Search results

Crowdfunding has become one of the preferred mechanisms to raise funds by startups and small entrepreneurs. As such, this paper aims to develop an appropriate framework for Sharīʿah-compliant equity-based crowdfunding (SEC) for entrepreneurship development in Malaysia.

The research begins by analyzing the intention of 200 entrepreneurs in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor regarding the use of crowdfunding to raise capital. The analysis is based on the theory of reasoned action (TRA), which is also associated with the technology acceptance model (TAM) and is effected by using structural equation modeling (SEM).

The entrepreneurs agree on the ease of use of crowdfunding in raising capital, although it appeared that they are quite reluctant to share their business ideas online. Subsequently, an SEC framework is proposed, to further enhance entrepreneurship development in Malaysia particularly in meeting the need for raising funds in line with Sharīʿah (Islamic law) principles.

This paper aims to contribute more to the development of a blueprint for an SEC platform for market players and regulators in Malaysia.

This paper also aims to highlight the growing needs of entrepreneurs, particularly in Malaysia to have a Sharīʿah-compliant alternative to raise funds via crowdfunding.

This paper makes two main contributions. First, it provides evidence on Malaysian entrepreneurs’ intention to use crowdfunding for fundraising through TAM and SEM analysis. Second, it proposes an SEC framework for the development of entrepreneurs in Malaysia.

The purpose of this study is to adopt quantile regression to investigate the impact of several factors on per capita income of participants of micro-financing scheme (Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia [AIM]), who are mostly women at different point on the income distributions.

This study uses data collected from a survey on respondents who are the participants of AIM program using convenience sampling in Perak and Kelantan.

The empirical results show that the value of asset, value of loan, household size, ratio of spending to income and dummy state are consistently giving similar impacts on per capita income of participants at different quantiles.

However, age negatively and significantly affects per capita income only at middle and lower quantiles but not at higher quantile of per capita income.

This paper aims to inquire about the opinions and recommendations of various experts on the crowdfunding waqf model (CWM), particularly in terms of its suitability, applicability and prospect in the market.

This paper used primary data which are collected from semi-structured interviews conducted with several experts from various backgrounds. For examining the data, this paper has used thematic analysis.

The experts support the suitability of CWM in providing financing resource to develop waqf lands. They highlight the importance of establishing, managing and operating CWM under the aegis of the State Islamic Religious Council in Malaysia and supervising by the Wakaf, Zakat or Hajj Department (JAWHAR). They further point out that the donors or crowdfunders, interesting project, promotion and regulation are key factors that influence the sustainability of CWM.

This paper adds to the literature on waqf land and crowdfunding, especially from the Malaysian context. This paper validates the CWM in terms of its suitability, applicability and prospect in the market by interviewing experts from various backgrounds.

This study aims to investigate the tendency that Malaysian consumers will choose the recombinant collagen-like protein (RCLP) from bacteria as an alternative source of collagen in their consumption and the determinants of the consumer acceptance.

Quantitative approach is adopted in the study. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression are used to analyze primary data collected from a survey.

The likelihood of consumers choosing RCLP as an alternative source of collagen is higher among elderly and females. The choice is significantly influenced by the idea that the collagen should support maqasid al-syariah, approved by national Islamic body, should clear on the ingredients used and could boost local economic activities in the future.

An ethical halal policy should be outlined as the guiding principles to the potential producers of RCLP.

An alternative source of collagen using bacteria as proposed is not yet being introduced in Malaysian industry, and the analysis on probability that consumers will accept this new sourced collagen product is using primary data from survey.

This study investigates the relationship between economic growth, international trade, and environmental degradation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), focusing on the validity of the environmental Kuznets hypothesis (EKC), the pollution havens hypothesis (PHH), and the factor endowment hypothesis (FEH).

The study uses annual data for 41 SSA countries between 1990 and 2017 and employs the bias-corrected least square dummy variable (LSDVC) estimation techniques. Environmental degradation is indicated by carbon dioxide (CO₂), delicate particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions, and deforestation.

The results confirm the validity of the EKC hypothesis for PM2.5 emissions and deforestation but not for CO₂ emissions. The results also indicate that international trade reduces deforestation and that both the PHH and FEH are valid for CO₂ emission but not for PM2.5 emissions and deforestation.

In this paper, the authors are able to illustrate that both economic growth and international trade can harm the environment if unchecked. Therefore, the conclusion of this study offers policy options through which SSA countries can achieve desired economic growth goals without affecting environmental quality. The study can be a benchmark for environmental policy in the region.

The authors provide an in-depth discussion of the growth-trade-environmental degradation nexus in SSA. The EKC, PHH, and FEH’s validity confirm that economic growth remains a threat to the local natural environment in SSA. Hence, the need for a trade-off between economic growth needs and environmental degradation and understanding where to compromise to achieve SSA's economic development priorities.

The sources of collagens and gelatins are recently being questioned because it sourced from porcine or non-halal slaughtered animals. There are also concerns regarding the transfer of diseases from animal sources of collagen to human users. This study aims to propose an alternative source of collagen using recombinant collagen-like protein (halal-based) and to analyze factors contribute to the probability of using this alternative source of collagen among consumers in Malaysia.

Survey data collected are tested empirically using statistical tools and logistic regression.

This study finds two important inferences. First, the probability consumers opt for the alternative source of collagen is significantly determined by age of consumers and the level of their incomes. The likelihood of the consumers to opt for this alternative source of collagen is higher among elderly and lower income consumers. Second, the probability of using this alternative source of collagen with the purpose to protect the marine life is higher among young and lower income consumers. Thus, marketing variations of a product using this alternative source of collagen that is targeted to high age bracket and low income group of consumers often sees as a good strategy as compared with a more generalized marketing strategy. The younger consumers are also among potential consumers whose concern is more on health without endangering marine species or biodiversity.

The scope of areas in this study is limited to Klang Valley (Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia). The respondents are those staying and working in these areas regardless of citizenship and ethnicity.

This study is proposing a new and promising way for mass production of collagen using recombinant collagen-like protein. Collagen-like protein was found in bacteria, and it may represent an alternative biosynthetic collagen material which is expected to be an alternative of the existing sources which are non-halal and endanger biodiversity and ecosystem.

Four main strategies required for firms to be able to achieve their main objectives in organizations under the unified theory of the firm are technological advance, intellectual development, spirituality conducts and customer satisfaction concern. This study aims to explore the inclination of firms to adopt all these strategies in, factors that contribute to the adoption of all these strategies and significant relationship between these strategies of firms in the context of Malaysian firms.

Using primary data from the survey on a sample of firms in the financial sector of Malaysia, the study adopts several methods of analysis such as t-test for dependent sample, t-test for independent sample and correlation. Furthermore, ordinary least squares regressions are estimated to determine factors that have an impact on a particular strategy.

It is found that the strategies of the unified theory of the firm significantly contributed to the education level of managers. Highly educated managers tend to adopt strategies most of the time. It is also found that scores of customer satisfaction concern are highly related to scores of intellectual development and spirituality conduct. The correlation coefficient is also high between spirituality conduct and intellectual development.

The study analyzes the adoption of important strategies of a unified theory of firm among several firms using first-hand data (primary data) collected from the survey.

This study aims to document the influence of information content and the informativeness of analyst reports towards cumulative abnormal return in the Malaysian market.

Samples of analyst reports for the period 4th January 2010 until 24th December 2015 were collected from the Bursa Malaysia’s repository system for daily basis information. The study uses market-adjusted method for the calculation of cumulative abnormal return and panel regression to test the research objective. In addition, diagnostic tests, which include the variance inflation factor (VIF), correlation analysis, heteroscedasticity tests, serial auto-correlation and the Hausman test, were also performed to ensure the validity and reliability of the data.

Result from the unbalanced panel data reveals that not all information contained in the analyst reports is able to detect stock returns movement. Only five variables are shown to have a strong association with the returns, and these are target price, earnings forecast, return on equity, cash flows to price and sales to price ratio. The R-square value has also been shown to be relatively low (0.79 per cent), indicating the low predictive power of information content and the informativeness of the analyst report in explaining stock returns. To support the findings based on the knowledge obtained, a descriptive analysis on whether the analyst reports were able to predict the recommendation accurately was performed. Result from the descriptive analysis shows that only 57 per cent of the recommendations are accurate, evidenced by the differing target price and ending price. This outcome appears to contradict the theory of signalling hypothesis. Hence, it can be concluded that analyst reports have less informational role among investors.

This paper has, thus, provided insight into how information disclosed in the analyst report influence the return of stocks, further extending the limited research on analyst report in the context of the Malaysian markets. The paper has also added to the existing literature by providing several implications to practitioners and researchers alike.

This paper aims to investigate the value of information content and informativeness of the analyst report for Sharīʿah-compliant shares in Malaysia.

The authors use a sample of 657 daily published analyst reports on Sharīʿah-compliant shares from 2010 to 2015, which were downloaded from Bursa Malaysia’s repository system. The method was quantitative in nature and panel regression analysis was used. Diagnostics tests including the variance inflation factor, correlation analysis, heteroskedasticity test, serial auto-correlation and the Hausman test were performed to ensure validity and reliability of data. The significance of the variables indicated whether the analyst reports contained valuable information on Shariah compliancy.

Results obtained from the FEM-Robust model revealed that the R² value was equivalent to 0.79 per cent, suggesting that the power of return explained by the information content and informativeness was less for Sharīʿah-compliant shares. The F-statistics were statistically significant for all models, postulating that the data used were reliable and fit for the purpose of analysis. The findings showed that the information content of target price and earnings forecasts significantly influenced the returns of Sharīʿah-compliant shares. In terms of informativeness, return on equity, sales to price ratio and cash flow to price were associated with the returns of the shares.

The outcome from this finding confirmed that the analyst report retained its position as a good source of reference when making investment decisions. However, the disclosure of information in the form of qualitative information together with fundamental information should be enhanced for Sharīʿah-compliant share so that investors would have adequate information when making an investment decision.

This study will supply more insights into the matter of information content and informativeness of the analyst report in Malaysia by focussing on Sharīʿah-compliant shares, which is practically an underexplored research area in Malaysia.

This paper investigates the probability that people (prospective donors) would be willing to use the crowdfunding-Waqf model (CWM), depending on certain variables and characteristics. This study aims to develop an alternative financial model to address Malaysia’s Waqf land financing problem.

A survey study was conducted to assess the probability that people would be willing to use the CWM. This study used descriptive analysis and the logistic regression model as analytical tools. Descriptive analysis was conducted using frequencies, which means the number of respondents for each variable or item, such as demographic variables. The logistic regression model was used to obtain the probability that individuals would be willing to use the CWM, based on certain variables.

This study found that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, gender and Waqf knowledge positively affected the likelihood that people would willingly use the CWM for developing Waqf land. In contrast, other factors such as age group, marital status, income level, internet usage, perceived risk of crowdfunding and Waqf perception did not affect this likelihood. Further investigation indicated that being of middle-income level and possessing crowdfunding knowledge positively affected the likelihood that people were willing to use the CWM. The highest probability of the willingness to use the CWM was identified among middle-income males who knew about Waqf and perceived the CWM as useful and easy to use.

The results of this study and other key findings are expected to be implemented by Waqf institutions in Malaysia to develop policies related to Waqf land in general or to the CWM in particular. The findings are also expected to benefit individuals, organisations and countries, and they could also be adapted and validated in other nations.

This study focused on developing a better chance of finding people with specific characteristics and factors that lead them to intentionally use the CWM. The probability of willingness to use the CWM based on certain variables has not yet been evaluated. Recognising how higher probabilities can be identified using every factor and characteristic will enable future CWM users to be better mapped, which is expected to increase the effectiveness of developing the CWM.