Susila Munisamy

Levels of understanding of probability concepts among secondary school pupils

This paper provides an insight into the levels of understanding of probability concepts of Malaysian secondary school pupils and the relationship among their probabilistic understanding and the independent variables of sex, form and mathematical ability. Information related to the levels of understanding of probability concepts is essential to curriculum design in this branch of mathematics. A study was conducted on a representative sample of 1266 form four and six (lower) pupils from fifteen secondary schools located in the suburban district of Klang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. A probability concepts test was administered and data collected and analysed to obtain factual information regarding the understanding of probability concepts among Malaysian pupils. This paper discusses the performance of pupils on intuitive and taught probabilistic concepts, describes the establishment of a probability concepts hierarchy and considers probabilistic understanding in relation to the independent variables sex,...

Productivity Changes of Pharmaceutical Industry in Bangladesh: Does Process Patent Matter?

The large pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh have currently expertise in process patent activities rather than in product patent. Such industry condition can easily generate a high profile in production and sales. However, achieving sustainability in the long run using automation and purchase of the patent only seems unsuitable. In the last two decades, it is found that both the medium and big size companies have leaned on introducing automation in their existing product plants, improving them in nothing but production. The article measures technical efficiency using data envelopment analysis (DEA) over the period of 2009–2013. We use one output—annual sales—and three inputs, namely, (a) fixed asset, (b) raw material cost and (c) cost of salary to run Malmquist total factor productivity (TFP) index. The major contributor of TFP growth is found due to the technological positive growth with a value of 10.8 per cent annually. Moreover, all changes of technical efficiency, pure efficiency and scale efficiency have regressed with values of 5.5 per cent, 2.1 per cent and 3.5 per cent, respectively. Thus, the gains in productivity are entirely due to technological advancements and not for technical improvements. The main source of inefficiency in pharmaceutical industry is scale inefficiency rather than pure technical inefficiency. Limitations and policy implications are addressed.

The Cost of Antitrust Law to Malaysia's Financial Services Sector

Judging by only economic incentives, Malaysian financial institutions (particularly banks) should completely ignore the Competition Act. The data show that Malaysian banks probably benefit from anticompetitive behaviour. Political and family connections likely facilitate such behaviour. Given that the Malaysian Competition Commission will likely lack the resources to investigate and sanction anti-competitive behaviour in Malaysia’s banking industry – the banks’ best response to the Act probably consists of ignoring it. Maximum fines of 10 million ringgit and revenue-tied penalties of only 10% of worldwide revenue mean that banks still have strong incentives to engage in anticompetitive behaviour and to pay any low fine that might be levied. The best compliance programme for banks in Malaysia likely consists of actions that avoid detection rather than detecting and preventing anticompetitive behaviour. Private rights of action are unlikely to provide any stronger economic incentives for Malaysian banks to adopt strong antitrust compliance programmes and internal audit programmes. By staying the course, Malaysian banks can continue to earn about 15 billion ringgits (approximately US

Power Industry Restructuring and Eco-Efficiency Changes: A New Slacks-Based Model in Malmquist- Luenberger Index Measurement

4.6 billion in anticompetitive rents).