In the Digital Era, being part of the digital society is no longer an option particularly for those living in the urban areas. Caught by the e-wave and the onslaught of sophisticated information and communication technologies (ICT), most urbanites are e-savvy unlike those living in rural locations, particularly the indigenous groups. Is there a need for simple, rural folks to embrace digital literacy and be e-inclusive? Hence, the objective of the study is to assess the level of literacy and computer literacy amongst the indigenous people or natives living in a rural area of Perak, Malaysia. Cross-sectional research design with purposive sampling was employed and the instrument used was a survey form. The findings revealed that 30.8% of the respondents were illiterate and only 5.2% who were computer literate thus, substantiating the myth of digital inclusion among the minorities. With the government's transformation plan to have connected citizens through broadband access, the dilemma was the motivation for this research and inherently, substantiated. Although native minorities in Perak, Malaysia formed the sample size for this study, the implications provide justification for policy analysis on socio-technological inclusion among other disadvantaged groups as culture remains strongly ingrained in their every day existence. However, with time, the new generation may revolutionize the outlook of the indigenous group towards modernity and ICT. A change champion together with a positive, political environment would retard the myth and rhetoricism in promoting e-access for social inclusion and citizen development.
Single-use plastics waste, when not properly managed and discarded, poses a threat to both the environment and human health. In the next 30 years, the global plastics waste crisis will exacerbate if the current consumption pattern and their production continue. The plastics crisis is seen as an anthropocentric problem that requires the understanding of consumer consumption patterns in order to encourage its alleviation. Thus, this paper proposes a conceptual framework to examine the predictors for adopting single-use plastics reduction activities among young urban consumers in Malaysia. Rather than assuming the homogeneity of the consumer's single-use plastics reduction pattern, the current framework posits that different consumers are at different stages of behavioural readiness and adoption. It also explores the underlying factors and specific social referent groups at each stage using the integration of the Transtheoretical Model and Theory of Planned Behaviour. Consumer segmentation based on the theoretical integration could be used to create a more targeted behavioural change efforts that align with the characteristics and drivers of each stage. It is hoped that the present research can help to support efforts in reducing single-use plastics as outlined in the Malaysia's Roadmap towards Zero Single-Use Plastics 2018-2030 policy.
Langkawi is a resort island in the northwestern part of Malaysia where the island's economy is reliant on agro-based activities and tourism for sustainable development. With the Digital Era, it is important that the indigenous islanders adjust their income generating ways by using information and communication technology (ICT) for better capacity building. This is in line with the government's four pillars of transformation, specifically, the National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) and the Strategic Reform Initiatives (SRI) for creating a competitive domestic economy, enhancing the sources of growth and ensuring sustainability of growth. Henceforth, the objective of this study is to evaluate the islanders' accessibility to the internet and correlate this to their ability to regenerate sustainability through their various occupations. The crosssectional design of this fundamental study from which interviews and survey administration will be the staple for data collection will result in parametric and non-parametric analyses for the disclosure of demographic profiling of the sample population relevant to digital access and sustainable regeneration. The findings will provide significant insights for the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) to re-strategize their plans for the island's growth which will inadvertently and positively affect the well-being and quality of life of the islanders.
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