Hasrizul Hashim

Factors Influencing Stakeholders Attitudes Toward Genetically Modified Aedes Mosquito

Dengue fever is a debilitating and infectious disease that could be life-threatening. It is caused by the dengue virus which affects millions of people in the tropical area. Currently, there is no cure for the disease as there is no vaccine available. Thus, prevention of the vector population using conventional methods is by far the main strategy but has been found ineffective. A genetically modified (GM) mosquito is among the favoured alternatives to curb dengue fever in Malaysia. Past studies have shown that development and diffusion of gene technology products depends heavily upon public acceptance. The purpose of this study is to identify the relevant factors influencing stakeholders’ attitudes toward the GM Aedes mosquito and to analyse the relationships between all the factors using the structural equation model. A survey was carried out on 509 respondents from various stakeholder groups in the Klang Valley region of Malaysia. Results of the survey have confirmed that public perception towards complex issues such as gene technology should be seen as a multi-faceted process. The perceived benefit-perceived risk balance is very important in determining the most predominant predictor of attitudes toward a GM mosquito. In this study the stakeholders perceived the benefit of the GM mosquito as outweighing its risk, translating perceived benefit as the most important direct predictor of attitudes toward the GM mosquito. Trust in key players has a direct influence on attitudes toward the GM mosquito while moral concern exhibited an indirect influence through perceived benefits. Other factors such as attitudes toward technology and nature were also indirect predictors of attitudes toward the GM mosquito while religiosity and engagement did not exhibited any significant roles. The research findings serve as a useful database to understand public acceptance and the social construct of public attitudes towards the GM mosquito to combat dengue.

Determinants of stakeholders’ attitudes to xenotransplantation

Advances in xenotransplantation have the potential to resolve the issue of organ shortages. Despite this, the procedure is expected to meet with a degree of resistance from the public. The purpose of this study was to identify the relevant factors influencing stakeholders’ attitudes towards xenotransplantation.

Understanding the Factors Influencing Attitudes toward Genetically Modified Rice

Previous studies have shown that consumer acceptance of genetically modified (GM) food is driven by many factors such as moral aspects, specific risk–benefit perception, and religious judgement. The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors influencing attitudes toward GM rice by the Malaysian public. A survey was carried out on 509 respondents consisting of various stakeholder groups in the Klang Valley region of Malaysia. Results of the study have confirmed that the most important direct predictor of attitudes to GM rice is the perceived benefit and religious acceptance. Attitudes toward GM rice also involve the interplay of other factors such as engagement with biotechnology, confidence in the key players, attitudes to technology, attitudes to nature, religiosity, perceived risk, and perceived moral concern, confirming that public perception toward the products resulting from genetic engineering, such as GM rice, should be seen as a multifaceted process.