Jamalludin Sulaiman

Environmental Kuznets curve and energy consumption in Malaysia: A cointegration approach

ABSTRACT This study examines the long- and short-run relationship between carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, economic growth, energy consumption, foreign trade, and urbanization based on the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis in Malaysia for the period 1980–2008. This study employs the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) methodology for empirical analysis. The results obtained suggest the existence of three forms of long-run relationships among variables when CO2 emissions, foreign trade, and urbanization are the dependent variables. The long-run results support the EKC hypothesis, which assumes an inverted U-shaped relationship between income and environmental degradation. Moreover, both energy consumption and urbanization are found to have positive effects on CO2 emissions in the long run, while trade has a negative effect on CO2 emissions in both short and long runs. The stability of the variables in the estimated model is also examined. Results suggest that the estimated model is stable over the study period.

FINANCIAL SECURITY PROTECTIONS IN MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE AND PHILIPPINES: A PERSPECTIVE OF TWO GENERATIONS

The study investigated the formal and informal old age protections in the major cities of Malaysia, Singapore and Philippines. The role of family support as important source of old-age protection in Asian countries was also investigated. Data were collected using a survey-interview method. A total of 250 young population and 250 of the elderly population in Kuala Lumpur were interviewed. Similar number of young and elderly population was interviewed in Manila. In Singapore, data was collected from 206 and 161 young and elderly population respectively. A Venn diagram was constructed to analyse the overlapping of availability of the various old age protections for the two generations and their relative sizes among the three cities were compared. Given the many agreement on the inadequacy of the formal old-age benefits, many reverted to informal protections such as insurance, savings and family support. With the exception of Manila, reliance on the family support as perceived by the younger generations has lost its importance.

Caregiver coping with the mentally ill: a qualitative study

Abstract Background: Mental illness is a disease that affects millions of people every year. It not only causes stress to the mentally ill patients, but also for the family members who provide them the care. The family caregivers, therefore need some form of coping strategies in dealing with their mentally ill family members. Aims: This qualitative study aims at identifying and analysing the coping strategies adopted by the family caregivers in dealing with their mentally ill family members. Method: A total of 15 family caregivers from the state of Kedah, Malaysia participated in the face-to-face semi structured interview. Results: The study findings identified an array of coping strategies used by the family caregivers, including religious coping, emotional coping, acceptance, becoming engaged in leisure activities, and the use of traditional healing to help them cope with their mentally ill members. Suggestions and conclusions: Study suggests that the family caregivers should engage themselves in social support groups to learn about and obtain the positive coping strategies used by other caregivers who have similar experiences in caring for the mentally ill. Study also suggests that they should get appropriate training from the mental health professionals in order to enhance the caregivers’ coping skills.

ESTABLISHING THE WELL-BEING OF THE RURAL-URBAN ELDERLY POPULATION: A CASE STUDY OF INDONESIA

This study determines and compares the influence of various demographic factors in achieving well-being of the elderly population in the rural and urban areas in Indonesia. Age, marital status, social class, perceived health and economic condition are some of the main contributing factors in measuring well-being. In addition, social aspects such as living and familial arrangement were also investigated to establish elderly population well being. Data were collected using a survey-interview method. A total of 157 elderly in the urban areas and 145 elderly in the rural areas were surveyed. A causal model of well-being was employed to analyse the data obtained. The model of well-being was then tested using path analysis to test the causal relationships among the variables. Although the study indicated that there was no significant difference of well-being between the rural and urban elderly, the social support variables generally help improve the well-being of the elderly population.

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES AND CHALLENGES IN POVERTY: A CASE STUDY OF MALAYSIA

Poverty in Malaysia has decreased significantly from a relative high of more than 50% before independence in 1957 to less than 10% today. The incidence of hardcore or the absolute poor is less than 1%, according to official statistics in 2007. And, it is Malaysias aim to achieve zero absolute poverty by 2015. However, the rate of poverty reduction based on recent data appears to have slowed down beginning the mid 1990s. The slowdown in poverty reduction raises serious concern as this affects the well-being of this disadvantaged group of population. Generally, the poor in Malaysia are the aged households, female and live in the rural areas. Several studies conducted in 2007–2008 identified several issues relating to poverty in the country. This paper will analyse some of the issues and suggest practical solutions that will benefit the poor population.

An empirical study on the influence of Islamic values in poverty alleviation

Purpose – This study aims to shed some light on the roles of Islamic values and principles in encouraging households to enhance their livelihood and, therefore, alleviate their poverty. Design/methodology/approach – A structured and tested socio-economic questionnaire instrument was randomly distributed to 102 randomly selected households from the state of Penang in Malaysia. Data collected were analysed using one-way ANOVA tests. Findings – The results indicated that poverty can be fought with commitment, faith and guided principles based on faith. While the self-reliance degree remains indispensable in the development progress of individuals, communities and societies, dependence on others leads to disappointment and failure. Research limitations/implications – This study has its own limitations. First, the study did not consider the gender factor in the analysis. Second, only cash transfer (role of the government) was considered in the study, although other roles such as taxation and social services ar...

The mentally ill and their impact on family caregivers: A qualitative case study:

The impact of mental illness is profound. This qualitative study aims to explore the impact experienced by family caregivers who provide care to relatives with mental illness. A total of 15 family caregivers from the state of Kedah in Malaysia participated in this study. The findings indicated that the family caregivers experienced four types of negative impact, including financial burdens and social, psychological and physical health. This study suggests that the family caregivers should engage in support groups to obtain emotional support and the required information from other caregivers who have similar experiences in caring for individuals with mental illness.

Social and Financial Efficiency of Microfinance Institutions in Pakistan

Targeting financially marginalized communities in an efficient way is the most desirable and possibly the most effective strategy for microfinance institutions (MFIs) to reduce incidences of absolute poverty, create self-employment opportunities, and improve socioeconomic wellbeing of the poor communities. This paper attempts to investigate social and financial efficiency of Pakistani microfinance institutions to bring forth optimal strategies for financing non-bankable poor in an efficient and self-sustainable way. The investigation of efficiency of the MFIs in Pakistan can help the major stakeholders of the industry in understanding the current scenario and to design optimal policy agenda for the future. The sample size of this study consists of all MFIs in Pakistan for the year 2013. The data about the MFIs has taken from ‘Mixmarket’ database. After specifying 19 different DEA models, with the help of three input and four output variables, representing various dimensions of MFIs such as cost structure, financial structure and organizational characteristics, the study reveals that MFIs efficiency is sensitive towards the selection of input and output variables, the choice of CCR and BCC models and the number of input and output variables in the model. The study further reveals that there is no single way to efficiency however; it majorly depends on the scale, age and types of MFIs. Microfinance banks perhaps are not appropriate financial institutions to extend microcredit to poorer community member and to achieve the goal of women empowerment through the extension of credit to women. As a rough estimate inefficient MFIs can focus on the optimal use of Asset (which is common among the socially efficient MFIs irrespective of their types and size) followed by operating cost and loan officers respectively.

An analysis of the millennium development goal 1: The case ofBangladesh

This article raises four questions: what progress has been made to achieve millennium development goal 1 (MDG1) targets in Bangladesh? What are the reasons for success, if any? What challenges remain? And what more should be done? To examine these questions, this article assesses the progress of MDG1 using the poverty and hunger index (PHI) to measure the net static and dynamic progress. It argues that Bangladesh is on track to achieve MDG1 targets. Social safety nets (SSNs) programs, per capita GDP growth, structural change, and remittance earning have been contributing to achieving MDG1 targets. However, some significant challenges such as a large number of poor people living in extreme poverty, inflation, high unemployment rate, and inequality are still prevailing. Thus, Bangladesh might give more attention on the expansion of SSNs for quick protection and promotion for the poor and vulnerable, the creation of local value chain, and inflation control.