Ali Salman

Factors affecting sustainability of internet usage among youth

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the factors that affect sustainability of internet usage by Malay youth in Kota Bharu, a rural town in the north east of peninsular Malaysia.Design/methodology/approach – The study used survey research for obtaining data. Some 225 respondents were sampled from the young Malay internet users in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. They were interviewed using a standard questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were used to analyse the data. The descriptive statistics included frequency, percentages, means and standard deviation while the inferential statistics included reliability test, computed means and multiple regression.Findings – From the results there is sustainability of internet usage among Malay youth. As far as factors that have positive effects on sustainability of internet usage is concerned, the results of the study showed that interpersonal and social network and perceived and realized benefits have significant positive effects on su...

A Broadcasting History of Malaysia: Progress and Shifts

This paper aims to delve into the history of broadcasting in Malaysia since the 1980s. We will go down memorylane and see the inception of the first private television station in the country - Sistem Television MalaysiaBerhad (STMB) or better known as TV3 which received its licensed in 1983. This paper also looks at thequestion of ownership as there are strong political and economic ties between the government and the media.While privatization is a goal in the business sector, a free press without government restrictions is not. Thegovernment controls the presses and the publishing enterprises throughout Malaysia. Privatization of thistelevision station was one of the initial efforts to transfer media ownership from the government to the privatesector. That was in the initial stages of development. Now TV3 sits under Media Prima Berhad, a company listedon the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia and is Malaysia’s leading integrated media investment group. It currentlyowns 100 per cent equity interest in TV3, 8TV, NTV7 and TV9. In addition, Media Prima now owns more than96.85 per cent equity interest in The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) (NSTP) Berhad, one of Malaysia’slargest publisher which publishes three national newspapers; the New Straits Times, BeritaHarian and HarianMetro. It also owns three radio networks, Fly FM, Hot FM and One FM. This paper also looks at Malaysia’s firstcable network popularly known as ASTRO. ASTRO is the brand name of the Malaysian direct broadcast satellitepay television service. It transmits digital satellite television and radio to households in Malaysia and Brunei.Astro is an acronym for All-Asian Satellite Television and Radio Operator. Astro is owned and operated byMEASAT Broadcast Network Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Astro All Asia Networks. The other entityunder study is Radio Televisyen Malaysia or better known as RTM, a government owned television network.

The importance of usability features in enhancing online communication satisfaction

Web 2.0 is providing more responsive, interactive and online platforms of participation and engagement within users in organizations. The growth of the Internet gives a significant contribution to the development of online systems. The acceptance and usage of online system in organizations depend on various key factors such as ease of use, interactivity and usability. This study evaluates the importance of usability of online information management systems (IMS) in the context of user attitudes to online communication satisfaction which drives usage. Based on a survey of 223 employees at four research universities in Malaysia, this study adapted the communication satisfaction and usability to examine the online satisfaction in using IMS. The results indicate that there is a positive and significant relationship between usability and online communication satisfaction toward IMS usage. This study reveals the importance of usability in understanding the requirements in improving communication satisfaction, especially in developing online systems.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND AGENDA SETTING: IMPLICATIONS ON POLITICAL AGENDA

Since the advent of the Internet, political information is now at the fingertips of every Malaysian, especially those living in the urban areas and having access to the Internet. One does not need to have the traditional media such as radio, television or Newspaper to understand what is happening in political set up in Malaysia these days. This is because the social media, especially Facebook and twitter have made access to information so easy to the larger population. The aim of this paper is to explore the role of social media as agenda setting mechanisms in the Malaysia political scenario. The study uses secondary data sources to obtain insight on the issue. It is evident from literature that the social media, especially the social media (eg. Facebook) play an important role in shaping public opinion on important political matters. The social media has been used by the public to express their concern and grievance on issues that concern their welfare which the traditional media may not dare to report or broadcast. Agenda setting needs to be relooked into as the public agenda is taking a central stage through the new/social media. Thus, it implies, the agenda setting model could be extended or remodeled to include the new/social media due to their influence on public agenda. Further implication of this is that politicians should keep abreast with the development in the social media so that they will understand current issues that are of great concern to the people and the society at large. We have to come to terms with the fact that we are now in the digital and globalised era, hence agenda setting needs to be relooked into as the public agenda is taking a central stage through the social media.

Empowering the community through ICT innovation

One of the Malaysian governments missions in achieving its 2020 vision includes developing and providing access to ICTs in the country. In fact, the government has been aggressive in its initiative in providing the necessary environment to empower the people in ICT through various innovations in computer and technology. This paper discusses the impact on a particular community in East Malaysia, with the introduction of a computer innovation named JENii. This product is designed by the Malaysian Institute of Microelectronic Systems (MIMOS). The findings showed that the device is well accepted by the community and several benefits were derived. The paper ends by proposing a framework which can be used as a guide in helping the Malaysian governments initiative in bridging the digital divide and in encouraging its citizens to move towards an e-inclusion society. The framework is named the AI4 framework, which includes access, adaptability, acceptance, attitude, innovation and inclusion.