PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide commentary on the challenges and impacts of the pandemic crisis to higher education institutions (HEIs) in Malaysia. It also outlines mitigation plans, innovative strategies adopted and implications and recommendations to HEIs.Design/methodology/approachThe research study uses a discourse analysis to examine the higher education challenges and impacts of the pandemic in Malaysia.FindingsThe findings reveal that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the higher education sector in Malaysia significantly. Both lecturers and students in HEIs are faced with multiple challenges in teaching and learning. The effect was more severe in East Malaysia due to poor Internet connectivity for online learning. Nevertheless, COVID-19 also provides an opportunity to HEIs to reconstruct the education system and establish updated programmes and assessments. The success of online learning to mitigate the impacts is still unknown.Research limitations/implicationsThe review of the literature and news are not comprehensive as the current pandemic crisis is not over.Originality/valueThis paper is presumably representing a frontier review with more empirical research studies to be conducted to investigate the extent of the current crisis affecting teaching and learning in HEIs in Malaysia. Though there were some commentaries on how the pandemic affects education, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first commentary paper in higher education realm in Malaysia.

Purpose This study aims to examine the effects of green marketing tools on tourists’ behavioural intention to buy green products by measuring individuals’ subjective norms, attitudes and perceived behavioural control. Design/methodology/approach A total of 421 international tourists from several tourist attractions in Malaysia, selected through convenience sampling, participated in a survey. Findings The analysis results using partial least squares structural equation modelling suggest that behavioural intention of international tourists is firmly influenced by attitude, perceived behavioural control, subjective norms and green marketing tools. However, the subjective norm does not work as a mediator. Practical implications The relationships established in this study provide insight into hoteliers’ knowledge for further implementation of green marketing strategies (eco-label, eco-brand, environmental advertising), which can enhance green attitudes and behavioural intention of purchasing green products in the hospitality industry. Originality/value This study expands the theory of planned behaviour by including green marketing tools to measure international tourists’ green buying tendency in Malaysia.

This paper focuses on managing the digital marketing communication of coffee shop using the Instagram. The Instagram application offer a great advantages such as quick and cheap marketing communication tools, particularly in  promoting the product, disseminating advertisement and brand awareness. Previous study highlighted that managing marketing communication via Instagram is a strategic tools to inform, persuade and remind consumers about what they offer. However, there is limited number of empirical studies on Instagram as a marketing communication tools on how efficiencies of Instagram application in managing digital marketing communication strategies to the customers. Therefore, this paper will enlighten the issues related to the application of Instagram as a marketing tool in the coffee shop business. The content analysis and semi-structured interview has been employed to gain in-depth knowledge from the owner, marketing staffs and marketing consultant who have experiences in managing the digital marketing communication strategy. The findings of the study revealed that Instagram application has become an effective marketing communication tools to disseminate the promotional message to the customers in quick way dan cost efficient as compare to the traditional media.

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Purpose There appears to be a growing concern over the lack of scales for measuring internal crisis communication (ICC) in the course of an organizational crisis. Noting this compelling evidence, an analysis of results from earlier exploratory studies demonstrated a strong need for a sound scale with adequate psychometric properties. On that account, the purpose of this paper is to develop a valid scale for ICC. Design/methodology/approach This study examined the conceptualization and operationalization of ICC based on a comprehensive literature search. The in-depth interviews consist of 12 key informants with a sample size of 251 respondents for scale development and testing wherein all data items were evaluated and validated by 13 expert reviewers. Findings The results were measured during a crisis situation and provided rationale and initial psychometric properties of ICC. Exploratory and confirmatory analyses have provided evidence that ICC scale has achieved a valid and reliable factor structure. Practical implications Therefore, practitioners such as policy makers, government, researchers and crisis managers can adopt this scale of assessment to enhance a more accurate ICC; in this regard, provide useful implications to help minimize risks as they happen, thereupon find a better way to manage crisis situations. Originality/value This study contributes to the subject area and builds the existing literature by developing 11 items for ICC. The research provides a starting point for empirical investigation on important factors of influence on organizational internal stakeholders.