Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (MJSSH)

Relationship Between Self-efficacy and Global Motivation Among Teachers: A Quantitative Study in Sabah, Malaysia

Fung Lan Yong — 2025-11-21

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between self-efficacy and global motivation among teachers in Sabah, Malaysia. The Self-Efficacy Scale and Global Motivation Scale were administered on Google Forms to collect data, which were subsequently analyzed using SPSS 29.0. First, descriptive statistics showed that teachers tend to have average levels of self-efficacy and global motivation. Second, Wilcoxon signed rank test for self-efficacy against a hypothesized median value of 3.5 revealed that all the items were significantly different from the median value at p < .001. Third, Wilcoxon signed rank test on global motivation against a hypothesized median value of 3.5 showed that 15 items were significantly different from the median value at p < .001, while another seven items were significantly different from the median value at p < .05. Fourth, Spearman correlation analysis revealed that the relationship between self-efficacy and global motivation tends to be significantly related with r = 0.629, p < 0.001. Fifth, an independent samples t-test revealed nonsignificant gender differences. Sixth, a one-way ANOVA showed that age did not significantly impact self-efficacy or global motivation. Similarly, no significant differences were found in self-efficacy or global motivation across years of teaching. In light of the findings, recommendations were made on how to enhance teachers’ self-efficacy and global motivation in Sabah, Malaysia.

Managerial Stress, Emotion Regulation, and Consumer Decision-Making in Sabah’s Hotel Industry

Steward Giman Stephen — 2025-11-19

This study explores the relationship between emotion regulation, stress, and consumer decision-making within the context of the Sabah hotel industry, where both consumers and managers face mounting psychological pressures. The research examines how external stressors such as job-related, financial, and situational stress shape consumers’ emotional states, perceptions, and marketing choices. It also investigates how managerial stress influences service quality, marketing communication, and brand experience. Using a qualitative exploratory design, the study collected data through semi-structured interviews with 10 hotel marketing managers and 15 hotel consumers across Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, and Kundasang. Thematic analysis revealed four dominant themes: (1) stress-induced emotional shifts in consumers, (2) coping and emotion regulation strategies, (3) managerial emotional contagion and service quality, and (4) emotionally intelligent marketing interventions. The findings underscore the critical need for stress-sensitive and emotionally intelligent management approaches to improve consumer experience and brand loyalty in Sabah’s hospitality sector.

Driving Competitiveness: How E-Marketplace Utilization Enhances SME Performance in Tanzania’s Digital Economy

Felister Nkwimba Mayunga — 2025-11-25

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are of great importance to Tanzania in employment, income, and poverty reduction. Nevertheless, the utilization of e-marketplaces by SMEs remains limited, constraining their capacity to compete in the digital economy. This study examines the influence of technological, organizational, and environmental factors on e-marketplaces usage, the impact of such usage on SMEs’ performance, and the mediating effect of e-marketplace utilization between these factors and performance. Drawing upon the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory, and Resource-Based View (RBV), this study validates an integrated model to explain the determinants of e-marketplace utilization and SME performance. Primary data were collected from 654 SME owners, CEOs, and managers across six regions of Tanzania using a structured questionnaire. The study employed the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the measurement and structural research models. The findings reveal that technological, organizational, and environmental factors significantly and positively influence e-marketplaces utilization. E-marketplace use also positively affects SMEs’ performance, and mediation analysis confirms that e-marketplace utilization is an important mechanism through which these contextual factors influence business performance. Theoretically, the study broadens the application of DOI, TOE, and RBV within the African SME context. Practically, the study provides policymakers, development agencies, and SME leaders with insights into how to help SMEs leverage e-marketplace platforms. The results reinforce the importance of investments in ICT infrastructure, digital skills, and institutional support to enhance e-marketplace utilization and strengthen SME competitiveness.

Small Enterprises Behavioural Intention to Participate in Public Procurement in Tanzania: The Moderating Role of Attitude

Isaya Emmanuel Machaine — 2025-11-28

is study investigates the behavioural intentions of Small Enterprises (SEs) to participate in public procurement, using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as the guiding framework. While TPB traditionally posits that attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control (PBC) directly predict behavioural intention, this study extends the model by including perceived benefits as an additional determinant and testing the moderating role of attitude. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, collecting data from 189 SEs owners and managers across Dar es Salaam and Dodoma. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was used to deduce the findings. Results showed that perceived benefits and PBC significantly predicted SEs’ intention to engage in procurement, while subjective norms and attitude exhibited weak direct relationships. A moderation analysis of these features showed that attitude, whereas moderating on the subjective norms side, also had the effect of negatively moderating the relationship between PBC and intention (hypothetical overconfidence where both variables are high). The effect of attitude on perceived benefits was insignificant, meaning that these practical evaluations drive intention independently. The study adds to TPB by integrating the perspective of a developing economy and demonstrates that SEs’ procurement participation was determined mainly by pragmatic assessments rather than attitudinal and normative aspects. The findings have practical implications in terms of developing capacities, financial access, transparent procurement processes, as well as promoting the availability of a supportive network to increase SEs involvement.

Moderating Role of Corporate Governance in the Control Mechanisms-Revenue Collection Nexus: Evidence from Tanzanian Local Authorities

Faiza Hamidu Msheri — 2025-11-30

Local Government Authorities (LGAs) in Tanzania depend on self-generated revenues and transfers from the central government, yet many still fail to meet their own-source revenue targets despite a number of reforms. Prior studies examined internal controls, human capital, information systems, or governance in isolation, providing limited insight into their combined effects and the role of governance in conditioning these relationships. In contrast, this study jointly analyses these resources and the moderating role of corporate governance on revenue performance in LGAs. Guided by the COSO internal control framework, Agency Theory and the Resource-Based View, the study employs Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) on 358 responses from internal auditors, finance and revenue officers, and managers across 36 LGAs. Results reveal that Corporate Governance, Financial Management Information Systems (FMIS), Human Capital Management (HCM), and Risk Assessment (RA) each exert significant positive effects on revenue collection. Moderation analysis shows that governance strengthens the effect of FMIS but diminishes the contribution of HCM, while its interaction with RA is not significant. These outcomes underline the nuanced role of governance—supporting technology-based systems yet sometimes substituting for human capital. Theoretically, the study extends the COSO framework by demonstrating asymmetric interactions between governance and organisational resources. Practically, it highlights the need for LGAs to align governance structures, staff capabilities, FMIS, and risk-management processes to strengthen own-source revenue collection.

Persuasion Strategies, Heuristics, and Decision Biases in Managerial Pricing Decisions: Evidence from Sabah’s Hotel Industry

Sawanah Mumin — 2025-11-19

is study investigates how persuasion strategies, heuristics, and cognitive biases shape managerial pricing decisions within Sabah’s hotel industry. Integrating perspectives from social psychology and behavioural marketing, it explores how anchoring, framing, and reference dependence influence revenue managers’ promotional choices, discount structures, and consumer perceptions. Using a qualitative exploratory design, the study draws on in-depth interviews with hotel managers from Kota Kinabalu, Kundasang, and Sandakan to capture their intuitive and analytical pricing behaviours. Findings reveal that managerial decisions are heavily influenced by anchoring on historical price points, gain–loss framing in promotional messages, and emotional heuristics under competitive and seasonal stress. While these cognitive shortcuts often enhance persuasion effectiveness, they also generate systematic pricing distortions and inconsistent consumer experiences. The paper proposes a behavioural pricing framework linking managerial cognition, heuristic persuasion, and consumer response, offering both theoretical advancement and practical insights for ethically informed, evidence-based pricing strategies in Sabah’s hospitality sector.

Authoritarian Leadership Among Department Heads in Sabah, Malaysia: A Quantitative Study on Lecturers’ Perceptions

Fung Lan Yong — 2025-11-21

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate lecturers’ perceptions of authoritarian leadership in Sabah, Malaysia. The sample consisted of 46 lecturers from three private higher educational institutions (PHEIs) located in Kota Kinabalu, who were asked to fill out the Authoritarian Leadership Questionnaire on Google Forms. Responses were subsequently transferred onto a spreadsheet and SPSS 29.0 was used to analyze the data. For this study, a 30 percent agreement on authoritarianism was deemed high and would fall into a concerning range especially within a democratic context. Findings showed that a high proportion (30.4 to 52.2 percent) of PHEI lecturers strongly agreed/agreed that department heads tend to practice authoritarian leadership. On the other hand, nonparametric tests revealed nonsignificant differences in perceived authoritarian leadership by way of gender, age, and job experience. Additionally, Wilcoxon signed rank test showed that 22 of the items were significant at p < .001, with medians significantly different from the hypothesized value of 3.5. Another 15 of the items were significant at p < .05, with medians significantly different from the hypothesized value of 3.5. In light of the findings, implications and recommendations on authoritarian leadership were made in the context of PHEIs in Sabah, Malaysia.

Effects of Internal Marketing on Job Satisfaction Among Islamic Bank Employees in Sabah

Sawanah Mumin — 2025-11-22

This study explores the effects of internal marketing strategies on job satisfaction among employees in Islamic banks in Sabah, Malaysia. Internal marketing, which emphasizes treating employees as internal customers, plays a vital role in improving motivation, communication, and organizational commitment. Given the unique spiritual and ethical environment of Islamic banking, this research investigates how internal marketing practices such as internal communication, empowerment, reward systems, and leadership support influence job satisfaction. Using a qualitative approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 employees across three major Islamic banks in Sabah. Thematic analysis revealed four main themes: (1) trust and communication alignment, (2) empowerment and career growth, (3) organizational justice through Shariah-compliant leadership, and (4) workplace spirituality and meaning. The study concludes that internal marketing enhances employee satisfaction when aligned with Islamic values and ethical management. Recommendations are provided for improving internal communication systems and leadership training in Islamic financial institutions.

Affect and Performance in Politainment: Reading Dato’ Seri Haji Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s TikTok Contents

Azrina Husin — 2025-11-28

This article explores the digital persona of Kedah Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor on Tiktok to understand the convergence of politics and entertainment, i.e. politainment, on the platform. It focuses on four videos posted on his TikTok account between September and December 2023 that received the highest number of “likes” from audiences. Using multimodal discourse analysis to examine the content and qualitative content analysis to examine audience responses via the top user comments, this study offers and understating on how meaning is both performed and co-constructed on TikTok by the politician as content producer and the audiences as active recipients. Each video is treated as a multimodal performance that strategically combines visuals, sound, language, and cultural symbol to construct a political identity that resonates with audiences and, ultimately, generates digital engagement. The analysis highlights the ways in which Sanusi draws on platform vernaculars such as memes, viral soundtracks and clips, as well as specific cultural identifiers to produce digital visibility. On the other hand, audience comments indicate emotional affinity with his persona, while also reflecting forms of affirmation and contestation towards the messages conveyed in the videos. Rather than treating these videos as mere populist content, this study argues that they are strategic performances aimed at creating digital political presence through affective and aesthetic cues, made available by TikTok’s vernacular. This research contributes to current discussions on digital politics by situating politainment within the affective and participatory culture of TikTok in Malaysia.

Lexical Markers of Emotion: Adjectives in Patient Journals on Suicidal Ideation

Salina Sabri — 2025-11-27

Suicide remains a major public health concern worldwide, and understanding the subjective experiences of patients with suicidal ideation is critical for prevention and intervention. Language offers a valuable entry point into these experiences, with adjectives functioning as key lexical markers of affective stance. This study utilised descriptive content analysis and analysed a corpus of anonymized therapeutic journals written by patients experiencing suicidal ideation. Adjectives were identified through manual coding procedures, with cross-checking to ensure reliability. A frequency analysis was conducted to determine the distribution and prevalence of affective adjectives in the dataset. The analysis revealed that the adjective happy occurred most frequently (41 instances), followed by alone (33), sad (32), anxious (18), and hard (18). The co-occurrence of positive descriptors (e.g., happy) alongside negative or burden-laden adjectives (e.g., alone, sad, anxious, hard) reflects the ambivalence characteristic of suicidal ideation, where fleeting hope is juxtaposed with pervasive distress. The findings demonstrate that lexical analysis can reveal significant patterns in the affective expression of patients with suicidal ideation. Adjectives function not only as emotional markers but also as indicators of ambivalence, underscoring the complexity of patients’ lived experiences. Attention to such lexical choices in therapeutic contexts may support clinicians in identifying underlying affective states, enhancing empathic engagement, and informing more nuanced approaches to suicide risk assessment and intervention.

YouTube for Information on Rifampicin in Tuberculosis Management: An Analysis of Reliability and Usefulness

Nursyuhadah Othman — 2025-11-28

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading infectious diseases worldwide caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Rifampicin is primarily used as a first-line treatment for TB. There were numerous videos pertaining to the use of rifampicin in the management of TB in YouTube, which were used by students in healthcare studies as their references. The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality and usefulness of the information in YouTube regarding rifampicin in TB management. A systematic search for videos on the YouTube website was conducted using the keywords "Rifampicin" and "Pharmacology of rifampicin". The videos meeting eligibility criteria were assessed. The videos were assessed using a five-question DISCERN scale and Global Quality Score (GQS). Other video characteristics like source/ownership of the videos, duration, views, likes, number of days posted, likeability and comments were also obtained. A total of six videos were selected. Most videos categorised under education as these videos were uploaded by university (n=4; 66.7%). The interquartile range of the GQS was 3 [2.25-3.75], and DISCERN score was 3 [2.25-3.75]. The score from both scales identified that YouTube is a reliable source of references for students to gain deeper understanding about the use of rifampicin in TB management.

COVID-19 Pandemic: Online Learning Impact on English Communication Self-Confidence Level Among Diploma Pharmacy Students

Roz Azinur Che Lamin — 2025-11-28

At Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), English serves as the primary medium for teaching and learning. However, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, the instructional method shifted from face-to-face interaction to online mode. The change in study mode may cause uncertainty in English proficiency among students who studied throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the online learning effect on pharmacy students’ confidence in English before (2020 to 2022) and after the hospital internship (2023). The data was collected through a pre-validated questionnaire and self-administered among 90 pharmacy diploma students enrolled at the UiTM from June to July 2023, with their median age 21-year-old. The findings showed that students' percentage level of confidence before hospital practical attachment was moderate (n=67, 74.5%) and high (n=20, 22.2%). Meanwhile, all students (n=90, 100.0%) reported low English communication confidence levels after their hospital internship. This study reveals that students’ English communication self-confidence during hospital training has decreased compared to throughout the first and second year of study, possibly due to the limited direct interaction in English during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, online learning may be a limiting factor in building self-confidence in communicating in English when in a hospital setting for the post-COVID-19 student cohort.

Us vs Them? A Review on Migration and security Issues in Sabah

Nurathirah Syazwani Ishak — 2025-11-29

Migration is increasingly discussed as a security issue in Sabah, especially in urban areas with large undocumented populations. Policymakers and researchers often associate migrants with rising crime, overcrowding, and pressure on public services. Yet questions remain about how these security views are formed, and whether they reflect real-life situations or assumptions that label migrants as security threats. This article reviews existing studies, media coverage, and policy discussions on migration and security in Sabah. The review identifies recurring patterns of fear, competition, and social distance that continue to shape public perception and official responses. It also shows the lack of community-level perspectives in current debates. Drawing from security studies and human security approaches, this article suggests a more balanced understanding of migration one that does not view it solely as a threat, but as part of shared experiences and mutual interdependence between migrants and local residents.

Islamic Values and Their Influence on Youth Agropreneurship Mindset Challenges

Muhammad Nabil Imani bin Kamarunzaman — 2025-11-29

The Agropreneur Muda program by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI) is one of the federal government’s initiatives to reduce the unemployment rate among youth while simultaneously modernizing agricultural practices in Malaysia. This program has received financial and institutional support from selected agencies to ensure its sustainability, but this support is still seen as insufficient. The core issue that hinders the program’s effectiveness stems from internal mindset challenges frequently faced by young farmers, such as unrealistic expectations, reliance on government aid, and a lack of entrepreneurial discipline. Previous studies have mainly focused on external issues rather than internal ones. This article focuses more on the role of Islamic values, which are viewed as one of the key initiatives to address internal issues among Muslim youth agropreneurs participating in this program. This study employed a qualitative approach by combining document analysis and semi-structured interviews with program participants. The findings show that the solutions emphasized from an Islamic perspective include integrity (amanah), perseverance (sabr), and responsibility (mas’uliyyah) in overcoming issues related to entrepreneurial discipline and reducing dependence on external aid. In conclusion, Islamic values must be incorporated into training modules to ensure the continuity and excellence of young farmers in sustaining the agricultural sector over the long term.

Young Adults, Driven by Gen Z’s News Consumption Patterns: A Conceptual Framework of News Engagement

Ng Wei Liang — 2025-11-29

The rapid evolution of digital technologies has redefined the relationship between audiences and news media. This interpretative paper aims to propose a framework for news organizations to better engage Generation Z, led by young adults, in today’s media environment. Drawing upon Uses and Gratifications (U&G) Theory and Participatory Culture Theory, this study integrates classical and contemporary perspectives to construct the U&G–Participation Integrated Framework, explaining how needs, uses, participatory practices, and gratifications form a continuous cycle of engagement. By using a conceptual and interpretive method, the paper synthesizes published work from google scholar data base (2006–2025) to 5 most important changes: (1) news consumption evolving into meaning negotiation, (2) news reworking into co-creation, (3) News credibility turning into participatory and relational, (4) Technology including generative AI, social media , etc. serving as mediator or moderator and supply of gratification and (5) participation functioning as a continuous intention. The findings make U&G theory and participatory culture theory into one conceptual framework, highlighting that generation Z’s engagement is through different needs, uses, gratification, cultural practices, and digital affordances. This conceptual integration affords both theoretical refinement for target audience research and guidance for media agencies to enhance engagement in participatory journalism.

Early Childhood Agricultural Learning Through Tree Walks and Hydroponics: A Soil Science Extension Case Study

Izzah Abd Hamid — 2025-11-30

Early exposure to agriculture and the environment helps children develop a basic awareness of nature, food systems, and sustainability. This study examined how two hands-on activities, (1) tree walk and (2) simple hydroponic planting session, shaped preschool children’s understanding of plants, their environmental roles, and sustainable practices. The programme, conducted in Bintulu, Sarawak, involved 40 children aged 4 to 6 from two local kindergartens. Before and after the activities, simple picture-based surveys was used to assess their recognition of tree species, plant categories, and basic hydroponic concepts. The results showed that children were able to name trees, recognise benefits such as soil health and food provision, and explain that plants in hydroponics grow using nutrient water. Most of the children said they enjoyed the activities and wanted to try similar planting at home. The use of familiar crops made the activities easier for children to understand and recall. These findings show the value of incorporating simple agricultural activities in early education and highlight how soil scientists can contribute through child-friendly outreach programmes.

Enforcement of Digital Marital Contracts in Malaysia Legal Analysis and Reform Directions

Nur Farahiyah Mohd Nasir — 2025-11-30

Digitalisation is transforming how spouses negotiate and record marital commitments, yet Malaysian family law has not clearly addressed whether digitally executed marital agreements carry legal enforceability. This research adopts a doctrinal legal analysis by examining civil and Syariah legislation, relevant case law and evidentiary standards in Malaysia, alongside comparative insights from the United Kingdom and Singapore. The study finds that although Malaysian law recognises marriage as a contract and accepts electronic contracting mechanisms in commercial contexts, digital marital agreements remain procedurally uncertain due to authentication challenges, inconsistent judicial approaches, jurisdictional fragmentation within the dual legal system and the lack of data-protection safeguards for privately stored agreements. It concludes that Malaysia is legally prepared at a conceptual level but requires targeted reforms to provide procedural clarity, strengthen evidentiary reliability and ensure enforceability across both legal jurisdictions so that digitalisation supports the fairness and protection central to family justice.

Isu dan Cabaran Kepimpinan Pendidikan dalam Mengupayakan Pendidikan Digital di Malaysia: Satu Tinjauan Literatur

Mohammad Azmi bin Muda — 2025-11-30

Seiring dengan evolusi digital yang semakin bergerak pantas, kepimpinan pendidikan perlu bijak dalam memastikan integrasi teknologi yang diterapkan berjaya dimanfaatkan dengan sebaiknya. Kertas konsep ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti isu dan cabaran utama yang dihadapi, mengupas dasar-dasar yang berkaitan, menilai implikasi kepimpinan pendidikan digital, serta mencadangkan strategi yang berkesan untuk mengatasi isu-isu tersebut. Kertas konsep ini menggunakan pendekatan tinjauan literatur untuk mengenal pasti isu-isu utama dan mencadangkan strategi yang berkesan. Antara strategi yang dicadangkan termasuklah meningkatkan latihan digital pemimpin dan guru, memperkukuh infrastruktur sekolah, meningkatkan penglibatan ibu bapa dan komuniti, serta memastikan murid dilengkapi dengan kemahiran dan pengetahuan digital yang mencukupi. Kepimpinan pendidikan perlu mengadaptasi teori kepimpinan transformasional untuk memotivasi dan membimbing guru dalam mengintegrasikan teknologi dalam pengajaran dan pembelajaran. Kesimpulannya, kepimpinan pendidikan yang berkesan adalah penting untuk menangani cabaran pendidikan digital dan memastikan kejayaan pelaksanaan dasar pendidikan digital di Malaysia. Kajian lanjut disarankan untuk menilai keberkesanan program latihan digital, kepuasan murid terhadap pembelajaran digital dan analisis isu serta cabaran pelaksanaan strategi kepimpinan dalam melaksanakan Dasar Pendidikan Digital.