The study investigates the extent to which mergers lead to efficiency. The data covers the period 1993-2004, which includes the pre- and post-merger years. This study attempts to evaluate technical efficiency, efficiency change, technical change, and productivity of commercial banks, finance companies, and merchant banks by using a non-parametric Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Malmquist Index approach as the framework for the analyses. It is found that: (i) on an average, productivity across banking institutions increased at an annual rate of 5.8% over the study period; (ii) the results also indicate that almost all of the productivity growth comes from technical change rather than improvement in efficiency change, which contributes to 6.1% of productivity growth, while the latter accounted for 0.2% decline; and (iii) the merger process led to productivity improvements whereby it is observed that the productivity of Malaysia's banking sector has been improved after the implementation of merger program.

The well-being of youths is a crucial concern, and the pandemic has further expatiated their well-being There is a need to foster positive well-being among youths experiencing a rapid developmental change in their lives and choosing their environments which can be accomplished through reading. The goal of this study was to determine the perceived influence of reading attitude, perceived behavioural control, and subjective norm on adolescents' reading habits and the relationship between reading habits and subjective well-being among youths aged 15 to 24 in East and West Malaysia. The current study used a survey questionnaire gathered from 813 responders from East and West Malaysia and the analysis utilized AMOS-Structural Equation Modeling. The data reveal that reading attitude and subjective norms positively and significantly influence reading habits, although perceived behavioural control has a detrimental effect. In addition, the findings support the mediation of reading habits in the relationship between reading attitude and subjective well-being and between perceived behavioural control and subjective well-being. This study would provide educators and policymakers with insight into the most effective strategies for instilling good reading habits in youths by transforming the curriculum and what happens inside the classroom to provide much-needed valuable classroom time to engage youth in reading.

The objective of the present paper is to address the question whether the economic development of the neighbouring countries, states or provinces have impacted the states of Sabah and Sarawak or vice versa. Using annual data for the period 1968 to 2003, results indicate that the growth of the state of Sarawak is affected by the growth of Brunei Darussalam, Sabah, West Kalimantan and East Kalimantan and the economy of Sabah is affected by the economies of Brunei, Sarawak and East Kalimantan.

Malaysia established its Eleventh Malaysia Plan (11MP) to achieve sustainable economic development, with one of its primary strategic thrusts being "accelerating human capital development for an advanced nation." This study examines one aspect of human capital development by reviewing the reading habits of Malaysian youths and the conjecture surrounding a 'crisis' among youths and their engagement with reading, to foster a culture of reading to improve education, focusing on human behavioral interventions to increase environmental knowledge and awareness, and developing human capital with pro-environmental behavior. Data from 250 valid questionnaires was analyzed using the variance-based Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method. The theoretical framework of this study is based on Dewey's Educational Theory of Constructivism and Social Cognitive Theory. The results reveal that attitude and parental influence significantly promotes reading habits, while perceived stress does not. It was also found that reading habits positively influenced the pro-environmental behavior of youths. It is hoped that this study will lead to a coherent strategy being undertaken to engage Malaysian youths not only to read but to engender a culture of sustainability and pro-environment behavior.

Almost five decades, disparity in income across states in Malaysia continues to be a matter of concern. The existence of regional inequalities and the prospects that these inequalities may widen were recognized by the Malaysian government. The nine volumes of the 5-Year Malaysia Plans reflects the sincerity of the Malaysian government in eradicating if not elevating the problem of regional or states imbalances. The objective of the present study is to investigate stochastic convergence among three regions (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak) in Malaysia using sectoral data. Using annual data for the period 1968 to 2003 we found that Malaysia's sectoral data exhibit strong and weak convergence between regions.