The purpose of this study to examine the relationship of cash flow ratios in predicting financial distress companies, with industrial and consumer product companies in Bursa Malaysia as the sample. The study on financial distress is critical as it can lead to bankruptcy, which may adversely affect the economy of the country. Therefore it is worth exploring any indicators that can identify the possibility of financial distress in the company. The tools enable to address the potential problems that can mitigate from distressed financial position.  Most prior studies in Malaysia focus on traditional financial ratios, while this study exploits the strength of cash flow ratios. The liquidity ratio, solvency ratio, efficiency ratio and profitability ratio utilized in this study are derived from the statement of cash flows. The Altman Z-score is used to measure the level of the financial distress. The findings show mixed relationships between solvency ratio and financial distress and a negative significant relationship between profitability ratio and financial distress, whilst efficiency ratio has no relationship with the financial distress. These results suggest that cash flow ratios are reliable tools to predict financial distress for Malaysian context. The study is useful in giving insights to the stakeholders in their decision making.

Different types of vulcanization systems play an important role towards thermal degradation of natural rubber (NR) compound. In this study, NR compounds were cured with efficient vulcanization (EV), semi-efficient vulcanization (SEV) and conventional vulcanization (CV) system in the presence of natural antioxidant (NA) obtained from oil palm leaves to compare the effectiveness of NA on the properties of NR vulcanizate, the same compound was prepared in the presence of commercial antioxidant, trimethylquinoline (TMQ). The samples were then subjected to tensile and tear test before and after ageing process. Both SEV/NA and EV/NA NR vulcanizates showed comparable results on mechanical properties before and after ageing process as compared to TMQ. Meanwhile, for CV systems, the result showed reduction in mechanical properties after a longer time of ageing due to the breakage of polysulphidic cross-link.

The construction industry has significant impacts on the environment. Abound the efforts to induce a greater green implementation in the construction project, it has been argued that the usage of green building materials in construction projects can help to minimize the production of waste and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. This article's objective is to identify the degree of compliance with the green building materials criteria by wood and cement manufacturers. The green building materials criteria were conceptualized as part of the sustainability movement in which the term green is used to refer to a clean environment and unpolluted atmosphere. To verify the compliance of the manufacturers through the green building materials criteria, a questionnaire survey supported by an interview was conducted. The results show that most Malaysian green manufacturers complied with the green criteria, which converged all three principles including environmental impact, resource management, and recycling implementation. This article provides a basis upon which existing and new manufacturers can produce green building materials thoroughly in accordance with the listed criteria. Clearly, the manufacturers' compliance with the green building materials criteria has several impacts on the development of the construction industry such that a green building material production process will stimulate a balanced ecosystem and prevent an environmental catastrophe.

Oil palm leaves is a waste material. Phenolic compound was extracted from oil palm leaves and know as natural antioxidant that could possibly used in natural rubber compound. The present study involves the effect of natural antioxidants that obtained from oil palm leaves on cure characteristics and crosslink density of natural rubber vulcanisate. The natural rubber had been cured at 160°C in three different vulcanization systems which were conventional (CV), efficient (EV) and semi-efficient (SEV). The cure characteristic was been conducted by using Mosanto Rheometer at 160°C for 30 minutes. For swelling test, the specimens were immersed in toluene solvent for 22 hours. The specimens were weighed before and after immersed. CV system showed better result in M90and curing rate due to higher degree of crosslinking as compared to SEV and EV system. Meanwhile, EV and SEV system showed comparable result in crosslink density with CV system. This is due stronger bonding between monosulphide crosslink. Finally, the results indicated that natural antioxidant has a tendency to substitute commercial antioxidant (TMQ) in the rubber field.

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