Bilateral relationships between Malaysia and Indonesia have always been cordial, augmented largely by their shared ethno-cultural, value and religious affinity. Cooperation and collaboration initiatives and arrangement between the two countries are well-established in various fields, ranging from security, economic and trade, health to education. However, these friendly bilateral relationships have been occasionally marred by diplomatic frictions and protests arising from their disputes over overlapping claims to maritime territory and boundary. Among the most notable, intractable on-going maritime territorial and boundary disputes between the two countries occur in the Malacca Straits. In resolving these particularly dispute, diplomatic negotiation has been the most common and if not, the only dispute resolution mechanism adopted by the two countries. What make the scope of this study departs from the existing literature is the focus placed on examining the process of diplomatic negotiations between Malaysia and Indonesia for amicable resolution of the disputes. Diplomatic negotiation is arguably the preferred method to delimit contested maritime boundaries as it has its own advantages compare to other alternative peaceful methods. This qualitative study uses content analysis approach to investigate and appraise the background and process of diplomatic negotiation between Malaysia and Indonesia to reach final settlement of their territorial area and boundary disputes in the Malacca Straits. In analyzing the case, the theoretical tools used are negotiation theory, and bilateral theory. The selected respondents for this study are comprised of experts and practitioners attached to government agencies such as Maritime Malaysia Enforcement Agency and Institute Diplomacy and Foreign Relation. Then, content analysis is applied to the coding process. The research finding reveal that the status of diplomatic negotiation between the government of Malaysia and Indonesia are still ongoing, with the immediate final resolution of the disputes remains to be seen. The contribution of this study lies in providing the strong facts and the real status about territorial dispute at Strait of Malacca between Malaysia and Indonesia and also the process of diplomatic negotiation between Malaysia and Indonesia in settlement the territorial dispute at Strait of Malacca.
Systematic literature reviews (SLR) are very important to track the extent to which studies related to the formulation of Halal Catering on board have been previously studied by previous scholars. Therefore, the SLR study requires a clear and detailed understanding concerning the study direction for each selected article by analyzing the scope of the study and its dimensions as the main emphasis whether it has been discussed by any previous scholar or otherwise. Through the basis of the analysis of literature reviews will enable the specific detection of the title of the study. Even SLR analysis is also able to compare in terms of the year the article was published by comparing the differences in scope and dimensions of each article by selected scholars referred to 16 scholars from the year 2012 until 2017. Regards to methodology, SLR emphasised into five stages such as i) Time Frame, ii) Selection of a database, iii) Journal selection, iv) Article selection and v) Literature review analysis. Analysis, discussion, and findings will be focusing on the scope, dimensions, and years of studies by using figures, tables as facilitators of analysis and findings. Hence, the role of Halal institutions will be able to assess its ability to form halal rules with the involvement of stakeholders and the scope that has been affected in detail.
The formulation of Halal and Catering Regulation on board is a new draft proposal in shipping industry in the nation to ensure Muslim seafarers will be protected under social welfare. Currently, there are no regulations in place regarding the formulation of provision of Halal and Catering which have been enforced by several authorities at different sector in the nation. However, Halal JAKIM is an expert and focal point with the right to issue Halal certification not only in this nation but globally. The main objective of the study was to form a Halal committee on board for the co-ordination of responsibilities between the agencies, and the second objective was to establish the Halal and Catering Regulations on the merchant vessel for the Malaysian flag. The problem is that seafarers feel insecure about the preparation of halal food and no regulations have been issued to date. In fact, this study requires Qualitative methods because several actions related to the Halal-Toyibban Policy and food preparation rules should be obtained through closed-ended interviews with Halal regulatory experts, ship-owners, and selected stakeholders. Therefore, the analytical process will refer to the use of transmitted transitions from oral to text through the coding system in facilitate the content analysis process; and further to the level of discussion and findings. Ship-owners should ratify the Halal and Catering Regulations once they are enacted. The results of this study are expected to formulate the framework for the Halal and Catering Committee involving the agency by reference to interdependent theory. The second finding was to formulate a draft of the Halal and Catering Regulations on the Malaysian merchant vessel by reference to the application of benchmarking theory. Finally, this study will benefit the Muslim seafarer with the cooperation of the ship-owner and the relevant government agencies.
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.