Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (MJSSH)

Examining the Work Engagement Among Academics at Private Higher Educational Institutions (PHEIs) in Sabah, Malaysia: A Quantitative Study

Fung Lan Yong — 2026-07-28

Work engagement at Malaysian higher educational institutions is a dynamic balance between institutional pressures and intrinsic motivation. Academics often face strenuous job demands, including extensive administrative tasks and research targets; nevertheless, their work engagement often improves with robust social support, an empowering organizational culture, and appropriate rewards and recognition. The purpose of this study was to examine the work engagement among academics at private higher educational institutions (PHEIs) in Sabah, Malaysia. The sample comprised 61 academics from four PHEIs in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, who completed the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale on Google Forms. Data were subsequently transferred onto a spreadsheet and analyzed using SPSS 29.0. First, findings indicated that only very low to low-average proportions of PHEI academics tend to very often/always display high work engagement. Mann-Whitney U test revealed nonsignificant gender differences in perceived work engagement among academics at PHEIs in Sabah. Kruskal-Wallis H test indicated nonsignificant differences in perceived work engagement by way of age and job experience. Wilcoxon signed rank test indicated that 14 of the work engagement items were significantly different from the hypothesized median value of 3.5 at p < .001, while three of the items were significantly different from the hypothesized median value of 3.5 at p < .05. Findings imply that many PHEI academics tend to be disengaged, under-engaged, or unenthused concerning their work or institution. In light of the findings, some recommendations were made on ways to improve the work engagement among PHEI academics in Sabah.

Well-Being or Skills? Subjective Well-Being Vs. Perceived Competence in Shaping Entrepreneurial Intention Through Entrepreneurship Education

Ying Song — 2026-07-17

This study investigates whether psychological factors (represented by subjective well-being) or skill-based factors (represented by perceived competence) are more influential in determining entrepreneurial intention following entrepreneurship education. Using a cross-sectional quantitative approach, with validated measurement scales and 600 respondents from Sichuan, the research examined the relative contributions of these constructs among students participating in entrepreneurship education programs. The results show that entrepreneurial intention is significantly predicted by both subjective well-being and perceived competence, as indicated by regression analysis. However, the effect of subjective well-being is more pronounced, suggesting that psychological readiness in entrepreneurial intention is important. Furthermore, entrepreneurial education proved to be a key enabler that simultaneously increased well-being and competence, strengthening the role of entrepreneurial intention. These findings are consistent with the Social Cognitive Theory and the Theory of Planned Behavior, which emphasize the interaction of cognitive, attitudinal, and contextual factors in the formation of intentions.

Global Community-Based Rehabilitation Practices for Persons with Disabilities: A Systematic Review

Farhana Yaakub — 2026-07-22

Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) serves as a significant effort of global disability-inclusive development and access to rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities (PWDs). Despite this programme being recognised as effective and emphasising a community-driven model, CBR implementation and practices vary across regions due to contextual, structural, and policy-related disparities. This systematic review rigorously assesses global evidence on CBR implementation practices. A comprehensive search was conducted across major scientific databases in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. 29 eligible studies between 2022 and 2025, and indexed up to 21 April 2026. The studies were appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) for checklist-based quality criteria. Data were synthesised thematically. Collectively, the six main implementation practices underscore the complexity of translating the CBR principles into effective practice: (1) Community Participation and Empowerment; (2) Standardisation vs Flexibility; (3) Capacity Building; (4) Multidisciplinary Approaches and Intersectoral Coordination; (5) Sustainability and System Capacity; and (6) Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning. Integrated policy frameworks, consistent resource mobilisation, workforce development, and stronger community partnerships are required to strengthen the CBR implementation. The review provides valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers seeking to enhance CBR effectiveness and to uplift disability inclusion globally.

Embracing The Lessons Learned From COVID-19: Predicting Factors of Effective Online Remote Learning

Azila Akmar Romzi — 2026-07-23

The unprecedented event of COVID-19 pandemic altered the traditional face-to-face learning to online remote learning (ORL). The abrupt transition raised concerns about the effectiveness, particularly in relation to students’ motivation, knowledge, and skills. This research examines the predictive factors that contribute to effective ORL during COVID-19 by adopting the individual factors of Computer-Mediated Communication Competence (CMC) Model. A quantitative research design was employed, a set of structured questionnaires distributed to undergraduate students from public and private universities in Malaysia. A total of 384 valid responses were collected and statistically analysed using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analyses. The findings revealed significant and strong correlations between motivation and ORL effectiveness (r = .877), knowledge and ORL effectiveness (r = .884), and skills and ORL effectiveness (r = .881). Multiple regression analysis results further demonstrated that individual factors of students’ motivation, knowledge and skills collectively exhibited strong predictive power explained 85% of the variance in ORL effectiveness (R² = .850). The empirical findings suggest that students who are motivated, possess adequate knowledge, and are equipped with relevant skills are more likely to experience effective ORL. Although the pandemic has subsided and academic delivery has resumed to conventional face-to-face learning, the lessons learned from the implementation of ORL remain relevant for future educational practice. The findings contribute to better understanding of the determinants of effective online learning that may assist educational stakeholders in enhancing the quality of learning to support inclusive, equitable and sustainable education beyond times of crisis, particularly in an increasingly digital-driven world.

Investigating the Impact of Tax Awareness on Tax Compliance and Non-economic Determinants

Jie Mei — 2026-07-29

This study examines the mediating effect of awareness of tax between four non-economic determinants, Tax Morale (TM), National Pride (NP), Tax Compliance (TS), Quality of Tax Service (QTS), and Tax Knowledge (TK), among the population (n=1080) of individual taxpayers in Shenzhen, China. Partial Least Squares - Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) software (version 4) from SmartPLS was used to analyse the proposed relationships. The model obtained had high reliability and good convergent validity, and the overall model had a satisfactory fit. The results show that all four antecedents were significant and explained about 29% of the variance in the dependent variable, Tax Awareness. National pride has the lowest impact, followed by quality of tax service and tax knowledge, while tax morale has the highest impact. Among the factors affecting Tax Compliance, only Quality of Tax Service and Tax Morale had significant influence, while the influence of Tax Knowledge, National Pride, and Tax Awareness was not statistically significant. The direct effect of Tax Awareness on Tax Compliance was very little, and the indirect effect was not found. The results indicate that quality of service and taxpayers' internal moral commitment account for significant direct factors affecting voluntary tax compliance, while Tax Awareness seems to be more of a result of knowledge, institutional experience and civic values than a factor connecting these values with the tax compliance behaviour.

Developing Site Suitability Criteria for An Integrated Support Centre for Homeless Support in Kuala Lumpur

Nurina Ghizan — 2026-07-29

The issue of homelessness is still evident in many parts of Kuala Lumpur, particularly in the centre city area where a large number of individuals who rely on public transportation to get around, have limited formal employment options, receive informal forms of assistance with food and other living expenses, and rely heavily on established support systems. The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate at the level of macro-sites a set of criteria for locating an Integrated Support Centre (ISC) for homeless support in Kuala Lumpur. For purposes of this study, an ISC is defined as a walk-in, low barrier, non-medical support centre that acts as a "front door" to provide support and linkages to additional resources such as basic support, referrals and more comprehensive service coordination. The initial criteria were based upon a literature review including relevant case examples and exploratory Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping. Two GIS maps were produced: a Hot Spot Density Map and a Hot Spot-Service Support Network Map. The proposed criteria were then validated using a survey of experts in the field from government, local authorities, NGOs, academics representing 10 different respondent organizations. Of these criteria, proximity to hotspots, access to public transit, safety and walk-in access were ranked highest. Therefore, this study provides evidence supporting the development of a locally relevant and validated framework for identifying potential sites for the placement of ISCs in order to facilitate increased transparency and relevance when selecting sites in Kuala Lumpur.

Examining the Effect of Social Media Communication on Donation Intention via Perceived Moral Obligation

Sana Mehmood — 2026-07-29

Social media plays an important role in influencing charity-giving responses. Building on Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model, this study examined the influence of social media communication i.e., firm-created content (FCC) and user-generated content (UGC) on behavioral response of donation intention through perceived moral obligation (PMO) as a mediator. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with the followers of selected NPOs’ social media pages. Data were collected from 307 respondents. Authors employed structural equation modelling technique (SEM) for hypotheses testing. Results indicated that stimuli of FCC and UGC positively influenced PMO, which in turn, generated behavioral response of donation intention. The study was novel in the sense that it attempted to fill the research gap of empirically examining the underlying psychological mechanism through which social media communication influences behavioral outcomes particularly in the charitable NPO context. The study has theoretical implications and practical contributions from multidisciplinary perspectives such as consumer behavior, social media communication, and NPOs.

Malay as a Mediational Resource in English-Mediated Peer Interaction Among Low-Proficiency Malaysian Undergraduates

Kanchana Devi Sibeperegasam — 2026-07-29

The role of learners’ first language (L1) in second-language (L2) learning remains contested, particularly where English-only pedagogies dominate classroom practice. This study aimed to examine how Malay functions as a mediational resource during English-mediated, task-based peer discussions among undergraduates with low English proficiency. Guided by Sociocultural Theory and translanguaging perspectives, the qualitative case study involved six Malay-speaking female undergraduates enrolled in a Malaysian university English course. Data comprised video-recorded peer discussions and stimulated-recall interviews. Naturally occurring discourse was examined through interactional analysis, while participants’ reflections were analysed thematically. Malay served interrelated cognitive, social, and affective functions. Participants used it strategically for vocabulary retrieval, conceptual clarification, idea generation, negotiation of meaning, task management, and collaborative problem-solving. It also reduced anxiety, protected face, strengthened group cohesion, and encouraged participation. Rather than replacing English, Malay helped participants sustain engagement and move towards English production. The findings challenge deficit-oriented interpretations of L1 use and demonstrate that Malay can provide purposeful sociocultural scaffolding during peer interaction. The study supports context-sensitive multilingual pedagogy that recognises learners’ full linguistic repertoires while maintaining English as the principal learning target.

Online Collaborative Learning Behaviours in Facebook Group Discussions: A Content Analysis of Undergraduate Students

Muhammad Hamirul Hamizan Roslan — 2026-07-29

Online collaborative learning (OCL) enables students to construct knowledge through sustained interaction in digital environments, yet evidence of how such collaboration is manifested in observable discussion behaviours remains limited. This study investigated undergraduate students’ online collaborative learning behaviours in Facebook group discussions. A single-case study design with quantitative content analysis was employed involving 42 undergraduate students who participated in five structured collaborative learning activities over 14 weeks. A total of 2,455 discussion comments were coded using an adapted online collaborative learning behaviours coding scheme. The findings showed that social behaviours were the most prevalent, accounting for 50.1% of all coded comments, followed by integrated behaviours (36.3%) and cognitive behaviours (13.6%). Group dynamics was the dominant social behaviour, while elaboration consistently emerged as the most frequent integrated behaviour across the five activities. These patterns indicate that Facebook group discussions primarily supported sustained peer interaction, group coordination, and the clarification and expansion of ideas. The study contributes empirical evidence based on authentic online interaction data and demonstrates the value of quantitative content analysis for examining collaborative learning processes. The findings offer practical guidance for designing structured online activities that foster meaningful discussion, knowledge co-construction, and active participation in higher education.

Engineered Consent in Malaysian E-Commerce: Consumer Protection Against AI-Driven Dark Patterns

Wan Farahiyah Izni W Abd Rahman — 2026-07-29

Digital platforms increasingly obtain consumer agreement through interfaces that do more than communicate information: they organise attention, privilege particular options, and create friction around refusal or withdrawal. This article examines whether Malaysian consumer law adequately protects substantive consent when artificial intelligence amplifies dark patterns in e-commerce. Using doctrinal legal research, it analyses the Consumer Protection Act 1999, the Consumer Protection (Electronic Trade Transaction) Regulations 2024, the Electronic Commerce Act 2006, and relevant Malaysian judicial approaches to misrepresentation, consent, inequality of bargaining power, and unconscionability. The analysis is contextualised through interdisciplinary scholarship on digital market manipulation and selected European and ASEAN developments. The findings show that Malaysian law can address dark patterns involving false statements or clear non-disclosure, but is less capable of responding when factually accurate interfaces steer consumers through defaults, visual hierarchy, repeated prompts, obstructive cancellation, or personalised persuasion. Formal electronic assent is therefore capable of masking autonomy impairment, while complaint-based enforcement and economically framed remedies leave cumulative design-based harm insufficiently recognised. The article argues for a design-sensitive interpretation of unfairness and consent that assesses choice symmetry, material prominence, ease of refusal and withdrawal, and the foreseeable effect of personalised interface architecture. This recalibration would strengthen consumer autonomy without treating all persuasive design as unlawful or requiring wholesale legislative replacement.

Intercultural Communication Competence and Its Importance in the Teaching and Learning of Arabic for Specific Purposes

Fariz Azzuan bin Amat Suparia — 2026-07-29

The focus of teaching and mastering Arabic language has shifted to particular objectives in preparing students for the work market. Even though it has received a lot of attention and interest in higher education, there is one important issue that needs to be addressed: intercultural communicative competence (ICC) among students of Arabic as a foreign language to ensure their ability to communicate professionally with diverse people from different cultures. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the level of ICC among Arabic language students as well as to explore their perceptions towards the importance of ICC in Arabic for specific purposes. The study is quantitative research that involved 41 students from UiTM Shah Alam's Bachelor of Arabic for Professional Communication program. The results were obtained utilizing a questionnaire. The data were examined with SPSS software. The findings revealed that students have a high level of intercultural communication competency, with nearly all of them emphasizing the importance of ICC in Arabic teaching and learning for specific purposes. The report also provided suggestions and recommendations for in the context of Arabic specific purposes.

Enhancing Digital Folklore Storytelling Book Through Design Elements from 2010-2020

Danial Harith — 2026-07-29

This study explores the role of visual design elements in enhancing digital folklore storytelling books in Malaysia between 2010 and 2020. Digital publishing keeps growing among young readers, and illustrations carry much of the weight in telling cultural stories and holding attention. Using Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotic theory, the research examines how line, shape, color, texture, space, value, and form create meaning and shape the reading experience. The study combines visual content analysis of digital book covers with semi-structured interviews with illustrators. Color, shape, and line turned out to be the elements illustrators reached for most, using them to build emotion, symbolism, and cultural relevance. Texture and space added depth and authenticity to the storytelling. Illustrators also talked about the tension between honoring tradition and meeting modern visual expectations. The findings offer illustrators, educators, and publishers a way to think about combining semiotic and design principles in folklore-based digital media, and add to the conversation around visual communication and children's literature. Future research could track how these design elements affect reader engagement and cultural retention across age groups, test how augmented reality and other interactive tools might deepen immersion and learning, and compare design choices across cultures to separate universal strategies from culture-specific ones.

Artistic Localisation of Islamic Art Motifs on Batu Nisan Aceh

Norziyanti Mohammed Ghani — 2026-07-29

This study examines visual culture of early Islamic funerary art in Penang by integrating art historical analysis with a visual semiotic framework. Analysing selected Batu Nisan Aceh specimens from the Masjid Melayu Lebuh Aceh site, the research deconstructs three core motifs: the Blooming Flower or Bud motif, the Four-Petaled Flower, and the Hexagonal Frame. Denotatively, these elements appear as stylised botanical shapes and geometric borders guided by strict symmetry. Connotatively, they operate as an interconnected sign system articulating Islamic theology: the blooming bud evokes mosque lamps (qanādil) to chart the soul’s ascent, the four-petaled rosette expresses cosmic harmony, and the hexagonal frame imposes structural containment. Rather than a passive replication of transregional templates, findings demonstrate a sophisticated process of localisation. By filtering external Khatā’ī and Kitʿa traditions directly into indigenous artistic grammar such as pola pemidang layout, regional artisans achieved a complete structural integration, forging a unified, distinctly regional Malay-Islamic visual language on stone.

Moral Rights and Generative AI Training under the Pakistani Copyright Ordinance 1962: A Comparative Analysis

Muzamil Ahmed — 2026-07-30

The normative foundations of copyright regard moral rights as an extension of the author's personality rather than a tradable commodity. This envisages conferring upon authors a range of rights that continue to apply even after their economic rights are transferred or exhausted. The training of generative AI on extensive datasets of copyrighted works has attracted significant scholarly interest regarding potential violations of economic rights. However, less attention has been devoted to assessing how moral rights are implicated by large-scale data acquisition and machine learning processes used in generative AI training under the laws of developing states such as Pakistan. This research aims to fill this gap by employing a qualitative doctrinal methodology to analyse moral rights-related concerns arising from AI training under Pakistan's Copyright Ordinance 1962. It seeks to identify unresolved concerns regarding moral rights during data collection, preprocessing, and fine-tuning stages of the training process. The study conducts a comparative analysis of the Copyright Ordinance with moral rights frameworks of the United Kingdom and the United States. Finally, the normative position of moral rights issues within the laws of these jurisdictions is assessed using the personality theory as a normative framework. The study finds that attribution-based claims provide a stronger legal basis for challenging AI training activities than integrity-based claims due to the substantial evidentiary burden in proving prejudice to honour or reputation. The study further demonstrates that Pakistan’s moral rights framework offers broader protection than the United States but lacks specific guidance regarding its application to AI training.

The Stories of These Abilities: Cases of Community-based Organizing of Persons with Disabilities in the Province of Albay

Annelyn Ventura V. Mendoza — 2026-07-28

The study documented the experiences of persons with disabilities in organizing Disabled Persons' Organization (DPO's) in Albay, Philippines and proposed a social development framework for their empowerment. The researcher anchored the study on Social Development Theory, Conflict Theory, and Motivation Theory to analyze DPO stories, challenges, strategies and insights. Using a qualitative case study design, the team gathered data from 10 selected DPOs through focus group discussions and interviews.

Findings revealed that DPOs overcame significant challenges, including discrimination, limited resources, and bureacratic hurdles, despite starting small and without government support. Each organization developed unique strategies to navigate frustrations, promote equality, and advocate for empathetic PDAO (Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office) leadership by a person with disability. The study highlighted the importance of collective actions, skill-building, and community involvement. Ultimately, the research identified key components- from fostering healthy beliefs and developing individual potential to enhancing skills and recognizing achievements- that provide a roadmapfor sustaining inclusive and resilient DPOs and advance the persons with disabilities individual and collective well-being in Albay.

Kepimpinan Sebagai Pemacu Kompetensi Keusahawanan Dalam Kalangan Mahasiswa: Satu Analisis Konseptual

Fauziah Ibrahim — 2026-07-29

Walaupun pendidikan keusahawanan semakin diperkukuh di institusi pengajian tinggi, pembangunan kompetensi keusahawanan dalam kalangan mahasiswa masih menunjukkan tahap yang kurang konsisten. Kajian terdahulu banyak menumpukan kepada niat keusahawanan, manakala peranan kepimpinan dalam membentuk kompetensi keusahawanan sebenar secara konseptual masih kurang diberi perhatian. Oleh itu, artikel ini disediakan bertujuan untuk membangunkan satu kerangka konseptual yang menjelaskan bagaimana kepimpinan berfungsi sebagai pemacu utama kepada pembangunan kompetensi keusahawanan mahasiswa. Berdasarkan Teori Kepimpinan Transformasional, Teori Kepimpinan Keusahawanan, Teori Kognitif Sosial dan Teori Tingkah Laku Terancang, kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan analisis konseptual berasaskan sintesis teori dan sorotan kritikal terhadap artikel berwasit yang diperoleh daripada pangkalan data Scopus, Web of Science (WoS) dan MyCite. Literatur terkini disepadukan dengan teori-teori asas yang relevan bagi membangunkan model konseptual yang menjelaskan hubungan antara kepimpinan dan kompetensi keusahawanan mahasiswa. Hasil sintesis menunjukkan bahawa kepimpinan mempengaruhi pembangunan kompetensi keusahawanan melalui mekanisme psikologi seperti motivasi, efikasi kendiri keusahawanan, penglibatan pembelajaran dan ketahanan diri. Artikel ini menyumbang kepada literatur dengan memperkenalkan model integratif yang menghubungkan kepimpinan, mekanisme psikologi dan kompetensi keusahawanan mahasiswa, sekali gus mengalihkan fokus daripada model berasaskan niat kepada pembentukan keupayaan sebenar. Implikasi teori, praktikal serta agenda penyelidikan masa hadapan turut dibincangkan.

Pengaruh Tingkah Laku Mikroagresi terhadap Pembangunan Identiti Nasional: Peranan Mediasi Wacana 3R dalam kalangan Belia Malaysia

Zaliha Idris — 2026-07-29

Peningkatan komunikasi berasaskan identiti dalam media sosial telah menimbulkan kebimbangan terhadap pengaruhnya terhadap kohesi sosial dan pembangunan identiti nasional. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji pengaruh tingkah laku mikroagresi terhadap pembangunan identiti nasional dalam kalangan belia Malaysia serta meneliti peranan mediasi wacana perkauman, wacana agama dan wacana institusi diraja dalam media sosial. Berpandukan Teori Mikroagresi dan Teori Identiti Sosial, kajian ini menggunakan reka bentuk kuantitatif keratan rentas yang melibatkan 369 orang belia Malaysia berumur antara 18 hingga 30 tahun. Data dikumpulkan melalui soal selidik berstruktur dan dianalisis menggunakan Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) menerusi perisian SmartPLS 4. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa tingkah laku mikroagresi mempengaruhi pembangunan identiti nasional secara langsung dan tidak langsung melalui dimensi tertentu wacana 3R. Wacana perkauman dan wacana agama didapati memediasi secara signifikan hubungan antara tingkah laku mikroagresi dan pembangunan identiti nasional. Sebaliknya, wacana institusi diraja tidak menunjukkan kesan mediasi yang signifikan walaupun merekodkan hubungan paling kuat dengan tingkah laku mikroagresi. Dapatan ini memperkenalkan konsep Paradoks RoRISME yang menunjukkan bahawa tidak semua dimensi wacana 3R menyumbang secara sama rata kepada pembentukan identiti nasional. Kajian ini memperluaskan aplikasi Teori Mikroagresi dan Teori Identiti Sosial dalam konteks komunikasi digital serta menyediakan implikasi praktikal kepada pembuat dasar, institusi pendidikan dan pengamal komunikasi dalam usaha memperkukuh kohesi sosial dan perpaduan nasional dalam kalangan belia.

Peranan Ganjaran sebagai Mediator Kualiti dan Produktiviti Penjawat Awam

Willey Lampaki — 2026-07-29

Kajian ini bertujuan menilai peranan ganjaran sebagai pemboleh ubah mediator dalam hubungan antara kualiti pekerja dan produktiviti dalam sektor perkhidmatan awam di Sabah. Pendekatan kuantitatif digunakan melalui reka bentuk tinjauan soal selidik yang melibatkan 150 penjawat awam, dengan 101 respons lengkap dianalisis (kadar respons 67.3%). Data dianalisis menggunakan SPSS versi 27 melalui analisis deskriptif, korelasi Pearson dan regresi linear berganda. Dapatan menunjukkan bahawa dimensi kualiti pekerja iaitu kompetensi, sokongan persekitaran kerja dan kesejahteraan emosi mempunyai hubungan positif signifikan dengan produktiviti. Ganjaran pula didapati berperanan sebagai mediator separa dalam hubungan tersebut. Walau bagaimanapun, bagi dimensi kesihatan fizikal, hubungan yang diperoleh adalah negatif dan signifikan selepas dimediasi oleh ganjaran. Secara keseluruhan, hasil kajian menyokong Teori Pertukaran Sosial yang menekankan prinsip timbal balik antara usaha dan ganjaran dalam meningkatkan prestasi kerja. Kajian ini mencadangkan agar organisasi sektor awam merangka strategi ganjaran yang lebih komprehensif dan berasaskan kesejahteraan pekerja secara holistik bagi meningkatkan produktiviti organisasi secara mampan.

Theoretical Foundations and System Architecture of the MSNR Teaching Model for Modern Chinese Reading in Senior High Schools

Hong Hui — 2026-07-29

In this conceptual study, the MSNR teaching model is proposed and expounded on as a comprehensive and systematic framework for reading teaching in contemporary senior high school education in China. Based on four classical learning theories of constructivism, social interdependence theory, humanistic learning theory, and reflective practice theory, the MSNR model incorporates modular design of teaching content, social negotiation, meaning construction through collaboration, and reflective evaluation into an effective instruction framework. With a description of the hierarchical structure, components, connections and mechanisms of the four-dimensional system/content architecture, subject architecture, interactive architecture and evaluative architecture of the MSNR model, this article demonstrates its superiority from a perspective of theoretical foundation, structural clarity, and recursive optimization, beyond the fragmented, teacher-centered and test-based features of the current Chinese classroom reading teaching practices. The study makes a contribution to the international discipline-specific reading research in that it illustrates how generic cooperative-learning theories can be adapted to contemporary Chinese literature, exposition and practical texts.

Inclusive Education under Resource Constraints: Bricolage as Practice by Multiple Actors in Chinese Public Schools

Sha Li — 2026-07-29

While challenges related to resource constraints in inclusive education are widely acknowledged, some schools have still achieved positive outcomes despite limited resources. This study investigated how multiple actors in Chinese public schools engage in bricolage practices to implement inclusive education under resource constraints. Employing a qualitative research approach, the study conducted interviews with two principals, two administrators, and three frontline teachers from two public middle schools and two public elementary schools. The findings revealed that principals, administrators, and teachers, operating within resource constraints, have developed position-specific bricolage practices that contribute to effective inclusive education delivery.

Meditation as Artistic Expression in Chin Wan Kee Contemporary Sculpture

Kendy Anak Mitot — 2026-07-29

Meditation has long served as a source of artistic inspiration, enabling artists to express spiritual, philosophical, and contemplative ideas through visual forms. This study examines the articulation of meditation in selected sculptures by the Malaysian contemporary sculptor Chin Wan Kee. It explores the expression of meditation through the formalistic elements of sculpture and interprets the intrinsic meanings of the artworks from the artist's perspective using native exegesis. A qualitative research approach was employed, guided by Edmund Burke Feldman's model of art criticism, encompassing the stages of description, analysis, interpretation, and judgment. Data were collected through the visual analysis of four selected sculptures and an in-depth interview with the artist. The findings reveal that meditation is expressed through the integration of formalistic elements, including movement, balance, texture, and spatial relationships, while symbolic forms communicate themes of self-awareness, spiritual transcendence, and the interconnectedness of the physical and metaphysical. The study further demonstrates that Chin Wan Kee's lived experiences and contemplative practice significantly shape the intrinsic meanings embedded within his sculptures. By integrating formal analysis with native exegesis, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of meditation as both a creative process and a mode of artistic expression in contemporary Malaysian sculpture.

Martabat Bahasa Kebangsaan di Mahkamah Tinggi: Antara Hasrat Perlembagaan dan Realiti Praktikal

Nur Farahiyah Mohd Nasir — 2026-07-29

Bahasa Melayu sebagai bahasa kebangsaan di Malaysia bukan sahaja mempunyai kedudukan yang kukuh dari sudut perlembagaan, malah melambangkan identiti negara dan asas pembinaan institusi awam yang lebih dekat dengan rakyat. Artikel ini meneliti penggunaan Bahasa Melayu di peringkat Mahkamah Tinggi, khususnya dalam prosiding jenayah, dengan memberikan tumpuan kepada jurang antara hasrat perlembagaan dengan realiti amalan kehakiman semasa. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif berasaskan fenomenologi melalui temu bual mendalam dengan tiga orang Hakim Mahkamah Tinggi dari Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam, dan Seremban. Dapatan temu bual disokong oleh analisis doktrinal terhadap statut, kes-kes terpilih, dan bahan sekunder yang berkaitan. Kajian ini mendapati bahawa Bahasa Melayu diiktiraf sebagai penting bagi menjamin kefahaman pihak-pihak, memperkukuh akses kepada keadilan, dan menzahirkan kewibawaan institusi kehakiman dalam acuan tempatan. Namun begitu, penggunaannya secara lebih meluas di Mahkamah Tinggi masih dibatasi oleh beberapa faktor, termasuk dominasi berterusan autoriti undang-undang berbahasa Inggeris, kekurangan istilah teknikal perundangan Melayu yang mantap, tekanan pengurusan kes, serta tahap keyakinan bahasa yang tidak sekata dalam kalangan pengamal undang-undang. Kajian ini juga menunjukkan bahawa Bahasa Melayu mempunyai keupayaan untuk menjadi bahasa penghakiman yang bukan sahaja tepat dan jelas, tetapi juga bernuansa, berwibawa, dan dekat dengan masyarakat. Oleh itu, pemerkasaan Bahasa Melayu dalam sistem kehakiman perlu dilihat sebagai sebahagian daripada agenda reformasi institusi yang lebih luas, bukan semata-mata isu linguistik. Artikel ini mencadangkan pemantapan latihan penulisan penghakiman, pembangunan glosari perundangan mengikut bidang, penstrukturan semula pendidikan undang-undang, dan pengukuhan dasar bahasa dalam amalan mahkamah.

Does Corporate Governance Constrain Earnings Management? Perceptual Evidence from Accounting Practitioners in China

Xiao Meng — 2026-07-30

Earnings management remains a stubborn feature of China's capital markets, and the governance mechanisms imported to restrain it have long been suspected of carrying Western form without Western function. Most evidence comes from archival studies that infer manipulation from reported numbers, leaving unexamined the view of the practitioners who watch both the manipulation and the governance response from inside. This study surveyed 272 accounting, finance and auditing professionals familiar with the financial reporting practices of Chinese listed companies, all holding professional qualifications, using twenty Likert items covering four governance areas and three forms of earnings management. Responses were analyzed descriptively through frequency distributions, means, standard deviations and a ranking of items by agreement balance. Item means cluster near the scale midpoint, but the distributions reveal a profession divided rather than indifferent, with roughly a third of respondents on each side of most propositions. The strongest agreement concerns the harm of concentrated ownership and the willingness of independent directors to voice disagreement, while the effectiveness of director monitoring and of large audit firms was net rejected. Practitioners credit independent directors with a voice but not with consequences, and they endorse diagnoses of governance weakness far more readily than claims that any mechanism works. No form of earnings management was perceived as clearly prevalent. That qualified insiders cannot agree on how common these practices are is itself a warning to outside users of Chinese financial statements.

Contested Narratives: Audience Perception, Media Credibility, and Propaganda in the Israel on Palestine Conflict

Nurfarah Diyana Shaidi — 2026-07-30

This study investigates the role of propaganda in shaping news reporting on the Israel–Palestine conflict, with a particular focus on its influence on audience values and perceptions of media credibility. In the contemporary media environment, news is frequently framed through selective narratives, agenda-setting, and ideological positioning, which may affect how audiences interpret conflict-related information and determine the trustworthiness of media sources. Adopting a quantitative research design, the study employs a structured survey distributed among young adult media users in Malaysia. The instrument measures key variables including exposure to conflict-related news, perceived presence of propagandistic elements, audience value alignment, and levels of trust in different media platforms. Statistical analyses, including correlation and regression, are conducted to examine the relationships between propaganda exposure and perceived credibility, as well as the extent to which audience values mediate this relationship. The findings indicate that higher exposure to polarised and emotionally framed news content is significantly associated with lower perceived media credibility, particularly among respondents with strong pre-existing value orientations. Additionally, audience values are found to play a mediating role, shaping how individuals interpret and evaluate conflicting narratives. The study also reveals that reliance on social media as a primary news source correlates with increased susceptibility to propagandistic framing. This research contributes to the field of media warfare and perception management by providing empirical evidence on how propaganda influences audience trust and interpretation in conflict reporting. The findings offer practical implications for developing effective communication strategies.

Users’ Mobility Well Being in The Context of Public Transportation Services

Rima Abdul Rahman — 2026-07-31

Mobility well-being is increasingly recognised as an important element in evaluating urban public transportation systems, particularly in ensuring equitable, safe and liveable access to social and economic opportunities. In the context of Kota Kinabalu City, issues related to the quality of public transportation services continue to affect users’ mobility well-being despite various infrastructure improvements implemented since the city achieved city status. Weaknesses in terms of accessibility, fare, facilities, safety and information technology have reduced users’ dependence on public transportation and encouraged the use of private vehicles. Therefore, this study aims to examine the relationship between users’ needs for public transportation services and mobility well-being, with emphasis on the mobility needs that remain insufficiently addressed by the existing public transportation system. The study adopts a fully quantitative approach. Data were collected through the distribution of questionnaires to public transportation users in Kota Kinabalu City and analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that the dimensions of accessibility, fare and technology have significant relationships with users’ mobility wellbeing. In contrast, the dimensions of facilities and safety were found to have no significant relationship with mobility well-being. These findings indicate that accessibility, fare and technology are important elements that should be prioritised in improving the mobility wellbeing of public transportation users in Kota Kinabalu City. This study contributes to the development of the mobility well-being concept within the context of developing cities by highlighting users’ mobility needs that remain unmet by the existing public transportation system, while also providing practical implications for authorities and transportation planners in strengthening urban mobility well-being.

The Study for Sustainable Management of Recreational Activities at Perhentian Island Marine Park to Achieve Sustainable Development Goal 14

Mohamad Haris Aiman Mohd Shafein — 2026-07-31

Marine tourism in marine parks is attracting global attention, yet unregulated recreational activities threaten the sustainability of these vital ecosystems. This study addresses the management challenges of recreational activities at Perhentian Island Marine Park from the perspective of stakeholders. It examines the impacts of excessive recreational use on marine ecosystems and proposes viable strategies for sustainable management. Adopting a qualitative case study approach, the research gathered data through semi-structured interviews with ten informants. These informants represented diverse stakeholder groups, including local communities, tourism operators, the Department of Fisheries Malaysia, Besut District Council, academics, non-governmental organizations, the Terengganu Tourism Department, and the Terengganu Department of Environment. Informants were selected via purposive sampling based on predetermined criteria until data saturation. Thematic analysis, involving transcription, coding, and the identification of emergent themes, was used to process the data. The findings reveal three primary operational challenges: insufficient enforcement personnel, inadequate fuel supply, and a shortage of buoy lines in snorkelling zones. Excessive recreational activities significantly harm marine ecosystem sustainability, leading to disturbances to marine life, coral reef degradation, and declines in turtle populations and environmental quality. In response, the study proposes three strategic solutions: strengthening surveillance and enforcement mechanisms, implementing carrying capacity-based tourism management, and organizing periodic environmental awareness campaigns. This research contributes to understanding the attainment of SDG 14 through sustainable recreational governance at Perhentian Island Marine Park. It serves as a practical reference for authorities and stakeholders in preserving marine ecosystems for future generations.

The Digital Transformation Journey of Rural Primary Schools in Sabah: Challenges and Best Practices

Amanda Joyce Honorious — 2026-07-31

Digital transformation in education presents significant challenges particularly in rural school settings where limitations in infrastructure and resources may hinder implementation. This qualitative case studies explore the digital transformation journey of three rural primary schools in the Tuaran district Sabah. The study aims to examine the challenges encountered during the adoption of digital practices and to identify best practices that support successful digital transformation in rural schools. Data were collected through semi structured interviews with head teachers and teachers from three participating schools and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed several key challenges including limited digital infrastructure, inadequate technical expertise, resistance to change and difficulties in integrating digital tools into teaching practices and administrative work. Despite these challenges, the study identified several effective practices that facilitated digital transformation including mentoring programs, professional learning communities (PLCs), change management strategies and the gradual implementation of digital platforms to support adaptation among school staff. These practices contributed to improving data management, enhancing teaching and learning processes and greater readiness for digital implementation in schools. The study highlights the importance of context specific leadership, continuous professional development and sustained institutional support in advancing digital transformation in rural schools. The findings provide practical insights for policymakers, educational leaders and practitioners seeking to strengthen digitalization initiatives and promote equitable access to quality digital education in rural contexts.

Analysis of Public Visual Aesthetics Preference Factors for Outdoor Advertising in Nanjing, China

Wu Yue — 2026-07-31

As a famous historical and cultural city, Nanjing has experienced significant growth in recent years. Visual advertising plays a pivotal role in enhancing the city's image and promoting commercial activities. By introducing the current state of visual advertising in Nanjing, we gained insights into its existing advertising management regulations and policies, as well as identified issues related to visual pollution. Through summarizing the characteristics of advertising design, we can discern public preferences and pinpoint the factors influencing their visual aesthetic preferences for advertisements. Representative advertisements are selected through NGT voting, and their advertising design characteristics are summarized through Van Leeuwen's multimodal discourse analysis model. Finally, data is gathered and analyzed through questionnaires to conduct a comprehensive analysis of aesthetic preference factors for five types of advertisements, thereby developing a visual aesthetic preference feature framework. This framework helps cities establish emotional characteristics of visual aesthetics and promote the healthy development of the advertising industry. Advertising designers should also make design plans based on the public's aesthetic preferences factors for advertising, reinforce their sense of social responsibility, and foster a people-oriented design concept that integrates Nanjing's historical and cultural elements. The government should enhance the supervision of advertising content, formulate corresponding standards, guide the industry’s healthy development, and elevate the public's advertising aesthetic level. Only by fostering a favourable cultural environment and mitigating the visual pollution caused by advertising can we preserve the city’s aesthetic appeal and enhance its overall visual image.

Chan (Zen) Aesthetics in Sanyu’s Works: A Case Study of Horse Paintings

Zhang Ran — 2026-07-31

The given article looks at the contribution of Chan (Zen) aesthetic philosophy in the artistic activities of Sanyu (1901-1966) an artist based on the principles of Chinese literary art as well as modern oil painting. Taking his horse paintings as visual case studies, this research discusses how formal decisions such as composition, line, brushwork, and color can express essential concepts related to the concept of Chan thought such as its emphasis on the idea of Simplicity or the idea of the One being many (yijishiduo, 一即是多) and self-effacement (wuwo, non-self, 无我) .In terms of methodology, the research includes both contextual literature review and close formal analysis so as to show how the image of horse operates as a representation, but also as a form of visual reflection and intercultural discussion.The results imply that Sanyu has moderated pictorial style that translates the traditional aesthetic values to an experimental modern language, which forms part of the larger debate of East-West cultural flow in world art history.