effect) confirmed that only three predictors, perceived risk (PR), government support (GS), and perceived ease of use (PEOU), are statistically significant in affecting outcomes, but PT and PU are found to be insignificant. The interaction term between age and four predictors (PR, PT, PEOU, and GS) is statistically significant. The interaction term between experience and three predictors (PT, PEOU, and GS) are confirmed to be significant. The study concluded that the hybrid crowdfunding model is acceptable in general. It highlights the need for strong support from the government in establishing robust data protection and privacy regulations for microenterprises who may be concerned about the security of their personal and financial information. Therefore, policymakers should consider formulating policies and guidelines, promoting the use of the proposed hybrid crowdfunding model, and building related infrastructure, such as widening internet penetration, especially in rural areas, to support model implementation

Currently there is an act by the government towards improving the state of education for disabled learners in Malaysia. Most Dyslexia centre in Malaysia not originally built as a function for the disabled learners and need to renovate to fit the purpose of learning space for children with dyslexia. Thus, the buildings are facing uncomfortable issues in term of inefficient design of the respective building and facilities available. Dyslexia children nowadays spend most of their time and play within the building, therefore, the building needs to be designed following on the specification of dyslexia children's needs because it is essential for their achievement and optimum development in their learning process. The objectives of this research are to identify and determine important interior design elements for the interior spaces of Dyslexia Centers and to formulate an interior framework for the centre based on the identified element from both literatures and direct assessment. Drawing from the objectives, this study aims to create a valid interior design framework that can be the best practice for the centre according to the ecology of the centre and the needs of the target user. This research is conducted using four (4) selected case study approach and data collection will draw attention to interior design setting of selected dyslexia centre using a checklist on facility condition assessment checklist. Direct observation is adopted for analysis on the selected case studies. A semi-structured interview with the principal and teachers also adopted for data collection method while analysis was done based on the study on literature too. The research found that there are four (4) interior design elements that are important to make up an effective interior design setting for dyslexia learning environment, which are; space planning and facilities, colour scheme, materials used and windows and openings. These interior design elements very important to study in-depth in relation to learning environment, specifically for dyslexia children as it is found that most of the visited dyslexia centre did not provide a suitable interior design setting that can stimulate learning process for dyslexic students. The findings are expected to become a reference point for Dyslexia Centres to improve their learning environment condition prior to the spectrums and appropriate interior design elements as supporting environment corrective method to the centres.

Since the 1990s, the interaction between the dominant Muslim community and other faiths in Bangladesh has become prevalent. In response to this scenario, this study investigates inter-religious relations among religious communities in Chittagong, Bangladesh, which is known for its religious diversity and historical significance. The research aims to examine the complexities of cooperation, collaboration, conflicts, and peaceful coexistence within inter-religious interactions. It also sheds light on the efforts to foster inter-community understanding and harmony. For the study, the researcher employs a qualitative method in which in-depth interviews are conducted with selected participants, such as representatives of religious scholars, cultural activists, and community leaders. The scripts are critically analyzed to extract the factors contributing to religious conflicts. The study on inter-religious interaction is significant for Bangladesh’s peacebuilding and social cohesion efforts. By uncovering the dynamics of inter-religious relations, this study contributes to a more inclusive societal framework that transcends religious divisions, promoting mutual understanding and unity among diverse religious groups. Moreover, it identifies challenges that hinder development and, at the same time, offers strategies to overcome these challenges. Therefore, this study shows potential for cultivating harmonious interaction that exceeds boundaries and enriches the nation’s social well-being. Focusing on Chittagong, the study provides context-specific perceptions into the multi-faceted circumstances that shape inter-religious relations. The findings contribute significantly to the concept of religious coexistence and inter-community relations. Consequently, the outcomes provide valuable insights for policymakers, religious institutes, and human rights organizations to develop context-specific strategies. Keywords: Inter-religious relations, Religious diversity, Chittagong, Bangladesh, Religious coexistence

The development of sports within the Malaysian sporting arena must be sustained in order to promote further growth and to achieve world-class status. In order to sustain the development in sports, there are various aspects that need to be taken into consideration besides introducing various mechanisms to improve the quality of performance of the athletes. At present the principal concern among the sporting community is that there are insufficient legal provisions providing for the protection of the rights of sportsperson. The Sports Development Act 1997 (Act 576) (referred as "SDA 1997") was passed in order to promote and facilitate the development and administration of sports in Malaysia. Development of sporting activities is dependant very much on the sportspersons themselves and if the welfare of the sportspersons is not taken care of, it may stultify development of sports in Malaysia. Thus, this dissertation seek to examine the problems faced by the sportspersons and to propose the necessary changes to improve the existing system in order to deliver better protection for the sporting community. The aims and objectives of this dissertation are to improve the existing legal measures promoting the protection of a sportspersons rights. Chapter one deals with the historical development of sports in Malaysia. Chapter two examines the contractual rights of a sportsperson and the shortcomings of the Malaysian system in providing the necessary protection for a sportsperson. Chapter three examines the extent of the tortious liability of a sports organisation in the event a sportsperson suffers injury in the course of representing the organisation in sporting events. Chapter Four examines the criminal liability of a sportsperson. Chapter Five examines the rights of a sportsperson guaranteed in the Federal Constitution. And chapter 6 is the concluding chapter where proposals for reforming the existing legislative measures are made.

The facade plays a key role as both a barrier and a filter between the comfortable `indoors` and the uncontrolled `outdoors`. The degree to which the facade of a building embraces maintenance considerations has a major impact on its performance. In Malaysia, new buildings are erected everyday with modern design featuring complex building facade design which has common problems often found in different types of building facades. These problems have implications in the design, constructions and maintenance of buildings. Every building facade should always be maintained to a high standard so that it will look more value in its appearance and a longer life span. The value of buildings depends on the quality of the maintenance invested in them. Maintenance management involves obtaining maximum benefit from the investment made on the maintenance activities. Maintenance in buildings in Malaysia is on the increase regardless of size, type, location, and ownership. It is necessary to rectify building facade defects and for maintenance purposes as facades is exposed to the climatic condition. The study will find out the building facade defects and other maintenance problems that are heavily attributed to design deficiencies, material limitations and lack of maintenance knowledge. To achieve this aim, three objectives have been set: to identify the types of common building facade defects, to identify its effect on maintenance and to relate the facade defects with maintenance and to recommend the appropriate solutions to improve the establishment of standard building facade maintenance in Malaysia. A study was conducted in three government buildings in Putrajaya to identify the facade defects and its effect on maintenance. The data were analyzed using Relative Index formula. The current maintenance management procedures in Malaysia are, however, condition and reactive based. The weaknesses in the current procedures are the primary problems because they do not explicitly link maintenance needs with building performance with respect to the building users. Findings show that main problems that the maintenance contractors are currently facing are caused by building design deficiencies, poor construction quality, and choice of building material which affects maintenance.

The popularity of the concept of Islamic tourism has given more focus on providing guides that may suit the needs of the Muslims travelers. This study seeks to establish knowledge on the notion of Muslim tourism, competencies involved in offering Muslim-friendly tour guiding services, and the current competency level of the tour guides in Malaysia in order to come up with a model of core competencies that anticipates the satisfaction of Muslim tourists. The study sets out four primary objectives: For the first study, to understand the idea of Muslim friendly tour guides in Islamic tourism, to establish what competencies are necessary for tour guides to enhance the Muslim friendly experience, to evaluate the existing competency levels of tour guides serving the Muslim tourist, and for the last, to suggest a framework for the core competencies of Muslim friendly tour guides in Malaysia. Hence, a qualitative research design was adopted, accompanied by in-depth interviews with the tour guides, tourism agencies in Malaysia, also academicians who specialized in tourism industry to provide verbal data, giving a vivid and credible account of respondent’s experience/views. The study identified six key elements essential for a competent Muslim-friendly tour guide: culture and religion awareness, destination knowledge, awareness of Halal food, language barriers, respect tourists’ professional handling treating equally and handling of emergencies situations. On the mentioned elements, all of the participants confirmed the awareness but came up with more enhancements for a broader competency model. The study entails the use of these competencies in an effort to enhance a Muslim-friendly experience; and contributes to the formulation of training frameworks for tourist guides of the Malaysian region. The research importance also points to the need for specific competencies among the tour guides with a view of improving the Islamic tourisms and thus the proposed model of core competencies helps as a directory for the tour guides’ training and development since they have to meet the expectation of the Islamic tourists in all aspects. Thus, this research enriches the knowledge about Islamic tourism and the position of the tour guides in this domain. It will also highlight gaps in the preparation of tour guides and also it can be used to chart the training and assessing of tour guides regarding the area. Besides, this research serves the development of Muslim-friendly tourism and is useful for tourism institutions, operators, trainers, and developers of tour guides for Islamic countries.

Traditional Malay midwifery practices exhibit a wide vanatlon in plant materials selection. This study established that plant materials composition selection differs greatly with respect to stage of Malay midwifery practices, locality, environmental factors and culture. A total of 13 types of Malay midwifery practices were observed in 11 different states of Malaysia from 31 traditional midwives in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Perak, Kedah, Perlis, N egeri Sembilan and Sarawak. Two practices were performed during prenatal treatment which is the process of lenggang perut and also prenatal diet confinement. 11 other practices were performed during postnatal treatment which can be classified into 4 categories; herbs treatment, heat treatment, massage and abstinence (pantang). The influence of plant materials composition of east coast over west coast in Malaysia or locality x culture x midwifery process x plant materials selection, in relation of creating Malay garden identity established that each factor had an effect on the composition of plant materials selection. However, the most influential factor appeared to be stage of Malay midwifery practices. Each practice has specific purposes and functions which later determine the accumulation of plant materials selection. Of all the Malay midwifery practices studied in this research we found that mandi serom is the most diverse plant species used which portray the habitat or type of environments in which these plant species origin or found. There may be similarities of some species due to similar knowledge, culture or environment; however the magnitude of these effects is not as great as plant materials composition selection and usaga. By identifying the key factors controlling plant materials selection and usage a greater understanding of how certain midwifery practices influence plant species selection and composition in response to interactions with environmental factors as well as culture, belief and taboos will emerge as potential softscape elements tools and indicator in creating identity of Malay landscape for specific culture and locality. Keywords: Malay midwifery, plant material, Malay landscape

Youth unemployment has been a significant concern and a pressing issue within many nations. It is essential that all countries prioritize youth empowerment to curtail national security concerns. Although the authorities of Nigeria have made various attempts to provide national security through empowerment programs since its independence, these efforts were not successful due to non-political will. This study explores the potential role of waqf in enhancing youth empowerment for sustainable development in Yobe State, Nigeria. Waqf is considered as a mechanism to achieve economic and social objectives, acting as a platform for entrepreneurship to enhance societal well-being. This study aims to provide the potential roles of waqf institutions to empower the youth and enhance the well-being of the population in Yobe State. This study employed a qualitative method of research, which includes descriptive, historical, analytical and evaluative approaches. This study found that there are numerous factors contributing to youth unemployment, insecurity, and other social vices in Yobe State, such as insufficient incentives in the agricultural sector, lack of vocational skills, the declining quality of the Nigerian education system, corruption, youth involvement in political violence, and high rates of school dropouts. The findings show the potentials of waqf institutions on youth empowerment in Yobe across various domains such as education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and vocational training. This study concludes that waqf institutions have significantly contributed to youth empowerment in entrepreneurship, education, healthcare, and vocational skills, ultimately advancing the sustainable development goals in Yobe State. Finally, this study offers suggestions and recommendations for effective strategies in utilising waqf properties in the region. Keywords: Waqf, Youth Empowerment, Sustainable Development, Yobe State, Nigeria.

The crisis of freshwater has been occurring in the world including Indonesia. Up to now, almost two-thirds of Jakarta’s inhabitants and other big cities of Indonesia still rely on the shallow groundwater individually as source of freshwater. The problem is that they always suffer from drought regularly due to the decreasing water table levels in their surroundings. Precisely, the problem relates with the absence of well-planned urban ecosystem. The condition of shallow groundwater is affected by related factors of population density, land use, and green space elements mainly the urban parks. Through the interpretation of the Qur’ānic verse (an-Naml: 60) and utilisation of the Zalewski’s ‘eco-hydrology’ concept that stresses the relationship between vegetation and hydrology, this study explores water conservation through urban park. The research method covers observation of the urban parks condition in Jakarta and measurement of the soil water status on roots zone beneath the vertical class of vegetation in Ragunan and Pondok Kopi Parks (2004-2005). The study concludes that urban park has ability and suitability to conserve water. The bigger the urban park is the better for water conservation purposes. Regarding with water status as well as roots zone volume of selected species, tree is more valuable for water conservation than shrub, grass, and bare land. Besides, the study introduces the interlinking parks model that connects to green space elements for improving urban ecosystem including groundwater properly. Hence, this study is useful to add the roles of urban landscape planning, water conservation, urban development policy and urban ecosystem. It is also academically worthy of support since it could help disseminate ideas on Islamisation of knowledge. Keywords: urban ecosystem, water conservation, ecohydrology, urban park, and roots zone.

The environmental setting in relation to reading habit causes a deficiency of reading persuasion among Malaysians. The mobile library facility provided by the government has not been fully utilized by the public, which induces the concept to stop operating. The insufficiency of organized reading programmes and activities lead to the reduction of reading interest among Malaysian citizens are the problems encountered by the Malaysian government in inculcating the culture of reading in the country. This research examines the acceptance of the mobile reading kiosk concept, where it supports the public to use their time to read. Self-completed questionnaire surveys were conducted among park visitors of Taman Tasik Titiwangsa aged below 35 years old with a sample of 350 respondents. Three findings have been identified. Firstly, reading preferences influence the reading enthusiasm of the respondents. Reading preferences have a significant relationship with the age and gender of respondents with more than 50% of respondents agreeing on reading at home and time spent on reading. Secondly, the park setting environment gives prompt impact on the reading enthusiasm of the respondents. The environmental setting is encouraged to be used, as it can promote and increase the reading enthusiasm of the public. Lastly, the mobile reading kiosk concept is still relevant and can still be implemented in leisurely manner and cozier environment. The provided facilities, and safe and pleasant environment for reading will attract readers among the park visitors to spend their time reading there. This concept may help inspire and cultivate the interest in reading among members of the community. Further study on exploring other environmental settings, such as the beach and neighbourhood park, can be done to expand research in the habit of reading. The knowledge acquired through this research can contribute to a better understanding of reading habits among Malaysians.

This research discusses the issue of accessibility, connectivity and usability in the facilities used by persons with disabilities (PwDs) in Malaysian shopping malls and the significance of the latest Malaysian Standards (MS 1184:2014), the Universal Design and Accessibility in the Built Environment-Code of Practice in evaluating shopping malls. The study identifies whether the provided facilities accord with the latest Malaysian standards (MS 1184:2014). The sampled shopping malls comprised Ikea in Damansara, Suria Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) in Kuala Lumpur and Alamanda in Putrajaya. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with the visually impaired, hearing impaired person, and wheelchair and crutches users to determine their perception on the level of accessibility of these buildings. Access audit and site observations were also carried out to assess the buildings’ accessibility, connectivity, mobility and reachability. The results show that Suria KLCC scored 80.35% for compliance with the design requirements, followed by Ikea with 74.11%, and Alamanda with 70.58%. It is hoped that the research can benefit people from all walks of life as well as generate more ideas to improve the accessibility of shopping malls for the PwDs.

Holothuria scabra is one of edible marine animals which is widely consumed by Chinese and local Sabahan people, who believe in the medicinal properties offered by the species. This work was focusing on H. scabra in the attempt of finding new therapeutic properties, because of its large availability in the coastal area of Sabah and ability to be widely bred in hatcheries for restocking purpose. The study comprises of two types of study: anti-gastric ulcer and acute toxicity test, to investigate the existence of anti-gastric ulcer property in the species and its safety for human consumption. In the anti-gastric ulcer study, 150 mg/ml H. scabra water extract was administered into rats that had been induced with gastric ulcer by using acetic acid. Histology of the stomach was examined and the gastric mucous was estimated by using spectrophotometer. The toxicity test was conducted by giving H. scabra water extract with the doses of 5, 50, 300 and 2000 mg/kg into four groups of rats, whereas the control group received distilled water. Survival and toxicity signs were carefully observed for 14 days, in addition to performing the blood analyses and histopathological examination of liver and kidney tissues. For the anti-gastric ulcer study, the stomach tissues from both groups of treated and untreated were recovering, with no significant difference in terms of structural changes and inflammatory cell infiltrates. The treated rats did not produce significant higher amount of gastric mucous as compared to the non-treated rats, except on the day 12 of the experiment. In the toxicity test, no mortality and toxicity signs were observed throughout the observation period. Gross examination on liver and kidneys showed no changes in appearance, size, and colour of the organs when compared to the control group. Statistical analysis of the Kruskal-Wallis H test produced no significant difference in body weight between the control and all treated groups after the treatment, x2(4, N = 23) = 5.754, p = 0.218. The haematological and biochemical blood parameters of the treated group of rats also showed no statistical difference as compared to the control. However, histopathological examination revealed presence of necrotic tissues and cellular damages in the liver and kidneys of all treated rats at all doses of extract. The study suggests that the effects of H. scabra water extract on the healing of induced gastric ulcer in rats were not conclusive. However, since blood analyses results and histopathological findings of the acute toxicity study were contradict, sub-acute toxicity is suggested to be conducted in future to further confirm the toxicity level of the extract.

This research addresses the safety of kindergarten premises in Malaysia due to improper planning of the landscape area. Crimes in Malaysia that revolve around kindergarten premises have repeatedly occurred throughout the years. Hence, this study addresses the issue with reference to Defensible Space theory. This study identifies the presence and absence of landscape principles of Defensible Space theory which are natural surveillance, territoriality, image and milieu, in the chosen effected premises and suggest modifications to the existing guideline for kindergarten landscape development in Malaysia. Through a qualitative research, this research collects data via means of document analysis, case study, interview and observation. Document analysis is adopted to determine the landscape architectural variables of Defensible Space theory and kindergarten outdoor space utilization and its elements. A case study is chosen to identify the physical deficiencies of the premises that contributed to the crime based on the absence and presence of Defensible Space principles. Structured interviews are carried out to determine demographic data. Lastly, observation is carried out at chosen case studies to recognise the spatial form and presence and absence of Defensible Space principles. Two relatively similar kindergartens with history of criminal occurrence are chosen as case studies to observe the presence and absence of the said principles in which Kindergarten 1 shows a presence of only 62.5% of defensible space while Kindergarten 2 shows 70%. The results of both kindergartens are used in the development of a general recommendation for the space utilisation of kindergarten landscape in Malaysia. The outcome will affect landscape designers in creating layouts and providing elements for the kindergarten outdoor areas and kindergarten owners in providing at least the minimum requirement for the outdoor area.

This thesis represents an effort by the author to overcome the dearth of Islamic discourses in Medical imaging, a sub-specialisation within the bigger field of Medicine. Driven by the concepts of Islamisation of Knowledge (IOK), integration of Islamic input in the professions, as well as his professional obligation as an academician in an Islamic university, the author posits himself to contribute towards the realisation of the above concepts and enriching the Islamic based literature. Efforts were made done to ascertain the state of affairs of the presence of Islamic perspectives in Medical imaging literature. The results showed a major void in Islamic perspectives in the literature. The term “perspective” and “perspectives” used in this thesis are seen within the definition of perspective; “a particular way of considering something”. The plural form does not suggest that Islam has differing opinions or views when confronted with a particular issue but represents the various sources and types of references. The essence of these individual perspectives remains embedded in Tauhidic (Oneness of Allah) principles and objectives. The thesis proposes a methodology in integrating Islamic perspectives into the theoretical domains within a typical Medical imaging curriculum. Existing knowledge from the predominantly secular environment that has dominated Medical imaging since its inception is not discriminately discarded unless those that is not in line with what Islam champions. Harmonisation and individual tailoring of the Islamic perspectives with the human sciences remain the core approaches in the integration process. The integration also identifies the teaching, learning and assessment considerations. The superficiality in the coverage over the wide dimensions in the discipline is seen within the context of future avenues for in-depth discourses to be made. Typically, the involvement of Muslim practitioners at all levels; the academicians, the practitioners, the leadership, the administration and the professional fraternity are required for promoting, internalising and sustaining Islamic perspectives in the discipline.