Normah Haji Omar, Mohd. Johari Alwi and Zaini Ahmad
One of the main concerns of the accounting profession is to provide consistently high quality services. In line with this objective, the current study was conducted for three main…
Abstract
One of the main concerns of the accounting profession is to provide consistently high quality services. In line with this objective, the current study was conducted for three main purposes: to determine the level of internal quality control and documentation amongst public accounting practices in Malaysia; to examine the role of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) in ensuring members’ compliance to the International Standards of Auditing (AI) on Internal quality and documentation, and to explore the potential of using peer review as a tool for monitoring the quality of public practices in Malaysia. The findings implied that the practitioners have satisfactorily adopted quality control policies and procedures as required by the International Auditing Standards. In addition, the public accounting firms were also found to have placed significant attention to the form and content of documentation as stipulated by the AIs. The potential of using peer review as a quality‐monitoring tool has strong support amongst the locally established public practices.
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Taking a cognitive perspective of internal auditor independence, the purpose of this study is to develop measures for the concepts of commitment to independence, role conflict and…
Abstract
Purpose
Taking a cognitive perspective of internal auditor independence, the purpose of this study is to develop measures for the concepts of commitment to independence, role conflict and role ambiguity in the context of the internal auditor's work environment, in order to provide evidence of the effects of role conflict and ambiguity, and their sub‐dimensions, on the internal auditor's commitment to independence.
Design/methodology/approach
To measure these concepts, scales are developed for a questionnaire by drawing on measures established in the organizational behavior literature and adapting these to the internal auditor's context. The questionnaire is sent to a sample of internal auditors drawn from the database of the Institute of Internal Auditors Malaysia in which listed companies with an in‐house internal audit function are extracted. There are 101 useable responses.
Findings
The results reveal that both role ambiguity and role conflict are significantly negatively related to commitment to independence. The underlying dimensions found to have the greatest impact on commitment to independence are: first, ambiguity in both the exercise of authority by the internal auditor and time pressure faced by the internal auditor; and second, conflict between the internal auditor's personal values and both management's and their profession's expectations and requirements.
Originality/value
The results extend the literature on internal auditor independence and provide insights for auditing standards setters and corporate governance designers.
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Lily Julienti Abu Bakar and Abdul Rahman Jaaffar
This chapter deliberates Malaysia's involvement in innovation sector transformation and describes concepts of technological parks, clusters, and innovation networks. A vast of…
Abstract
This chapter deliberates Malaysia's involvement in innovation sector transformation and describes concepts of technological parks, clusters, and innovation networks. A vast of academic writings have been found interest toward the issues. Thus, this chapter also defines the important terms and highlights some literatures in Malaysian context as innovation clusters and networks have given rise to a vast stream of works in recent years. Innovation has been recognized as an important factor for the success of Malaysia with the support of new technologies and new product development. Malaysia Technology Parks helps to accelerate product innovation within the private sector in collaboration with higher institution education and research agencies from government agencies, government link companies, or nonprofit organizations. In Malaysia, innovations take place in industrial clusters whereby from this clustering, the industry will benefit the cost reduction, access to talent, easy access to information, and opportunities for more collaboration and networks. Innovations could be seen to relate to business networks from interaction between business partners or through changes to interaction patterns among various business partners. Finally, this chapter highlights the expectation in innovative sectors, the strategy and type of industry boomers in Malaysia, and technological transformation as a platform for innovative industry.
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Mohd Hassan Che Haat, Rashidah Abdul Rahman and Sakthi Mahenthiran
The paper aims to examine the effect of good corporate governance practices on corporate transparency and performance of Malaysian listed companies.
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to examine the effect of good corporate governance practices on corporate transparency and performance of Malaysian listed companies.
Design/methodology/approach
Samples were selected using matched‐sampling method and hierarchical regression was employed to test the relationship between among corporate governance mechanism, transparency and performance.
Findings
Corporate governance factors have a strong predicting power on company performance, mainly due to debt monitoring and foreign ownership. However, there is a significant negative relation between audit quality and performance. The results find that performance is not associated with the level of disclosure and timely reporting. The results indicate that disclosure and timeliness are not significant contributing factors in the relationship between corporate governance and market performance.
Research limitations/implications
The data covers a one‐year period of 2002 only. This paper deals only with “one‐way” causality running from corporate governance mechanisms to performance, even though, there is evidence of “reverse‐way” and “two‐way” causality in governance literature.
Practical implications
This paper indicates that internal governance mechanisms are not important determinants to corporate performance. However, governance in forms of debt monitoring and foreign ownership have significant influence on corporate performance. Transparency (i.e. disclosure and timeliness of reporting) is not a significant mediating variable between corporate governance and performance.
Originality/value
Distinct from previous empirical research as the disclosure level is measured using self‐designed corporate governance index. Apart from a study conducted in an Asian setting of Malaysia, the study also tests transparency as a mediating variable between corporate governance and performance
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Justina Falana, Robert Osei-Kyei and Vivian W.Y. Tam
Stakeholder interests are complex, sensitive and highly uncertain and may influence the development of net zero carbon building (NZCB). However, this study aims to conduct a…
Abstract
Purpose
Stakeholder interests are complex, sensitive and highly uncertain and may influence the development of net zero carbon building (NZCB). However, this study aims to conduct a systematic literature review to explore the stakeholder interests towards achieving NZCB.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 62 articles were identified from the Scopus database and thoroughly reviewed to extract relevant information on stakeholders' interest towards achieving NZCB.
Findings
A total of 28 stakeholder interests influencing the development of NZCB were identified from the literature and were classified into six major groups according to their uniqueness (economic, social, environmental, technological, political, regulatory and legal).
Research limitations/implications
The findings of this study provide insight into the specific stakeholder interests towards achieving NZCB. Thus, the findings of this study could serve as a guide for future research, policy formulation and implementation to expedite the practice of building towards net zero carbon (NZC). Empirical studies are suggested in future studies to test and consolidate the theoretical claims of this study.
Originality/value
This paper undertakes a comprehensive systematic review of studies on stakeholder interests towards achieving NZCB, which is the least investigated in the literature.
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Dat Van Truong, Song Thanh Quynh Le and Huong Mai Bui
This study aims to investigate into the adsorption mechanism of heavy metal ions Pb2+ and methylene blue (MB) dyes on an adsorbent-web formed from kapok fibres (KP) and…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate into the adsorption mechanism of heavy metal ions Pb2+ and methylene blue (MB) dyes on an adsorbent-web formed from kapok fibres (KP) and polypropylene fibres (PP).
Design/methodology/approach
Initially, the KP underwent pre-treatment with NaClO2 solution, and their morphology and structure changes were examined through scanning electron microscope images. Subsequently, the KP fibres were blended with PP fibres at a ratio of 70 / 30 and processed through a laboratory carding machine to form a fibre web, which was then secured using a heat press to fabricate the adsorbent-web. The resultant adsorbent-web was subjected to evaluation for the adsorption process.
Findings
The findings revealed that the adsorbent-web produced via the dry-laid method exhibited promising attributes, and the adsorption process conformed to the pseudo-second-order model and the Langmuir isotherm model. Parameters such as adsorbent-web porosity, solution pH, and adsorption thermodynamics exerted notable influences on the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent-web. Notably, the adsorbent-web demonstrated remarkable reusability and desorption capacity. In the fifth cycle, the adsorption capacity of adsorbent-web for MB and Pb2+ ions only decreased by 9.13% and 11.48%, respectively, compared to the first cycle. The desorption efficiency of the adsorbent-web exceeded 90% for MB and over 73% for Pb2+ ions.
Originality/value
This study makes a significant contribution to the practical application of KP as an adsorbent-web for treating waste from the textile dyeing industry.
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Md. Faruk Abdullah and Asmak Ab Rahman
The objective of the chapter is to discuss the role of wa’d (promise) to mitigate risk in different Islamic banking products. The chapter will illustrate the element of wa’d in…
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of the chapter is to discuss the role of wa’d (promise) to mitigate risk in different Islamic banking products. The chapter will illustrate the element of wa’d in different Islamic banking products in Malaysia.
Methodology/approach
The study has adopted the document review method to get information on different banking products. Moreover, it conducted semi-structured interviews with bankers to get in-depth information.
Findings
The study finds out that wa’d plays a vital role in structuring several products including retail products, trade financing products, and treasury products. Along with the unilateral wa’d there is a usage of double wa’d (wa’dan) in some product structures. In most of the products, wa’d is included as a risk mitigation instrument along with other major underlying Shari’ah contracts. Some Shari’ah issues are involved with these products namely the Shari’ah rulings related to wa’dan, “form over substance,” etc.
Originality/value
This is an in-depth field study which adds new knowledge on wa’d-based products. The experience of Malaysia might be a lesson for other countries to minimize risk in their Islamic banking products.
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Siti Kudnie Sahari, Muhammad Kashif, Norsuzailina Mohamed Sutan, Zaidi Embong, Nik Amni Fathi Nik Zaini Fathi, Azrul Azlan Hamzah, Rohana Sapawi, Burhanuddin Yeop Majlis and Ibrahim Ahmad
The quality of GeOx–Ge interface and the equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) are the main issues in fabricating high-k/Ge gate stack due to the low-k of GeOx interfacial layer (IL)…
Abstract
Purpose
The quality of GeOx–Ge interface and the equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) are the main issues in fabricating high-k/Ge gate stack due to the low-k of GeOx interfacial layer (IL). Therefore, a precise study of the formation of GeOx IL and its contribution to EOT is of utmost importance. In this study, the GeOx ILs were formed through post-oxidation annealing of sputtered Al2O3 on the Ge substrate. The purpose of this paper is to report on growth kinetics and composition of IL between Al2O3 and Ge for HCl- and HF-last Ge surface.
Design/methodology/approach
After wet chemical cleaning with HCl or HF, Al2O3 was grown onto the Ge surface by RF sputtering. Thickness and composition of IL formed after post-anneal deposition at 400°C in dry oxygen ambience were evaluated as a function of deposition time by FESEM and characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively.
Findings
It was observed that the composition and thickness of IL were dependent on the starting surface and an aluminum germinate-like composition was formed during RF sputtering for both HF- and HCl-last starting surface.
Originality/value
The novelty of this work is to investigate the starting surface of Ge to IL growth between Al2O3/Ge that will lead to the improvement in Ge metal insulator field effect transistors (MISFETs) application.
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Amirul Syafiq, Farah Khaleda Mohd Zaini, Vengadaesvaran Balakrishnan and Nasrudin Abd. Rahim
The purpose of this paper is to introduce the simple synthesis process of thermal-insulation coating by using three different nanoparticles, namely, nano-zinc oxide (ZnO)…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce the simple synthesis process of thermal-insulation coating by using three different nanoparticles, namely, nano-zinc oxide (ZnO), nano-tin dioxide (SnO2) and nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2), which can reduce the temperature of solar cells.
Design/methodology/approach
The thermal-insulation coating is designed using sol-gel process. The aminopropyltriethoxysilane/methyltrimethoxysilane binder system improves the cross-linking between the hydroxyl groups, -OH of nanoparticles. The isopropyl alcohol is used as a solvent medium. The fabrication method is a dip-coating method.
Findings
The prepared S1B1 coating (20 Wt.% of SnO2) exhibits high transparency and great thermal insulation property where the surface temperature of solar cells has been reduced by 13°C under 1,000 W/m2 irradiation after 1 h. Meanwhile, the Z1B2 coating (20 Wt.% of ZnO) reduced the temperature of solar cells by 7°C. On the other hand, the embedded nanoparticles have improved the fill factor of solar cells by 0.2 or 33.33%.
Research limitations/implications
Findings provide a significant method for the development of thermal-insulation coating by a simple synthesis process and low-cost materials.
Practical implications
The thermal-insulation coating is proposed to prevent exterior heat energy to the inside solar panel glass. At the same time, it can prevent excessive heating on the solar cell’s surface, later improves the efficiency of solar cell.
Originality/value
This study presents a the novel method to develop and compare the thermal-insulation coating by using various nanoparticles, namely, nano-TiO2, nano-SnO2 and nano-ZnO at different weight percentage.
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Dat Van Truong, Song Thanh Quynh Le and Huong Mai Bui
Kapok was well-known for its oleophilic properties, but its mechanical properties and morphology impeded it from forming suitable absorbent materials. This study aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
Kapok was well-known for its oleophilic properties, but its mechanical properties and morphology impeded it from forming suitable absorbent materials. This study aims to demonstrate the process of creating an oil-absorbent web from a blend of treated kapok and polypropylene fibers.
Design/methodology/approach
Kapok fibers were separated from dried fruits, then the wax was removed with an HCl solution at different concentrations. The morphological and structural changes of these fibers were investigated using scanning electron microscopy images. The blending ratios of kapok and polypropylene fibers were 60/40, 70/30 and 80/20, respectively. The fiber blends were fed to a laboratory carding machine to form a web and then consolidated using the heat press technique. The absorption behavior of the formed web was evaluated regarding oil absorption capacity and oil retention capacity according to ASTM 726.
Findings
The results showed that the HCl concentration of 1.0% (wt%) gave the highest wax removal efficiency without damaging the kapok fibers. This study found that oil absorbency is influenced by the fiber blending ratio, web tensile strength and elongation, porosity, oil type and environmental conditions. The oil-absorbency of the web can be re-used for at least 20 cycles.
Research limitations/implications
This study only looked at three types of oils: diesel, kerosene and vegetable oils.
Practical implications
When the problem of oil spills in rivers and seas is growing and causing serious environmental and economic consequences, using physical methods to recover oil spills is the most effective solution.
Originality/value
This research adds to the possibility of using kapok fiber in the form of a web of non-woven fabric for practical purposes.