The seaport system is one of the complex systems which involves many stakeholders; i.e. seaport cluster; seaport authority, seaport operator, government, shipping agent, forwarding agent etc. Due to this concern, the aims of this research is revealed the relationship between the three elements of seaport quality towards the seaport competitiveness. Subsequently, the scope of this research identified three elements of seaport quality (seaport effectiveness; seaport reliability; seaport governance) and seaport competitiveness as the influential elements from the Malaysian Seaport perspective. Then, the methodology of this research used quantitative method analysis and questionnaire as the instrument for the Malaysian seaport cluster stakeholders. Multiple regressions and the reliability test were employed for the data analysis. The 143 out of 180 respondents had approved after data screening. Consequently, the finding was the 8 influential elements of seaport quality onto seaport competitiveness; (i) highly stability on strong cooperation about ship and cargoes, (ii) systematic arrangement of facilities and equipment, (iii) demonstrates good understanding of client requirement, (iv) reliability on the ability of equipment and facilities, (v) easy understanding towards the implementation of the guidelines of process involves, (vi) highly attending by customer on the cooperation through community, (vii) highly understanding and knowledge to the security compliance and (viii) minimizing the ship turnaround time, and those were statistically significant under the Malaysian seaport quality perspectives. As conclusion, the element of seaport quality would contribute as the benchmark to improvise the Malaysian seaport competitiveness. The contribution from this research is foreseen under the developing the guidelines through the seaport quality while enhancing the seaport operation efficiency and the strategies development in determining the continuous sustainability of seaport industry.

Halal transportations will ensure that the Halal status of the products will be preserved. Halal certification is believed to increase the operation cost for the transport providers, which reflect the price paid by customers who choose to buy products transported by Halal transportation. Hence, it is worthwhile to investigate the willingness of Muslim consumers to pay extra for the Halal transportation cost. The study aims to identify factors influencing Muslim consumers’ attitude towards their willingness to pay for Halal transportation. Using the stimulus-organism-response model, attitude which represents the organism factor will be treated as a mediator for variables representing the stimulus factors and the variable for the response. On the other hand, the study will also examine the effect of knowledge as a moderating factor. The data was collected from Muslim consumers in Kuala Lumpur. Applying the purposive sampling method with a self-administered survey, 202 respondents agreed to participate in the study. The findings revealed that awareness and perceived behavioural control are a stimulus towards attitude, and attitude is a significant organism on willingness to pay. The study also found that attitude mediates the relationship between awareness and perceived behavioural control towards the willingness to pay for Halal transportation. Additionally, the knowledge has a moderating effect of the relationship between attitude and the willingness to pay. The findings of the study are not only beneficial for the Muslim community in Malaysia, but also the Muslims around the world.

The purpose of this research is to examine the mediating effect of enterprise competitiveness on the relationship between operational service quality management and customer perception level of freight forwarders’ services in East Coast region of Peninsular Malaysia. Data were collected from 106 customers of freight forwarders through accessible random sampling method. Usable data were analyzed through Partial Least-squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach using Smart PLS-SEM software version 3.2.8. The validity of the survey questionnaire was confirmed using content validity, structural validity and expert validity. The results revealed that operational service quality management influences customer perception toward service providers’ services. Meanwhile, enterprise competitive mediates the relationship between operational service quality management and customer perception on service providers’ services. The enterprise competitiveness was found to be a driver for better customer perception on freight forwarder service providers. Besides, it has a strong mediating effect which ultimately effect on both customer perception level of satisfaction and could enhance customer perception on operational service quality management through words of mouth. These findings would therefore offer the freight forwarders’ management teams a new perspective in developing a better operational service quality management strategies and practices with emphasis on enterprise competitiveness. It also demonstrates the significance of enterprise competitiveness in donimating towards consumer perception in service preference and future repurchase intension.

Volunteering is defined as an individual’s spontaneous act of willingly giving and caring. It is conducted out of concern and volunteers do not expect monetary benefits in return. Volunteerism is a social responsibility attitude where financial profit goes beyond one’s fundamental commitments. Although no pecuniary benefits are gained, the number of volunteers during coastal clean-ups, marine debris clean-ups, and sea-turtle rescue operations has increased over the years. In 2017, 80,000 tourists took part in volunteerism activities around the world. In Malaysia, 1073 tourists registered as volunteers in 2017. This number is most probably higher as many volunteers spontaneously join activities without proper registration. Hence, it is crucial to understand the reasons behind the volunteers’ willingness to work for free in another country. Although several studies on volunteering have been published, little research has been conducted on the volunteers’ intentions to continue volunteering on an island. By adopting the volunteer function inventory, this study aims to identify factors leading to continue volunteering among tourists who visit islands in Malaysia. Using a purposive sampling method, questionnaires data were collected from 121 volunteers on the islands of Kapas, Perhentian, and Tioman. Using Smart Partial Least Squares, the researchers found that the value, social and enhancement factors have a positive relationship with the intention to continue being a volunteer. On the other hand, understanding, protective, and career factors were found insignificant. Beside enriching the literature on volunteerism, this study provides insightful information on tourists' behaviours on volunteerism. It is meaningful to several parties such as volunteerism centres in Malaysia and around the globe.

Piracy and maritime terrorisms are the eldest form of maritime criminal activities occurred across the globe and becoming enormous threats to navigational security. Since the past decades, major actors in maritime policy such as ocean governance and international security have discussed to include countermeasures in combating maritime terrorisms. However, maritime security remained as a critical agenda that have no definite solution. Recently, these ongoing terrorisms have threatened the sovereignty of many countries including Malaysia. Concerning about the issue, this paper aims to analyses the piracy and maritime terrorisms in Sulu Sea by identifying and assessing the effects of piracy and maritime terrorisms on the Malaysian navigational security in Sulu Sea. Therefore, an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Evidential Reasoning (ER) approaches are used in this analysis. An AHP is use for prioritizing the effects of maritime terrorisms. Then, the ER approach was proposed to assess each maritime terrorism effect in a fuzzy context. In this paper, Sulu Sea has been highlights as the case study. This article presents an exhaustive review on the piracy and maritime terrorisms in Sulu Sea. The results of the numerical assessment have indicated that the crew casualty and injury are the most alarming risks in that area due to the piracy and maritime terrorisms, followed by the vessel security, port security, navigational delay, vessel route diversion, financial loss and cargo loss and damages. It is suggested that the involvement of government and maritime stakeholders in Malaysia are necessary for ensuring safe and secure navigation. This paper is expected to assist and guide enforcement agencies and other related entities to enhance the navigational security by conducting the proactive assessment in combating and reducing maritime terrorisms especially in Malaysian waters.

The shipping revolution was introduced due to development and improvement that occurred in the shipping industry. Until now, changes in the shipping industry are still ongoing to improve their services, especially by introducing mega ships to transport cargoes. Thence, the shipping revolution stimulates seaport to comply with the requirements for a new mega ship. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the external environment factors that contribute to the challenge of Malaysia Port towards the shipping revolution. Firstly, the external environmental factors that challenge Malaysia Port towards shipping revolution are identified by using the PESTEL analysis; which are political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal factors. Then, these identified factors are ranked by using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to determine the priority external environment factors that contribute to the challenge of Malaysia Port towards shipping revolution. Data were collected by using pair wise comparison questionnaire which is qualitative method. The questionnaire consists two sections; there are demographic information and PESTEL factors. Thereafter, the data were analysed by AHP analysis. The results shown that the top three priority external environmental main factors that contribute to the challenge of Malaysia Port towards shipping revolution which are economic, technology and environment. Then, the top three sub factors are economic growth, digitalization and reduce emission. As a conclusion, these factors can influence the Malaysia Port towards shipping revolution and need priorities attention. Whereas the economic growth will monetary support shipping and port revolution, digitalization can reduce cost and increase efficiency, and reduce emission towards environmental friendly. Consequently, the findings will raising awareness and as a blueprint to government and port operators during development and expansion of harbour towards shipping revolution.

The multilateral trade relations between Malaysia and MERCOSUR is a new market. This study focuses on automotive policy areas towards the MERCOSUR regime which focus on trade ties. The purpose of this study is to expand national automotive policy to penetrate the automotive sector in the MERCOSUR. While it create opportunities to penetrate the automotive sector in MERCOSUR where Malaysia needs to enhancement national trade performance of FTA potential within MERCOSUR regime especially on investment and trade. The main issue is the lack of progress and process are restrictions on Malaysia's within MERCOSUR in the automotive field. Malaysia does not pursue trade within respective nation but in statistical shows have a large and positive market economy with the southern continent of America, especially the automotive industry and lack of performance of Malaysian counterparts and MERCOSUR and unsuccessful automotive investment and exporters. This research uses qualitative research methods, data collection, interviews, and content analysis methods for this study. Expert from respective agencies as interviewees such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Malaysia Trade Relations Division (MATRADE), the Department of Robotics and the automotive trade policy of Malaysia and the IoT Institute. Coding techniques are used for coding processes in content analysis. Hereby, the analysis by using the Economic Integration theory with SWOT Analysis to find out the implementation of Malaysia FTA within the MERCOSUR .Hence, research findings show that Malaysia's multilateral within MERCOSUR relations have a potential to be strengthened with a variety of positive and initiatives from the Malaysia government.

Fatigue is not a trivial issue and needs much attention. On the other hand, fatigue among seafarers could lead to accidents at sea due to their inability and ineffectiveness in carrying out their work. Some were caused by sleepiness and lack of vigour, which, could not only affect their safety but compromising on other seafarers as well. In this study, factors that cause fatigue among seafarers were examined analytically and their quantitative priorities were determined using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. Additionally, the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is used to identify the best alternatives in minimizing fatigue among seafarers. For this, data is collected through interview involving those working in academic and maritime industry with more than 5 years of experiences in dealing with seafarers. The AHP result shows that fitness is the main cause that could affect fatigue on seafarers’ reliability. Besides, TOPSIS result shows that a well-maintained shipboard is the best way in sustaining seafarers’ energy. In sum, fatigue among seafarers could influence on safety and may lead towards precarious health issue over a long-term.

This study was undertaken to assess the occupational safety and health of fishermen community in Seberang Takir, Terengganu. The aims of this study was to evaluate current state of the occupational safety and health for fishermen at Seberang Takir, Terengganu and to create the prevention measures for occupational safety and health. The scope area of the research is Seberang Takir village, Kuala Terengganu, which is separated by a river and estuary. This research covers all fishermen and community at the Seberang Takir, Kuala Terengganu. The target population includes two groups of workers within fishermen and seller. Tools for this study is using HIRARC (Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control) form, along with hazard identification, a quantitative risk assessment as methodology has been done to prioritize the risk control management. The study reveals that during working (routine activity) was exposed to some hazards during handling of transfer the fish container to the collection point. Out of 7 identified hazard, 2% posed low level, 4% posed medium level and 1% posed high level. Secondly, an activity of fishermen during fishing was selected for this study to evaluate the occupational safety and health risk on board. Out of 6 identified hazard, 1% posed low level, 2% posed medium level, and 3% posed high level. This includes ergonomic, biological, physical, psycho-social, and natural. Overall the highest level of risk is ergonomic hazards. The result of risk matrix ranking based on the HIRARC survey of Occupational Safety and Health for fishermen Seberang Takir was conducted to determine the hazards and to improve the safety and health at the workplace. There are have several prevention measures are applied such as engineering control, administrative control and usage of personal protective equipment to reduce or prevent the hazards. The results of the current study can be utilized in the design of effective prevention measure in accordance with Malaysian Occupational Safety and Health Act.

Competitiveness of seaport is determined by a range of advantages that was earned by the seaport to attract their respective customers. Competitiveness is essential for seaport to make tactical plans, to maintain and improve their attractiveness among the clients. The imbalance of hinterland connectivity in Malaysian seaports between road and rail affects the efficiency of Malaysian seaports to be at the optimum level of competitiveness. Besides, the increasing of vessel capacity in the world affects the efficiency of seaport operations to accommodate larger container ships. However, nowadays the trends of seaport competitiveness are changing due to the dynamic nature of maritime business. Hence, analysis on the trend on seaport competitiveness is very crucial to plan and execute the operational strategy to achieve optimum benefits from the trade activities. Nevertheless, most of the researches focused on competitiveness trend in the world but no specific research has been conducted at Malaysian seaports in particular. Therefore, this paper aims to analyse the evolution of seaport competitiveness in Malaysian seaport from 1970 to 2019 and propose a competitiveness cluster for Malaysian seaport to ease the policy revisiting procedure for future development. Systematic Literature Review (SLR) has been employed in this paper to develop a comprehensive competitiveness cluster for Malaysian seaports to understand the current trend of competitiveness among Malaysian seaports in comparison to the global trend as a key preparation for future demand. IT application, seaport services, supply chain, government policy, connectivity, availability, hinterland accessibility, inland terminal cost, transportation network, operation efficiency and seaport cost are the key components of competitiveness in Malaysian seaports from 1970 until 2019. Findings revealed that there are three clusters in Malaysian seaport competitiveness which are shipping services, seaport and terminal, and government policy.