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The development of family-based microenterprises has attracted the attention of regulators, microfinance institutions and other stakeholders in either developing or least developed countries. In the finance literature, several studies have examined the determinants of the family-based microenterprises development; however, there are several venues that need to be examined. The study aims to explain the economic profit of microenterprises from resource-based theory and human capital perspectives.

Based on critical review and theoretical grounding, this study proposes a conceptual framework, which bridges intangible resources with economic growth of microenterprises.

After reviewing previous studies and based on the underpinning theoretical framework, the study finds that human capital is one of the variables that has received a little attention and yet to be examined as a moderating role. Based on the human capital theorist, individual's competencies help enterprises to perform better in business, as enterprises that possess competencies and capabilities are more likely to have higher levels of growth and profitability.

This finding provides useful implications for the stakeholders and policymakers and contributes in the future literature.

Based on critical review and theoretical grounding, this study proposes a conceptual framework, which bridges intangible resources with economic growth of microenterprises.

This paper aims to discuss the mediating effects of innovation on the relationship between knowledge management and firm competitiveness.

A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from small construction firms in the Eastern Region of Peninsular Malaysia. Out of the 190 construction firms surveyed, 153 (80.5%) respondents returned their completed questionnaire. These were used for data analysis. The data were then analyzed using the covariance-based structural equation modeling (SEM).

Knowledge management had a direct and significant positive effect on firm competitiveness. Nonetheless, the effect of knowledge management on firm competitiveness was mediated by innovation. This indicates that knowledge management should be supported by technical and administrative innovations in the firm.

The data collected were from a limited sample of construction firms. In addition, conducting a study on a region of Malaysia may limit the generalizability of the model.

While knowledge management is crucial for a firm’s competitiveness, technical and administrative innovations must be concurrently improved for a stronger firm competitiveness. This is especially true in terms of financial strength and core competence.

This paper provides some empirical evidence that technical and administrative innovations fully mediated the relationship between knowledge management and firm competitiveness. The results consolidate the resource-based view on the importance of internal resource and capability of the firm and improve KM research area. It also strengthens the view that KM is a critical factor for firm competitiveness, but a good KM without strong innovation will not increase the competitiveness of small construction firms.

The issue of tax evasion through fraudulent financial reporting committed by companies is a major concern facing the tax authority in Malaysia. As such, the purpose of this study is to propose a cohesive model of predicting tax evasion from the perspective of fraudulent financial reporting amongst small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) taxpayers.

The proposed model for this study is designed to explore the extent of the relationships between the independent variables: family ownership firms, company size, presence of tax professionals, company’s duration in business and frequency of tax audits and the moderating variable, i.e. tax audit officers’ level of competence; and the dependent variable, i.e. tax evasion from the perspective of fraudulent financial reporting. This study is grounded on four theories: agency theory, political cost theory, economic deterrence theory and competency theory. Data will be gathered from actual audit cases resolved by the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia. Ordinary least square regression analysis is proposed for the investigation.

This study anticipates that family ownership firms, company size, presence of tax professionals, company’s duration in business and frequency of tax audits could be associated with tax evasion amongst SMEs in Malaysia. This study further proposes that highly competent tax audit officers could mitigate the relationship between frequency of tax audits and tax evasion practices amongst SMEs in Malaysia.

This study should be able to provide a cohesive model of predicting tax evasion from the perspective of fraudulent financial reporting amongst SMEs in Malaysia. Research on fraudulent financial reporting amongst SMEs is very limited, especially involving the level of competence of the tax audit officers; therefore, this study should contribute to the tax evasion literature by providing a comprehensive model of predicting tax evasion through fraudulent financial reporting using a Malaysian tax setting.

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether Tawarruq Islamic home financing (IHF) products remain untouched and maintain their position as the top IHF product in Malaysia.

The study adopted a qualitative research methodology that included both literature review and content analysis. Firstly, the existing studies and literature were reviewed to compare different types of IHF. The composition of IHF products offered by these Islamic banks was then investigated further to analyse each bank’s progress in IHF from 2015 to 2019. The data were gathered from bank websites, brochures, product disclosure sheets and annual reports.

The findings reveal that around 62.5% of Islamic banks offered Tawarruq for IHF in the year 2020. For the banks that offered Tawarruq, the amount of the financing continued to grow each year. The plausible reason for the preference for Tawarruq was its less risky nature, despite facing numerous operating, legal and Shariah issues.

This study has several limitations, including the fact that it was limited to home financing products only, the methodology used and the research period.

This study aimed to provide beneficial insights into the use of Tawarruq, which has been a source of concern for regulators as well as steps made to reduce its usage in the industry. Islamic banks should be more proactive in developing non-Tawarruq products to enhance product innovation in the market and minimise the heavy reliance on debt-based products.

This study provides useful insights by analysing IHF in depth for each Islamic bank and making recommendations for future research. Specifically, the method facilitated critical discussions and comparisons to previous research findings as to why Tawarruq has remained popular.

This chapter provides a case study on a Sharīʿah-compliant home facility contract based on the Bai Bithaman Ājil (BBA) contract, generally used by Islamic banks in Malaysia. The study emphasises on the need to comply with the existing legal framework and execute relevant contracts in line with the Sharīʿah resolutions of the Sharīʿah Advisory Council of Bank Negara Malaysia without causing harm (ḍarar) to the customers or introducing uncertain elements or procedures (gharar) in the execution of the agreements. This chapter is based on doctrinal analysis of the relevant issues as well as a qualitative legal research through content analysis of relevant BBA agreements, case law as well as statutory provisions. The case study used in this chapter is completely anonymised. The study finds that the execution of BBA agreements in Malaysia leaves much to be desired. Even though the regulatory framework for Sharīʿah-compliant home financing in Malaysia is robust, there are some legal and Sharīʿah considerations which the stakeholders need to look into in order to project Malaysia as the main global hub of Islamic finance. This study demonstrates the need for proper Sharīʿah auditing of the practical execution of BBA agreements to avoid an incorporated element of gharar at the time of execution of the agreements, which might ultimately lead to unforeseen reputation risks for the bank. Though there are several studies on the Sharīʿah, financing and accounting aspects of the BBA home facility agreement, this study focusses on both Sharīʿah and legal issues, using the case study approach. The recommendations are expected to provide a good policy framework for the stakeholders in the Islamic financial services industry in Malaysia.

Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of Malaysian economy since they are the largest category of business in the country and as such provide paramount contributions. However, referring to the past studies on SMEs in Malaysia from the year 2001 to the most recent (2020) studies, it was found that SMEs faced various issues, challenges, and hindrances, thus preventing the growth of their operations. Many SMEs also have problems to ensure their sustainability as well as to remain competitive in the market and changing environment. This chapter will provide an overview of SMEs in Malaysia. The discussion begins with the definition of Malaysian SMEs, followed by the contributions of SMEs in Malaysia. The last part is on issues and challenges faced by SMEs entrepreneurs in Malaysia.

This study aims to address the critical need for innovative financing solutions in the global housing sector, focusing specifically on Malaysia’s distinct housing finance system encompassing both conventional and Islamic loans. The primary objective is to develop a transformative housing finance model that addresses affordability challenges and reshapes the Malaysian housing landscape.

The study presents an alternate housing finance model for Malaysia, integrating lower monthly payments and reduced household debt. Key variables include house price appreciation rates, interest rates, initial guarantee fees and loan-to-value ratios. Inspired by the Help to Buy (HTB) scheme, the model aligns with proven global initiatives for enhanced affordability, balancing payment amounts, loan interest rates and acceptable price thresholds.

The study’s findings promise to address affordability disparities and reshape Malaysia’s housing finance landscape. The emphasis is on introducing a structured repayment plan that offers a sustainable path to homeownership, particularly for low-income families. Incorporating the future value adaptation concept, inspired by reverse mortgages and Islamic finance, enhances adaptability, ensuring long-term sustainability despite economic shifts.

The proposed model promotes widespread access to homeownership, offering practical solutions for policymakers to improve affordability, prompting adaptable risk management strategies for financial institutions and empowering potential homebuyers with increased flexibility.

The study introduces a transformative housing finance model for Malaysia, merging elements from reverse mortgages, Islamic finance and the HTB scheme, offering potential applicability to similar systems globally.

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the determinants of student loyalty, i.e. service quality, e-service quality and university image in open and distance learning (ODL) based on the theory of reasoned action, in more systematic approach. This study also examines university's image role as a mediator on the relationship between service quality and e-service quality towards student loyalty.

This paper develops an integrative conceptual framework along with propositions by integrating comprehensive literature, in the field of service quality, e-service quality, university image and student loyalty. Through the review of detail literature and based theory of reasoned action (TRA), it is proposed that service quality, e-service quality and university image would be meaningful attributes towards student loyalty. In addition, it is also contended that university image would mediate the relationship between service quality and e-service quality towards students’ loyalty.

This paper provides an integrative conceptual framework on service quality, e-service quality, university image and students loyalty in open and distance learning (ODL) context.

None of the models presented in the literature explore the mediation of university image on the relationship between service quality and e-service quality towards student loyalty as the most recent research on the subject envisages.

Within a few days, the National Disaster Management Agency’s COVID-19 Fund (NADMA) has collected RM 5.5 m in donations from individuals and companies. These data shows that voluminous Malaysians are willing to help although they are in a difficult situation. Grounded in the Social Responsibility theory, this paper aims to examine the factors that motivate infaq (donation) behaviour in Malaysia during Movement Control Order (MCO).

The quantitative questionnaire survey method was used to obtain the data. This research’s unit analysis was of individuals who had done any help during COVID-19 MCO in Malaysia. The respondents were from all states in Malaysia, 20 years old and above and constituted of all races.

Although the religiosity factor did not play a significant role as a moderator, the results of the study found that all factors from the social responsibility theory had a significant positive relationship to Infaq behaviour during an emergency.

Identifying the vital driving factors that determine the infaq offer makes it possible for fundraisers to entirely focus on developing better approaches that can increase the role that these driving factors can play and possibly improve the impact on those previously unaffected factors.

From the authors’ knowledge, the research paper on helping effort during an emergency is minimal, let alone the research on infaq behaviour. This paper’s originality lies in the relationship between infaq behaviour, emergency and social responsibility theory which has never been explored before by other researchers.

The accounting profession has long faced the issue of an audit expectation gap; being the gap between the quality of the profession’s performance, its objectives and results, and that which the society expects. Studies have been carried out worldwide to determine the effect of education in narrowing the audit expectation gap. Extending the knowledge acquired, this paper investigates whether internship program could reduce the audit expectation gap in Malaysia. Using a pre‐post method, the research instrument adapted from ferguson et al. (2000) is administered to the UUM’s accounting students before and after completing an internship program. The results show a significant change in their perceptions after the internship program. The results show a significant change in their perceptions after the internship program. However, changes in perceptions may not warrant an internship program as a means of reducing the audit expectation gap as misperceptions about the duties of auditors for fraud prevention and detection are still found among respondents. Nevertheless, an internship can still be used to complement audit education as it is an ideal way to expose students to professional issues and enables them to have a better insight of the actual performance and duties of auditors.