This is a preliminary study developed to explore the determinants of capital structure of Shariah-compliant firms listed in Bursa Malaysia. This study is primarily motivated by the issue of the determinants still being inconclusive in the area of capital structure. The study is performed using the static models namely Pool Ordinary Least Square, Fixed Effect and Random Effect Model. Empirical analysis on the determinants reveals that country specific factor which is GDP and sector specific factor which is industry concentration are also significant in influencing the corporate financing decisions in this country along with firm specific factors such as efficiency, bankruptcy risk, profitability, tangibility, liquidity and size of the firm. The findings revealed that results are sensitive to models employed in the study. Nevertheless, the applicability of capital structure theories such as the trade-off theory, agency theory and pecking order theory diverge across sectors in Malaysia. The pecking order theory and agency theory are found to be the dominant theories governing the corporate financing decision in the country as well. It indicates strong evidence of hierarchy practised in firms’ financing decision. The finding on agency theory being dominant justifies the function of short-term debt as a controlling mechanism to mitigate the agency problem arises within firms across sectors.

This paper aims to investigate structuring classroom activities in experiential learning cycles to facilitate first-year Business and Accounting students’ engagement in principles of accounting course. The levels of student engagement and achievement in understanding accounting concepts are measured at the end of the course. The content of fundamental accounting is structured into experiential learning cycles to provide a practical model for learning accounting concepts. Two models of students learning are tested in this study are the Kolb Experiential Learning Model and Burch Engagement Model. A quasi - experimental study is implemented to test the effectiveness of an experiential learning model in improving student engagement. Lessons on Business Accounting is structured into an experiential learning cycle and delivered to an experimental group to measure the improvement in students’ engagement. Burch Engagement Model which measures students’ cognitive, emotional, and physical engagement is applied in measuring their engagement level. A pre and post-test design are employed to measure the difference in their engagement level between the control and the experimental group. The respondents of this study are a total of 112 students in Principles of Accounting course. Questionnaires and test sets are the measurement instruments used for data collection. After an eight-week exposure to experiential learning strategy, the post -test score for students’ engagement show an increase in means of the four dimensions of student engagement, with the highest mean in the cognitive in-class engagement, followed by cognitive out-of class, physical and emotional engagement. Improvement in the cognitive score is concluded to be significant across the cognitive levels of Bloom Taxonomy mainly in understanding, application, and analysis. The implications of this study involve improvement of the support system to materialize the experiential learning strategy.

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This study examines the effect of returns from South Korea, Taiwan and Japan Stock Exchanges on the Bursa Malaysia in the year 2000 to 2004. The return from an individual stock exchange is no longer exclusive but with effect of globalization, it is also influenced by activities happening in other countries. The sources ofco-movements between stock markets are of great importance both for international investors and academics. A better knowledge of the underlying factors may improve portfolio management and help to assess the degree offinancial integration and efficiency.

The main purpose of this research is to identify whether there is any relationship between economic indicators, industrialization and pollutant emissions (CO2) on economic development in Malaysia. Economic indicators consist of government debt, health and education expenditure. This paper used Ordinary Least Square (OLS) Method to test the factors affecting the economic development. The data collection for each variable are collected from year 1980 until 2014 for 35 years in Malaysia. The result of the study shows that industrialization and pollutant emission (CO2) have a significant relationship on economic development. Meanwhile, government debt, health and education expenditure do not have a significant relationship on economic development. These finding will help to understand the effect of independent variables towards the dependent variable (economic development)