Natrah Saad

The Self‐assessment System And Its Compliance Costs

The self‐assessment system has been implemented on companies since 2001 as to replace the former official assessment system. As such, proceural issues and compliance cost associated with the new assessment system are of significant interest to the taxpayers. This study was conducted in the year 2002 i.e. after one year the self‐assessment system for companies has been put into practice. It focuses on the compliance cost in terms of the time spent by the taxpayers. In the study, time spent is used to measure the increment of compliance cost since time devoted to compliance activities is very much associated with the cost incurred. The respondents in this study are the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the tax agents in the northern region i.e. Perlis, Kedah and Penang. As this is an exploratory study, the researchers used convenience sampling, which enabled them to get fifty‐six SMEs, the findings reflected that the most prominent variable is the time spent for discussion with tax agents (78.83 per cent), which represented the major source of increment in compliance cost under the new system, followed by learning the new tax laws (55.40 per cent); paying taxes (50.00 per cent); record‐keeping (48.20 per cent); and answering IRB queries (44.70 per cent). Meanwhile 90.00 per cent of the tax agents suggested that there was an increase in time spent under the new system for the total hours spent in complying with the new system, learning the new tax laws, preparing tax returns, and discussion with clients. Only 63.70 per cent of them implied that there was an increase in time spent in answering IRB queries.

Validating a second-order model for oil and gas projects’ investment climate scale

Purpose The investment climate is one of the key factors considered by foreign investors while deciding their investment destination. This paper aims to attempt at validating the second-order model of oil and gas projects’ investment climate. Examination of the relationship between the dimensions of oil and gas projects’ investment climate; strategy, participants/operating environment and risk/return; and the overall latent construct was conducted. The study also evaluates the goodness of fit of the second-order model using relevant fit indices. Design/methodology/approach Oil and gas experts in Malaysian marginal oil fields subsector were deployed, through whom responses were collected that formed the data set used in the analysis. Then, the data were used for confirmatory factor analysis, evaluation of the second-order model through path analysis and for model fit evaluation. Findings The finding revealed that the second-order model of oil and gas projects’ investment climate is valid and reliable. It also revealed that all the three dimensions, strategy, participants/operating environment and risk/return, have significant effects on the formation of the oil and gas projects’ investment climate. Finally, the goodness of fit of the second-order model satisfied the relevant fit indices. Research limitations/implications The findings present valuable insights to policymakers on the extent of the influence each of the dimensions has on the overall latent construct. The validity and reliability analysis suggests the measurements of the second-order model of oil and gas projects’ investment climate construct, and its dimensions are valid, reliable and fit for future empirical research. Thus, it calls for replication in other oil and gas settings. Originality/value The findings from the results of this study are pioneering. Extant literature falls short in attempting the validation of the second-order oil and gas projects’ investment climate scale, as well as relating each of the dimensions with the overall latent construct.

Entrepreneurship education in Malaysian public universities: Academicians’ perspective

The aspiration of Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) to incorporate entrepreneurship curriculum in undergraduate programs in Malaysian public universities is clearly spelt out in the National Critical Agenda Project (CAP).The entrepreneurship program, which is either embedded in academic syllabus or curriculum activities is hoped to produce graduates that are able to act as catalysts for economic transformation, consistent with the 10th Malaysian Plan.On that note, this study intends to investigate the feasibility of the entrepreneurship education through six criterion s of entrepreneurship academic behavior demonstrated in public Malaysian universities. Data was obtained through questionnaires distributed to academicians who are directly involved in the entrepreneurship program in their respective universities.Using the descriptive analysis, the findings suggest the viability of the entrepreneurship program in the public universities under study.This is evidenced through high mean values of entrepreneurship academic behavior, together with the six analysed criterions namely intention, desirability, feasibility, subjective norms, university climate and attitude of the academicians.This study is expected to not only provide insights on the current status of entrepreneurship education in universities’ curriculum or program, but also assist the universities to enhance academic values in conducting entrepreneurship education.