About the Journal

AIM AND SCOPE

The Malaysian Journal of Business and Economics (MJBE) is a premier academic journal dedicated to advancing knowledge in the dynamic fields of business, economics and accounting. Published by Universiti Malaysia Sabah, MJBE has established itself as a beacon of scholarly excellence, earning the prestigious Best Journal Award 2024. This recognition underscores its commitment to academic rigor, impactful research, and global relevance.

A Platform for Diverse and Inclusive Scholarship.

MJBE welcomes a wide array of contributions, including research articles and insightful book reviews, fostering a rich exchange of ideas among academics, practitioners, and policymakers. The journal's inclusive scope encourages submissions across various disciplines within business and economics, reflecting its mission to inspire innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.

A Testament to Quality and Engagement.

With the highest views among academic journals in its category, MJBE demonstrates its profound impact on the academic community. Its wide readership is a testament to the journal's relevance and the high quality of its published works. By prioritizing accessibility and engagement, MJBE has become a trusted resource for researchers and professionals worldwide.

Publication Frequency and Special Issue.

MJBE publishes two regular issues (June and December) annually, along with one special issue that highlights emerging topics and trends in business, economics and accounting. This structured approach ensures a continuous stream of high-quality, timely research for its readers.

Recognized by MyCite.

The journal has attained the prestigious MyCite status from Pusat Sitasi Infometrik, Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia. This recognition affirms MJBE's adherence to the highest standards of academic publishing and its significant contribution to the Malaysian research landscape.

Prominent Editorial Leadership.

MJBE is guided by an editorial board comprising prominent researchers in their respective fields. Their expertise ensures the journal maintains its rigorous peer-review process and upholds the highest standards of publication ethics, making MJBE a trusted platform for ground breaking research.

Commitment to Excellence.

MJBE is more than just a journal; it is a community dedicated to fostering academic excellence and addressing contemporary challenges in business and economics. Its editorial leadership and dedication to quality make it a vital resource for scholars and practitioners alike.

Join Us in Shaping the Future.

As MJBE continues to grow, we invite scholars, researchers, and practitioners to contribute to its success. Together, we can advance the frontiers of knowledge and make a meaningful impact on the world of business, economics and accounting

For more information and submission guidelines, visit https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/mjbe


JOURNAL POLICY

Peer-Review Process for the Malaysian Journal of Business and Economics (MJBE)

  1. si. Submission of Manuscripts
  • Authors submit manuscripts via the journal's online submission system or designated email.
  • The submission must include all required documents, the manuscript, cover letter, author’s contribution and copyright form.

  1. Initial Screening by the Editorial Office
  • The editorial office checks the submission for adherence to journal guidelines (e.g., formatting, word count, similarity score and referencing style required is APA 7th edition).
  • The title is in capital letters bold (Times Roman, font size 14).
  • Please state the author’s name, their affiliation, address of the affiliation with postcode, their corresponding e-mail for each author and the corresponding author. 
  • Other than the title the rest of the text should be in Times Roman, font size 12.
  • The abstract should not exceed 250 to 300 words. It should state the problem, objective of the study the methodology used and the findings. The abstract should also stress on the novelty of the study.
  • Minimum 5 key words.
  • The manuscript is screened for plagiarism using tools like Turnitin. The similarity score accepted is below 25%
  • Submissions not meeting the basic requirements are returned to the authors for revision or rejection.

  1. Preliminary Assessment by the Chief Editor
  • The Chief Editor evaluates the manuscript’s relevance to the journal's aims and scope.
  • Manuscripts that fail to meet the scope or are of insufficient quality are desk-rejected.
  • Manuscripts passing this stage are assigned to a suitable Managing Editor or Section Editor.

  1. Selection of Reviewers
  • The assigned editor identifies 2–3 expert reviewers based on their expertise in the manuscript’s subject area.
  • Reviewers are selected to ensure diversity in institutional and geographical representation.
  • Invitations are sent to reviewers, including the manuscript title, abstract, and a confidentiality agreement.

  1. Double-Blind Peer Review
  • The journal follows a double-blind peer-review process to maintain impartiality.
    • Reviewers do not know the identity of the authors.
    • Authors do not know the identity of the reviewers.
  • Reviewers evaluate the manuscript on.
    • Originality and contribution to the field.
    • Methodological rigor and data analysis.
    • Clarity of presentation and structure.
    • Alignment with the journal’s focus and quality standards.

  1. Reviewer Reports
  • Reviewers submit detailed reports with constructive feedback and a recommendation:
    • Accept without revisions.
    • Minor revisions.
    • Major revisions.
    • Reject.
  • Reviewers are encouraged to provide specific suggestions for improvement.

  1. Editorial Decision
  • The assigned editor consolidates reviewer reports and makes a recommendation to the Chief Editor.
  • The Chief Editor makes the final decision based on reviewer feedback and the journal’s standards:
    • Accept: The manuscript is ready for publication.
    • Minor Revisions: Authors are given 2–3 weeks to address reviewer comments.
    • Major Revisions: Authors are given 4–6 weeks for substantial improvements.
    • Reject: The manuscript does not meet the journal’s standards.

  1. Revision Process
  • Authors submit a revised manuscript along with a detailed response to reviewers, highlighting changes made.
  • The revised manuscript may undergo further review if necessary.

  1. Final Acceptance and Copyediting
  • Once accepted, the manuscript undergoes copyediting for grammar, formatting, and adherence to journal style.
  • Authors review the final proof before publication.

  1. Publication
  • The manuscript is published in the next available issue, either as part of a regular issue or a special issue.
  • Published articles are made available online with a DOI for easy citation and accessibility.

  1. Post-Publication Review
  • The journal welcomes post-publication feedback from readers, which may inform future issues or corrections if required.

Key Principles followed of MJBE

  • Transparency.  Authors are informed of each stage of the review process.
  • Confidentiality.  Manuscripts and reviewer identities are treated with strict confidentiality.
  • Ethical Standards.  The process adheres to COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines.

MJBE Ethics Statement

  • Unreferenced use of other published or unpublished ideas under a new authorship or sometimes in a different language.
  • It can take place at any stage of writing, planning, research proposal, analysis, interpretation and argument.
  • It can be in either printed or electronic form.
  • All articles submitted should provide the plagiarism report, where the percentage of acceptance is not more than 25%.
  • The article submitted to MJBE has not been published before; that it is not under consideration for publication anywhere else; that its publication has been approved by all co-authors, if any, as well as by the responsible authorities – tacitly or explicitly – at the institute where the work has been carried out. The publisher will not be held legally responsible should there be any claims for compensation.

PERMISSION

  • Authors wishing to include figures, tables, or text passages that have already been published elsewhere are required to obtain permission from the copyright owner(s) for both the print and online format and to include evidence that such permission has been granted when submitting their papers. Any material received without such evidence will be assumed to originate from the authors.
  • An authorship for an article can be awarded if an individual has contributed intellectually to the design, concept, analysis and writing of the study besides being involved in the collection of data and other routine work. If there is no task with reasonable be attributed to the particular individual, then the particular individual should not be awarded the authorship for the title.
  • To avoid disputes on the attribution of academic credit, it is helpful to plan the research on who is going to be credited as authors, contributors and acknowledged.
  • All authors should take responsibility over the content of the article, even-though it is multidisciplinary.
  • There is diversity in geographical distribution of editors and authors.

MJBE Procedure for Misconduct

Issues considered misconduct by MJBE

  • Plagiarism and self plagiarism (text recyling)
  • Redundant publication (dual publication)
  • Attribution
  • Authorship issues
  • Coercive citation
  • Defamation
  • Fabrication and Falsification Data
  • Unethical research and testing
  • Conflict of interest

Complain and Appeal Procedure

  • Editors of MJBE will take all allegations and suspicions of misconduct seriously.
  • The editors of MJBE will not simply reject articles that raise question of misconduct. MJBE has ethical obligations to pursue the case.
  • MJBE editors should be presented with convicting evidence by the reviewers that there is a misconduct.
  • If the misconduct is not serious, expert advice will be sleeked for the editorial board to make decision. 
  • If there is no misconduct, editorial process will proceed as normal.
  • Once MJBE is provided with strong evidence of a serious misconduct, the editor will immediately pass the information to the employers of the author and at the same time notifying the author they are doing so.
  • Authors will be given the opportunity to defend or respond to the accusation of serious misconduct.
  • MJBE will be willing to obtain advice from the Committee of Publication Ethics (COPE) if necessary. The final decision will be made by the editorial committee.

Sanction by MJBE

  • A letter of explanation will be given to the author if there was a genuine misunderstanding of principles. 
  • A letter to reprimand and warning to future conduct.
  • Refusal to accept future submission from the individual/ unit/ institution responsible for  a misconduct for a stated period.