The Straits of Malacca: Regional powers vis-a-vis littoral states in strategic and security issues and interests

This paper presents an overview of the strategic and security issues surrounding the Straits of Malacca. It begins by introducing the strategic nature of the Straits of Malacca and piracy threat in the busy sea lane. Subsequently this paper discusses the issues and interests of the emerging powers in the Straits of Malacca historically. This covers the Asia’s emerging powers such as India, Japan and China. Then, the position of the three littoral states of Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore towards the issue of piracy in the Straits of Malacca is touched upon before analyzing the littoral states’ position on external powers’ involvement in the Straits of Malacca. This is paper also briefly discusses the individual littoral states’ interests in the vital sea lane

Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) students’ perception on national security policy: The case of Internal Security Act (ISA) of Malaysia

This study aims to examine the perception of the Internal Security Act (ISA) of Malaysia, focusing on the perceptions of students of Universiti Utara Malaysia. This study tries to determine the student’s perceptions first on the students’ comprehension of Malaysia’s national security policy in which constituted in the Malaysian Constitution and consequently understand its effect on the student’s reaction or attitude. The study is conducted using a questionnaire survey, consisting of statements in which the students were required to rate their response on a 5-point Likert scale. The questionnaire also consists of four main sections in which the demography of students, the evaluation of students perception on current national security threats in Malaysia, sets of statements in which testing the students’ basic comprehension of the ISA of Malaysia and fi nally their reactions towards the ISA itself. The finding indicates that the students are prone to social issues in which they determine it could be the major threat to Malaysia. Yet, there is no connection between comprehensions of the ISA and the reactions on the enforcement of the policy. Nevertheless, findings reveal their reactions differ between programmes of study and more inclined towards supporting the ISA and they also agree that government should take into consideration critics by the non-governmental organizations as well as societal grievances

Kelainan dasar Qatar punca dimusuhi

Masyarakat antarabangsa amnya dan umat Islam khususnya terkejut dengan tindakan Arab Saudi, Emiriah Arab Bersatu (UAE), Bahrain dan Mesir termasuk Yaman dan Maldives untuk memutuskan hubungan diplomatik dengan Qatar. Malah, mereka juga meminta wakil kedutaan masingmasing pulang dan semua rakyat Qatar di negara mereka juga pulang ke negara asal dalam tempoh dua minggu

Leachate treatment using limestone and subsurface flow constructed wetland

Leachate is a complex and highly polluted wastewater which produced from solid waste in landfill. Leachate has high content of heavy metals, chlorides, organic nitrogen, phosphate, sulphate and high in organic matters and inorganic ion concentrations. Due to the concentration of leachate that highly polluted, the treatment process is very complicated, expensive and generally requires multiple processes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the impact of the combination of limestone and subsurface flow constructed wetland in treating a landfill leachate. Size of limestone that has been used in the limestone filter was 5mm to 12mm while type of plant used in the subsurface flow constructed wetland was common cattail (Typha Latjfolia). Sample of raw leachate was collected from Jerangau-Jabor Landfill, Kuantan. There are several parameters considered in this study which are BOD5 , COD, TSS, ammoniacal nitrogen and heavy metals (Fe, Pb, Cu, Mn, Zn, Cr). In addition, the treatment processes conducted in two modes which are hourly treatment mode and daily treatment mode. Based on the analysis, the combination of limestone and subsurface flow constructed wetland are effective in treating leachate. The percentage removal; BOD 5 56.40/0, COD 97.7%, TSS 99.00/0, ammoniacal nitrogen 99.2% while for Fe, Pb, Cu, Mn, Zn and Cr is 100%. Thus, these show that the treatment system is very efficient in removing contaminants in the landfill leachate

Comparison of Cooling Cost Effectiveness Between Unitary and Central Cooling System

Air conditioning is a basic need in building spaces to provide indoor comfort. This research describes the evaluation of cooling cost effectiveness between unitary and central chiller cooling system. Operational cost involving initial, energy and maintenance for both systems was analysed throughout the life span period. A case study was carried out where cooling load requirement of all conditioned spaces was determined using cooling load temperature difference 1 cooling load factor method. Currently in-use unitary system data was gathered and an all-water type central cooling system was proposed as an alternative. Main equipment capacity of the central system was designed based on cooling load and appropriate heat equation. The study shows that the central system is the better option for high air conditioning application of more than 60 kW heat gain. Although central system first cost is almost double than that of unitary system, it has the advantage of much higher life span. Cumulative cost analysis for the case study indicates that the investment of central system provides a payback period of eight years. In addition, the central system also contributes towards energy conservation by offering lower total power input of its equipment

Malaysia in transition: A comparative analysis of Asian values, Islam Hadhari and 1Malaysia

This paper discusses on the principles of Asian values, propagated by Malaysia fourth prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, Islam Hadhari by the fifth prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and 1Malaysia by the current prime minister Najib Razak. This paper gives a special attention to Abdullah and Islam Hadhari because it links the Mahathir’s period to current Najib’s leadership. The intension of this paper is to prove that actually these concepts are similar in theory and practice in stressing more on Islam and neo-feudalistic Malay agenda. In fact, Islam Hadhari is ironically a concept created by Mahathir himself to counter the idea of Islamic State from the Islamic party, PAS. Therefore, even after resigning from government, Mahathir’s agenda of Asian values is still being practiced.Najib Razak, current Prime Minister, on the other hand intended to promote quality leadership performance for the public and unity among the multiracial Malaysia.Although there are differences in term of the arguments for each of the idea, it is clear that these ideas or philosophies attempt to protect the real agenda of those three leaders which were to protect the political culture of neo-feudalism and ensure the ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO) and Barisan Nasional (BN) will stay in power.This paper shows the debates between scholars in explaining the ideas and philosophies behind those three concepts in Malaysia’s realpolitik

Media freedom and legislation in Malaysia

This paper is about Malaysian regulation with regard to the issue of media freedom.Malaysia has many laws that restrict the function of the media, either printing media, broadcasting media or the Internet.The sources of the restriction can be found in Federal Constitution and many laws such as the Internal Security Act, Sedition Act, Printing Presses and Publications Act, and others.This restriction is actually limiting the degree of democracy practised in this country. With the cases listed, this paper is in the intention to expose the limitation of media freedom in Malaysia

ASEAN-Indonesia counterterrorism cooperation to fight terrorism in Indonesia since October 2002-2009

Terrorism and counterterrorism have become high priorities in Indonesia. Several bomb explosions since the fall of New Order government in 1998 until the J.W. Marriott and Ritz - Carlton hotels on July 17, 2009 such as Christmas Eve bombing, Bali bombing, Australian Embassy and J.W.Marriot bombing demonstrates that terrorism is a continuous threat. This paper discusses the counterterrorism measures taking by the Indonesian government to deal the problem. The aim of this study is: to verify support given by ASEAN Countries to fight terrorism in Indonesia. To get the specific information and data, the writer uses two kinds of research methods which are field research (observation, data collection, data analysis) and library Research. The writer used this method by reading and taking sources from books found in the library and looking for the other material that have relationship with this observation. The result of study describes counterterrorism cooperation between ASEAN and Indonesia, such as intelligence sharing, joint training of law enforcement, and efforts to standardize legal definitions of terrorism. ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and its member countries have been addressing the issue of terrorism at the national, bilateral and multilateral basis over the years. The ASEAN Leaders viewed terrorism as a profound threat to international peace and security and "a direct challenge to the attainment of peace, progress and prosperity of ASEAN and the realization of ASEAN Vision 2020". Furthermore, this paper seeks to plot the trajectory of ASEAN-Indonesia counterterrorism cooperation from the Bali bombing of October 2002 through the J.W.Marriott and Ritz Carlton Hotels of July 2009

The emergence of new politics in Malaysia from consociational to deliberative democracy

Since independence in 1957, Malaysia has practiced consociational democracy that permits elite deliberation only. However, in the 2008 general election, Malaysian voters almost caused the Barisan Nasional government to be toppled by the opposition.They demanded more participation in policy making, as consociationalism has led to many malpractices in the government such as corruption and cronyism. The demands rose by the opposition, civil society, and new media have forced the government to implement an element of deliberative democracy. Although such deliberative democracy is probably a mask for the real agenda of continued authoritarian deliberation, strong pressures from the people are apt to ensure that deliberative democracy will be effectively practiced in the future