Communication issues in Malaysian army infantry units during disaster response in Kelantan, Malaysia

This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between elements of communications that is communications channel, media communications, Intra-Agency Communications, InterAgency Communication, and Knowledge among Infantry Personnel in Disaster Response in Kelantan. A total of 400 infantry personnel consisting of 5 infantry battalions are involved in this study, which is located in Kelantan. In term of methodology, this study will using quantitative
research method through the questionnaire survey distributed to the sample of study. Meanwhile, the statistical analyses used in this study are descriptive and analytical construct. The findings were analyses using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22.0 and a path model with 9 hypotheses testing was analyses using the SmartPLS Software Version 3.0. The coefficient of reliability scales using the Cronbach‟s alpha analysis showed that all values are greater than 0.6. The findings showed that the level of communications channel, media communications, Intra-Agency and Inter-Agency Communications among Infantry Personnel in
Kelantan is high. The data were also analyses using structural equation modelling advanced statistical technique in order to determine the correlation analysis of direct effect and to observe the role of knowledge as moderating variable in the relationship between elements of communications (communications channel, media communications, Intra-Agency and InterAgency Communication) in the Infantry Personnel achievement of disaster response. The study conclude that all the elements of communications have significant effects on disaster response; however, the moderation effect of knowledge in all direct effect relationship was not supported. Statistically the knowledge does not give the biggest impact to each infantry personnel. Discussion of findings, limitations and recommendations for future study are also discussed in the later part of the study.