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The purpose of this paper is to identify the key aspects of building defects performance cases in relation to the building components focusing on the government-owned buildings and to enhance government’s role to curb the building defects to reoccur.

The qualitative research method approach was adopted with a total of 5,243 specific building defects identified and accumulated from actual building projects and provided feedback on the defects associated with the Government of Malaysia’s owned buildings.

This paper statistically validates that building defects are a staid delinquent matter fronting the construction industry in Malaysia. This matter needs to be tacked by all the parties involved in the industry. This paper proposes a factual statistical statement that is proved to be a practical and suitable measurement in correcting building defects and preventing them from reoccurring.

Future research could focus on developing a defect performance measurement on real projects now focusing on private buildings as well.

The defects performance statistical measurement is anticipated to prove the problematic rate of defects occurrence on government-owned structures, as the key elements on the national defect preventive strategy which have to be taken into account.

The outcome of this paper is significant in its own right and serves as a platform for future research in this area.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the durability and flexibility characteristics of latex modified ferrocement in comparison with conventional ferrocement particularly when exposed to severe environmental conditions.

The research programme encompasses the laboratory investigation on the structural, the deformation behaviour and characteristic of latex modified ferrocement elements cured in air and salt‐water environments. The tests include determination of load and deflection characteristics, moments, crack widths, crack spacing, and the number of cracks when subjected to static flexure.

Test result indicates a significant improvement in reducing and bridging micro cracks, especially in the pre‐peak load region. Fracture toughness and deformability increased significantly. However, the post peak behaviour was quite similar to conventional ferrocement.

The results show that latex modification has improved the mechanical properties of cement mortars, particularly their flexural strength.

Nowadays, strata living represents a modern lifestyle (or luxurious lifestyle for those occupying the high‐end strata unit). The uniqueness of strata living is that it has facilities and common areas, which encompass multi‐purpose hall, playground, lift, corridors, etc. These facilities and common areas are shared between the residents. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the involvement of Commissioner of Building (COB) and the rights of the Joint Management Body (JMB), as well as developers' responsibilities, after the formation of a JMB. In order to do so, this paper looks into the role of the COB, the powers and duties of a JMB and developers' obligations.

This paper looks at how the Building and Common Property (Maintenance and Management) Act 2007 (Act 663) (BCPMMA) helps the JMB and the developer in maintaining and managing a multi storey building.

It is found that maintenance of these facilities and common areas is essential to ensure its optimal performance over its life cycle. This has to be carried out efficiently and professionally by developers. Nevertheless, the authors often came across complaints by unsatisfied residents on the maintenance and management of the buildings and facilities.

Prior to the establishment of this Act, multi storey buildings were governed by the Strata Title Act 1985 (Amended 2007) which stipulates that the Management Corporation can only be formed after a quarter of the aggregate share units has been transferred to the owner.

On the other hand, the developers usually provide a minimum amount of services based on the income from the maintenance collection. Realizing the issues have become crucial, the government, in 2007, introduced the BCPMMA to provide guidelines in order to have proper maintenance and management of buildings and facilities in multi storey buildings.

The purpose of this paper is to study the correlational and effect relationship between Halal standards and the performance of Halal-certified Palestinian Food Companies.

Quantitative method was used, using a questionnaire survey of 40 Halal-certified Palestinian organizations out of a total of 47 certified organizations, the analysis was done using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and the literature review was conducted using a well-known systematic literature review methodology.

Halal implementation and certification had a positive impact on performance (operational, financial and marketing). The depth/intensity of implementation fully mediates operational performance and partially mediates marketing and financial performance.

As the sample size is small, it is recommended to conduct the study using a larger sample size, once the number of Palestinian Halal-certified organizations increases. A longitudinal or panel study is recommended to capture data that are more accurate and avoid objectivity and bias issues using a cross-sectional research design method. Finally, the study recommends to conduct additional research in the field of Halal awareness for customers to gage their intention and welling to buy Halal products within the Middle East region.

The importance of this study exists in the lack of previous Halal-related studies in the Palestinian context and the previously described gap in the literature. Nevertheless, the quality management drivers and impact are limited in the Palestinian context compared with other contexts; the results of the previously published studies revealed mixed results such as the drivers of quality management are based on the type of business. Finally, this research gives small insights and directions toward conducting additional studies concerning customer awareness about Halal products.

The purpose of this study is to synthesise and characterise surface-capped molybdenum sulphide (SCMS) nanoparticles using the solvothermal method and to investigate their tribological behaviour towards friction improver and wear reduction for bio-based lubricant oil additives.

The design of the experiment was to use freshly prepared molybdenum (II) acetate, thioacetamide, fatty acid and hexane as the solvent inside an autoclave vessel which is heated at high temperature and pressure. Various types of fatty acids were used as the capping agent, such as caproic, lauric, stearic and oleic acid. The SCMS nanoparticles formed were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis. These nanoadditives were then blended into pentaerythrityl tetracaprylate/caprate ester at 0.05 Wt.% concentration. The formulated bio-based lubricant oil samples were tested for viscosity, viscosity index (VI) and density based on standard method ASTM D445 and ASTM D2270. A four-ball test was carried out for determination of coefficient of friction and wear scar diameter. The wear scar formed on the surface of the ball bearing was analysed using scanning electron microscopy.

The characterisation results showed that SCMS nanoparticles were successfully formed with amorphous ball-like structure, and the presence of the capping layer surrounding the nanoparticles was confirmed. Then, the formulated bio-based lubricant oil with addition of nanoadditives displays improved tribological properties in term of VI, antifriction and wear reduction.

This research provides a synthesis method of producing SCMS nanoparticles using the organomolybdenum complex as the chemical precursor through the solvothermal reaction approach. Besides that, it also gives an alternative antifriction and antiwear nanoadditive for formulation of the bio-based lubricant oil.

This study was conducted with the main purpose of recording primary data related to environmental factors, which has become the main criteria in the selection of the Sungai Batu Archaeological Complex (SBAC) as the center of the iron smelting industry and trade in ancient Kedah.

To fulfill this purpose, field studies involving drone photogrammetry mapping, augering, core drilling and geophysical mapping methods were carried out.

The results obtained through the application of the method have shown that SBAC has a good environment, which has a wide and deep river flow, the existence of Mount Jerai and the abundance of iron ores, mangrove Merbok and clay.

Resources did not allow for environment studies of the by-products tourism sites as part of the current study.

The study also included a survey and mapping to obtain potential primary data around SBAC in the process of developing it as the center of the world iron industry.

One finding is that attention to heritage policy and protection must be ongoing at all levels of government and the local community to ensure that the survey and mapping data carried out can be developed as a sustainable heritage tourism product.

This study reveals primary data related to the suitability of paleoenvironment in the SBAC development process as a world iron smelting industry area.

This study aims to find out the problems of family Takaful (Islamic Life Insurance) operations in Bangladesh and proposes strategies to overcome the problems.

Qualitative data were collected through interviews with 32 respondents from two family Takaful operators in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The study finds a number of problems of family Takaful which relate to the government, Takaful company and the Shariah board. Lack of governing guidelines for Takaful companies in Bangladesh is causing numerous operational problems of family Takaful. To overcome these obstacles, the government should propose separate Act for Takaful. This requires support from the stakeholders along with Islamic scholars in the country.

It is anticipated that the findings and suggestions of the study will assist the policymakers in improving the situation of family Takaful companies particularly in Bangladesh.

If the proposed suggestions are implemented in Takaful companies, the problems facing Takaful will likely be solved and more people will take part in Takaful. This would contribute to developing the country economically, raise Islamic values and foster peace and harmony in the society.

Mainly, this study is based on the primary research that has been conducted in family Takaful companies in Bangladesh.

The purpose of this study is to clarify what is really needed to attract Muslim tourists by comparing the two main approaches to serving food with halal certification or with ingredient disclosure.

This research adopted a comparative analysis of a Group promoting “halal certification” and a Group promoting “ingredient disclosure” mainly from the tourists’ perspective. Taito Ward, Tokyo, encourages restaurants to obtain halal certification, while the approach of Takayama City is to disclose the ingredients. The study compares the advantages and disadvantages of these two approaches and also investigates factors influencing them.

This study revealed that Muslim tourists would like to see both halal certification and ingredient disclosure. The reason why Taito Ward and Takayama City pursue different strategies can be summarized in three points: the types of food offered in the two areas, the vastly different scales of the two areas as tourist destinations and the different perspectives of their respective advisors.

The limitations of this study include the small sample size and the low diversity of the origins of Muslim tourists. However, this research is still significant because few academic studies on halal certification have been done from the tourists’ perspective.

There are many things that could be done to attract Muslim tourists. Even without halal certification, there are many restaurants that can cater to Muslims in Japan. A little consideration and thoughtfulness on the part of restaurants can enhance the probability of attracting Muslim tourists.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the level of knowledge, halal dietary quality assurance practices, and commitment among food industries in the implementation of halal in Malaysia. Besides, the study was based on two categories that are considered major contributors in the chain of halal food sector in Malaysia which are the multinational, and small medium enterprise (SME).

Two company’s categories related to halal food and beverage industry which are the multinational, and SME were chosen in this research based on the similarities in terms of functions and needs in the implementation of halal in Malaysia. Furthermore, both categories are the main groups in the halal food sector that support the growth of other categories. The sample of the study was comprised of 241 companies from halal certification holders (MNCs=69; SMEs=172).Cross-sectional study through random sampling and purposive sampling was used where the internal halal committee who have been specifically appointed in the organization were asked to fill in the questionnaire. Personally hand-delivered questionnaires in workplaces was used as a method of data collection. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.

Based on the analysis, it was found that the level of knowledge, halal quality assurance practices and commitment to be at a good level. Whereas the results of inference showed that there are significant differences for the three variables studied.

In the study there are some limitations, namely; first, the categories studied are focussed solely on halal food industry. Halal now been expanded to other products such as pharmaceutical, logistics, etc. Second, the standards used are the standard and guidelines on the handling of food. Finally, the limitations in obtaining more respondents as most industry in Malaysia is still concerned to provide feedback and view it as the secrecy of the company.

First, the implication of the theory and literature studies in which the research prevalence is associated with the ISO quality and quality management, integration of multiple disciplines and concepts is essential as a combination of elements of human capital and strategic management. Second, on behalf of the government or specially-appointed halal certification body, it can give a clear picture of the exposure and promotion related to the deed, procedures, and guidelines have gone through several changes and amendments. In addition, it is also able to evaluate the effectiveness of a number of conditions that are required such as internal halal appointment committee. Third for industry practitioners, focussing in delivering halal standards is not dependent on the system, working patterns, and technologies alone, but should also take into account the element of human capital and organizational responsibility in maintaining halal integrity and enhancing the knowledge and halal dietary management in accordance with the requirements of Islamic law and fatwa.

On behalf of the users, the confidence is there and in order to produce a halal product, it involves a fairly strict chain and has always been regulated by a special committee whose role are meeting the needs outlined halal standards.

The study is the starting point in discussing in detail about the halal knowledge, halal quality assurance, and commitment after the standardization and harmonization of halal certification in early 2012. Furthermore, there are a few revisions on the act, standards, and procedures by the halal certification body, which halal assurance should be implemented and considered still new.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the unsteady conjugate mixed convective heat transfer characteristics in a vented porous cavity under the combined effects of moving conductive elliptic object and magnetic field.

The finite element method and arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE), impacts of Reynolds number, Hartmann number, aspect ratio of the conductive ellipse and moving speed of the object on the hydro-thermal performance are analyzed.

It was observed that the dynamic characteristics of the local and average Nu number of each hot wall are different. Magnetic field strength increment resulted in the enhancement of average Nu number for bot steady and transient case while the optimum case for best hydro-thermal performance is achieved for highest Ha number and non-dimensional time of 10. Higher value of average Nu and lower pressure coefficient are achieved for aspect ratio of 4 and non-dimensional time of 10. When the moving velocity of the conductive ellipse is considered, 42% enhancement in the average Nu is obtained at non-dimensional time of 20 and object velocity equals to 0.012 times entering fluid velocity in the negative y direction while the pressure coefficient is higher. The moving object is used as a useful tool to control the dynamic features of heat transfer in a vented cavity.

The present method of convective heat transfer control inside a vented cavity with a moving elliptic object is novel and can be used as an effective tool with magnetic field effects owing to diverse use of convection in cavities with vented ports in many practical thermal engineering systems.