Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-wq2xx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-20T10:38:44.070Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Antarctic values and Malaysia's involvement in Antarctica: perceptions among young citizens of Malaysia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2015

Ahmad Firdaus Ahmad Shabudin ,
Rashidah Abdul Rahim ,
Norizan Md Nor  and
Kamarulazizi Ibrahim
Ahmad Firdaus Ahmad Shabudin
Affiliation:
Centre for Global Sustainability Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia 11800, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia (as_firdaus@usm.my, firdausshabudin@live.com)
Rashidah Abdul Rahim
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia 11800, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
Norizan Md Nor
Affiliation:
School of Humanities, Universiti Sains Malaysia 11800, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
Kamarulazizi Ibrahim
Affiliation:
Centre for Global Sustainability Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia 11800, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Lack of support and interest among the public is one of the major challenges in strengthening and sustaining the future national agendas on Antarctica. The main goal of this study is to identify the perception of Malaysia's public with regard to Antarctic values and Malaysian involvement in the region. A survey on Malaysia's young citizen perception on Antarctic has been conducted for mapping out the future landscape of Malaysian involvement in the Antarctic region. Surveys have been conducted on respondents from secondary schools and universities in Malaysia. A questionnaire was designed to seek respondents’ knowledge and awareness on the values of Antarctica and their opinions on Malaysia's involvement. The results of the study showed that respondents had a high level of awareness of Antarctic environmental issues. However, general knowledge about the Antarctic region was still intermediate. On the other hand, the results of this study showed that the young citizens had positive and strong support for strengthening Malaysia's Antarctic involvement. This study hopes to contribute as baseline data on the matter. Such background information will reflect on the national strategy in strengthening Malaysia's current policy and future involvement in Antarctica.

Type
Research Article
Information
Polar Record , Volume 52 , Issue 3 , May 2016 , pp. 305 - 315
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abu Samah, A., Convey, P., Alias, S. Aisyahand other. 2013. Antarctica: Malaysia's journey to the ice. Kuala Lumpur: National Antarctic Research Centre: BERNAMA.Google Scholar
Ahmad, A.L., Rahim, S.A., Pawanteh, L.and other. 2012. The understanding of environmental citizenship among Malaysian youths: A study on perception and participation. Asian Social Science 8 (5): 85–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alexander, K. 2011. Ozone depletion and climate change. Climatesight 30 March 2011. URL: http://climatesight.org/2011/03/30/ozone-depletion-and-climate-change/ (accessed 7 January 2015).Google Scholar
Atkin, M. 2015. China's interest in mining Antarctica revealed as evidence points to country's desire to become polar great power. ABC News 20 Jan 2015. URL: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015–01–20/chinas-desire-for-antarctic-mining-despite-international-ban/6029414 (accessed 25 Jan 2015).Google Scholar
Awang, N.A. and Abd Hamid, M.R.. 2013. Sea level rise in Malaysia. In: Mossa, M. (editor). Hydrolink - Special Issue on sea level rise - adaptation measures 2/2013. (Madrid: International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research): 47–49.Google Scholar
Azmi, N.J., Omar, N.A.M., Zaid, S.B.M.and others. 2015. Media portrayal on global climate change: an analysis of Malaysian mainstream newspapers. Studies in Media and Communication 3 (1): 73–78.Google Scholar
Berkman, P. A. 2010. Common interests in the international space of Antarctica. Polar Record 46 (01): 7–9.Google Scholar
Brady, A. M. (editor). 2012. The emerging politics of Antarctica. New York, NY: Routledge.Google Scholar
Chatterjee, S. 2007. Children's role in humanizing forced evictions and resettlements in Delhi. Children Youth and Environments, 17 (1):198–221.Google Scholar
Chiang, C-Y., Ferrar, S., Furborough, C.and other. 2012. If you can't beat ‘em, join ‘em: Malaysia's accession to the ATS. Christchurch: Gateway Antarctica: University of Canterbury (Syndicate reports PCAS 14 (2011 – 2012)).Google Scholar
Del Acebo Ibáñez, E. and Costa, M.. 2010. Antarctic environmental problems: attitudes and behaviours of young inhabitants of two Argentine cities (Buenos Aires and San Carlos de Bariloche). Polar Record 46 (238): 257–263.Google Scholar
Denniss, R. 2005. The attitudes of young people to the environment. The Australian Institute. URL: http://library.bsl.org.au/jspui/bitstream/1/613/1/Attitudes_young_people_environment.pdf (accessed 25 January 2015).Google Scholar
Dunn, W. 2003. Public policy analysis: an introduction (3rd Edn). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
Ebin, E. 2013. Remarks by YB. Datuk Dr. Ewon Ebin Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation at the 6th Malaysian International Seminar on Antarctica, 8 October 2013. Kuala Lumpur: Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. URL: http://www.mosti.gov.my/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/6TH-MALAYSIAN-INTERNATIONAL-SEMINAR-ON-ANTARCTICA-2013-8-OCT-20131.pdf (accessed 31 January 2015).Google Scholar
Grimmette, K. A. 2014. The impacts of environmental education on youth and their environmental awareness (Undergraduate unpublished dissertation, Lincoln NB: University of Nebraska. URL: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1134&context=envstudtheses (accessed 20 January 2015).Google Scholar
Hamzah, B. A. 2011. Malaysia and the 1959 Antarctic Treaty: a geopolitical interpretation. The Polar Journal 1 (2): 287–300.Google Scholar
Hamilton, L. C., Cutler, M.J., and Schaefer, A.. 2012. Public knowledge about polar regions increases while concerns remain unchanged. Durhan NH: University of New Hampshire, Carsey Institute (National issue brief 42)Google Scholar
Hisschemöller, M., and Midden, C.J.. 1999. Improving the usability of research on the public perception of science and technology for policy-making. Public Understanding of Science, 8 (1): 17–33.Google Scholar
Ismail, Z., Makmor, M., Hashim, R. and others. 2012. The role of Malaysia under the Antarctic Treaty and Madrid Protocol. Kota Kinabalu: IEEE Xplore (Proceedings of the 2012 IEEE Colloquium on Humanities, Science and Engineering Research (CHUSER 2012), 3–4 December 2012. (IEEE Xplore Digital Library)): 42–47.Google Scholar
Kim, B.M. 2014. Governance of the global commons: the deep seabed, the Antarctic, outer space. Sejong: Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP research paper. World Economic Update: 14–29).Google Scholar
Kirk, J.L. 2010. Sustainable environments and pro-environmental behaviour. Unpublished M.Sc. dissertation. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska. URL: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=arch_id_theses (accessed 5 February 2015).Google Scholar
Koske, J. and Ochieng, M.A.. 2013. The level of climate change awareness and perception among primary school teachers in Kisumu Municipality, Kenya. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science 3 (21): 174–179.Google Scholar
Leiserowitz, A. 2007. International public opinion, perception and understanding of global climate change. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press (Human development report 2007/2008). URL: http://environment.yale.edu/climate-communication/files/IntlPublicOpinion.pdf (accessed 7 January 2015).Google Scholar
Mat Zin, K., Bahari, A. and Alias, N.R.. 2008. Insights at MASTIC - Breaking news scientific frontiers. Putrajaya: Malaysian Science and Technology Information Centre (MASTIC), Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Malaysia.Google Scholar
McCombs, M. 2002. The agenda setting role of the mass media in the shaping of the public opinion. London: LSE (Proceedings of the Mass Media Economics Conference 2000. London School of Economics and Political Science). URL: http://www.infoamerica.org/documentos_pdf/mccombs01.pdf (accessed 16 January 2015).Google Scholar
McFadyen, E. 2011. Antarctic future – Education: learning about Antarctica in the 21st century: a review of selected education resources available to primary teachers. Christchurch: Gateway Antarctica: University of Canterbury (Review topics PCAS 13 (2010 – 2011)).Google Scholar
Meereh, T.S.M., Halim, L. and Nadeson, T.. 2010. Environmental citizenship: what level of knowledge, attitude, skill and participation the student own?. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences 2: 5715–5719.Google Scholar
Nuttall, M. 2012. Introduction: politics, science and environment in the polar regions. The Polar Journal 2 (1): 1–6.Google Scholar
Quede, E.S. 1975. Analysis for public decisions. New York: American Elsevier Publishing Company.Google Scholar
Radin, B. 2000. Beyond Machiavelli: policy analysis comes of age. Georgetown: Georgetown University Press.Google Scholar
Rahman, M.S., Mohamad, O.B. and Zarim, Z.B.A. 2014. Climate change: a review of its health impact and perceived awareness of the young citizens. Global journal of health science 6 (4): 196.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Salazar, J.F. 2013. Perceptions and opinion of Antarctic values in Chile. In: Liggett, D. and Hemmings, A.D. (editors). The case of Antarctica. Christchurch: Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury (Proceedings of the workshop on exploring linkages between environmental management and value systems. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, 5 December 2011): 48–69.Google Scholar
Schiendorfer, A. and Razavi, M.. 2011. Young people are showing greater environmental awareness. Credit Suisse, 14 August 2011. URL:https://www.credit-suisse.com/my/en/about-us/corporate-responsibility/news/barometer/youthbarometer/2011.article.html/article/pwp/news-and-expertise/2011/08/en/young--people-areshowing-greater-environmental-awareness.html (accessed 13 March 2015).Google Scholar
Schmidt, J. 2007. Blogging practices: an analytical framework. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 12 (4): 1409–1427.Google Scholar
Shah, R.M. 2015. Public perceptions of Antarctic values: shaping future environmental protection policy. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences 168: 211–218.Google Scholar
Solomon, S., Qin, D., Manning, M.and others (editors). 2007. IPCC, climate change 2007: the physical science basis. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press (Contribution of working group I to the fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).Google Scholar
Summerson, R. and Bishop, I.D.. 2012. The impact of human activities on wilderness and aesthetic values in Antarctica. Polar Research 31: 1–20. URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/polar.v31i0.10858.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tepper, R. and Haward, M.. 2005. The development of Malaysia's position on Antarctica: 1982 to 2004. Polar Record 41 (02): 113–124.Google Scholar
Tin, T., Bastmeijer, K., O’Reilly, J.and other. 2012. Public perception of the Antarctic wilderness: surveys from an educated, environmentally knowledgeable European community. In: Watson, A., J. Murrieta-Saldivar and B. McBride (editors). Proceeding of science and stewardship to protect and sustain wilderness values, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Fort Collins: Rocky Mountain Research Station: 109–117.Google Scholar
United Nation. 1993. Question of Antarctica. Geneva: United Nations (Resolution of General Assembly - A/RES/48/80).Google Scholar
Utku Erzengin, Ö. and Çetin Teke, E.. 2013. A study on developing an environmental behavior and attitude scale for university students. Journal of Educational & Instructional Studies in the World 3 (2): 49–56.Google Scholar
Vignola, R., Klinsky, S., Tam, J.and other. 2013. Public perception, knowledge and policy support for mitigation and adaptation to climate change in Costa Rica: comparisons with North American and European studies. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 18 (3): 303–323.Google Scholar
Yuan, X., Cane, M.A. and Kaplan, M.R.. 2015. Connecting the tropics to polar regions. Earth and Space Science News, 13 April 2015. URL: https://eos.org/meeting-reports/connecting-the-tropics-to-polar-regions (accessed 14 April 2015).CrossRefGoogle Scholar