Nutritive Value of Barley Fodder Grown in a Hydroponics System

A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate barley fodder (BF) as a feed for ruminants. Barley seeds were grown in a specially designed and controlled environment cabin at 15 - 18°C. The first experiment was conducted to germinate barley seeds from day 0 (dO) to day 10 (dIO, n=ll) and samples were collected daily for chemical composition analysis. In the second experiment, the rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC) was used to measure the in vitro dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) digestibility and the volatile fatty acids (VF A) produced by BF at different times. The nylon bag technique was also used to measure the DM degradability of BF in the rumen of cattle at 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 hours. The third experiment on the intake and digestibility of eight-day old BF was measured by an in vivo technique, using four bucks. The fourth experiment involved the measurement of rumen fluid parameters (pH, ammonia and VFA) in three rumen fistulated bucks that were fed on eight-day old BF ad libitum. The CP, organic matter (OM), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and crude fibre (CF) contents of BF from d1 to d10 increased, but the DM content decreased with the age of BF. DM content at d7 and d8 were 16 and 18% while CP content were 12 and 13% respectively. The amount of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and Nitrate (N03) did not change significantly throughout sprouting time. The in vivo, in vitro and in sacco DM degradability studies showed that 80 to 100% DM loss for BF harvested on d7 to dW. DM intake was lower in the third experiment although digestion coefficient (DC) of BF was very high (98%). This condition was probably due to the abnormal growth of BF during the experimental period. Rumen fluid pH was 5.9-6.0 and ammonia-N (NH3-N) content was 7.0 to 8.8 mg/mL. Total fatty acids production was 70 to 1 00 mmoVL between two and eight hour of collection. The acetic:propionic:butyric ratios were 58:36:1.3, 68:25:2, 61:35:1.2, 64:33:0.7 and 65:32:1 at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours, respectively. Overall results showed that VFA and ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) were produced at a minimum level when BF was given ad libitum although the digestibility was higher in both in sacco and in vitro studies. BF should be given at different levels in order to get optimum pH, VFA and NH3-N production

A conceptual framework of Maqasidic human wellbeing index

Amongst the 57 members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) countries, Malaysia was rated as number one in the Islamicity Index, Islamic Index of Wellbeing and Global Muslim Travel Index studies. In Malaysia, the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM), Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), and the Institute of Community and Peace Studies (PEKKA) have also published their own Islamic-oriented wellbeing indexes. However, these Indexes lack the integration of Maqasid al-Shari’ah (the objectives of Islamic laws) concept, which is based on the preservation of five essentials namely faith, self, intellect, posterity and property. Hence, to address this gap, this study proposes a conceptual framework of human wellbeing index in the context of Maqasid al-Shari’ah. This study is exploratory in nature employing rigorous library research and content analysis technique. The three basic principles of Iman (faith), Islam (submission) and Ihsan (benevolence) are discussed in relation to the five essentials of Maqasid al-Shari’ah. Their application at the three levels of the social structure i.e. individual, family and community is elaborated to establish a maqasidic approach for human wellbeing. This approach is then linked to the five established themes of human wellbeing domains notably politics and governance, economy, social and culture, environment, and infrastructure. Finally, a conceptual framework of human wellbeing index is proposed to provide the maqasidic foundation for the measurement of human wellbeing

The philosophy of Maqasid al-Shariah and its application in the built environment

This paper deciphers the application of the philosophy of the Maqasid al-shari’ah (Objectives of Islamic Law) in the built environment. Being seen as a result of human minds and acts towards the environment for the purpose of human needs, wants and values, the built environment is very much related to the Islamic theory of man as vicegerent (khalifah) on earth. Here lies the interconnectedness between the built environment and the Maqasid al-shari’ah. In this regard, the terms Islam and Maqasid al-shari’ah play the same role in the sense that they set a way of life for mankind with the principles of the Qur’an and Sunnah. Human reactions in their daily life basically react upon these elements. Definitely, human wellbeing or maslahah (public interests) for mankind is the ultimate aim of the shari’ah. Thus this paper attempts to assimilate the philosophy of the Maqasid al-shari’ah with the built environment’s profession towards the realization of their role as khalifah. Ultimately, this will pave for better human interaction with the environment resulting in utmost quality of the built environment for human life. Keywords: Built environment, Maqasid al-shariah, and human bein

A conceptual framework of Maqasidic human wellbeing index

Amongst the 57 members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) countries, Malaysia was rated as number one in the Islamicity Index, Islamic Index of Wellbeing and Global Muslim Travel Index studies. In Malaysia, the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM), Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), and the Institute of Community and Peace Studies (PEKKA) have also published their own Islamic oriented wellbeing indexes. However, these Indexes lack the integration of Maqasid al-Shari’ah (the objectives of Islamic laws) concept, which is based on the preservation of five essentials namely faith, self, intellect, posterity and property. Hence, to address this gap, this study proposes a conceptual framework of human wellbeing index in the context of Maqasid al-Shari’ah. This study is exploratory in nature employing rigorous library research and content analysis technique. The three basic principles of Iman (faith), Islam (submission) and Ihsan (benevolence) are discussed in relation to the five essentials of Maqasid al-Shari’ah. Their application at the three levels of the social structure i.e. individual, family and community is elaborated to establish a maqasidic approach for human wellbeing. This approach is then linked to the five established themes of human wellbeing domains notably politics and governance, economy, social and culture, environment, and infrastructure. Finally, a conceptual framework of human wellbeing index is proposed to provide the maqasidic foundation for the measurement of human wellbeing

Religious dimensions of Malaysia’s wellbeing indexes

Amongst the 57 members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference’s (OIC) countries, Malaysia is at number one rating in the Islamicity Index, Islamic Index of Wellbeing and Global Muslim Travel Index studies. The rating gave the impression of the liveability or wellbeing in Malaysia within the Islamic sphere. This recognition prompts the study on the indicators of wellbeing that Malaysia has focused on Islamic dimensions. Consequently, content analysis was done on six selected government documents namely the Malaysian Wellbeing Index, the Malaysian Family Wellbeing Index, the Malaysian Urban-Rural National Indicators Network for Sustainable Development, the Malaysian Shariah Index, the Malaysian Ummah Development Index and the Muslim Religiosity and Personality Indexing. The study found that the first three documents embodied indirect religious dimensions in their wellbeing indexing while the latter three have direct religious dimensions. The incorporation of the religious dimensions into the Malaysia’s wellbeing indexing either directly or indirectly shows the relevancy of the religious factor to human wellbeing. Noticeably, the indicators promulgated under each study are organizationally-driven aiming at attaining their specific objectives that invariably led to variations amongst the agencies. Nonetheless, religion has been found to command a significant factor in the wellbeing of Malaysian though different indicators have been used by the six organizations to arrive at this fact. Keywords: Index, Malaysia, Religion, Quality of Life, Wellbeing

An analytical study of Malaysia’s quality of life indicators

Abstract: In Malaysia, there are several set of indicators used to measure quality of life vis-à-vis liveability of cities. Three remarkable set of indicators are the Malaysian Wellbeing Index (2 sub composites, 14 components, 68 indicators), the Malaysian Urban Rural National Indicators for Sustainable Development (6 dimensions, 21 themes, 36 indicators) and the Malaysian Family Wellbeing Index (7 domains, 24 indicators). They are governed by government agencies of Economic Planning Unit (EPU), Federal Town and Country Planning Department (FTCPD) and National Population and Family Development Board (NPFDB) respectively. Quality of life is directly related to liveability and the latter is very much influenced by the fulfillment of the need for self-fulfilment — physical, social, emotional and spiritual. In the Malaysian context quality of life is interchangeably used to mean liveability, sustainability, wellbeing and happiness in its towns and cities. The study employed meta-ethnography qualitative approach by in-depth analysis and synthesis on the respective set of indicators. It is a systematic approach that enables comparison, analysis and interpretations to be made that can inform theorizing and practice. The analysis revealed the commonalities and differences amongst the three set of Malaysia’s quality of life indicators. Noticeably, religion and spirituality become one of the concerns. For town planners and city managers, the result indicates the state of people living condition in cities that influence planning and development in the long run. Overall, the indicators used are quite varied suiting their organisation’s aim and objectives but they are sharing the common themes of politics, economics, social, environment and infrastructure. Key words: Malaysia; quality of life; liveability; wellbeing; index JEL codes:

STEM PROJECT-BASED APPROACH IN ENHANCING CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND INVENTIVE THINKING SKILLS AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Background and Purpose: Formal learning in schools generally does not provide enough engagement for students to grasp the science concepts and skills taught to them. Therefore, the structured informal learning activities such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) integrated project-based learning is vital for students to partake in the more meaningful science learning process as it involves interdisciplinary activities. Hence, this paper discusses the study that underlies the structured informal learning activity, the STEM project-based approach, in enhancing conceptual understanding and inventive thinking skills among secondary school students.   Methodology: A quasi-experimental research design concerning treatment and control groups with pre-test as the covariate was employed in this project. The sample was selected based on the purposive sampling approach. Seventy Form Four students (33 male students and 37 female students) from a secondary school in Kedah, Malaysia were divided into 35 students of a controlled group (received conventional approach) and 35 students of the treatment group (followed STEM project-based approach). Data collected via the Newtonian Conceptual Understanding Test (NCUT) and Inventive Thinking Skills Test (ITST) were then analysed descriptively and inferentially.   Findings: The structured informal learning activity, the STEM project-based approach, was found effective in enhancing conceptual understanding and inventive thinking skills among secondary school students.  Further analysis showed that the elements of thinking skills (management and adaptation to complexity, self-regulation, curiosity, creativity, risk-readiness, and high-order thinking skills and sound reasoning) were also improved among students who followed STEM project-based approach.   Contributions: The study highlighted the importance of a structured informal learning activity, such as the STEM project-based approach in assisting students to grasp the science concepts and develop the required 21st-century learning skills besides formal learning in schools.   Keywords: Conceptual understanding, inventive thinking skills, Newtonian physics, physics education, secondary school students.   Cite as: Saleh, S., Muhammad, A., & Syed Abdullah, S. M. (2019). STEM project-based approach in enhancing conceptual understanding and inventive thinking skills among secondary school students.  Journal of Nusantara Studies, 5(1), 234-254. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol5iss1pp234-25

An Overview of Masaqid Al-Syariah on Homeownership and Young Graduate’s Wellbeing through Sustainable Affordable Housing

Affordable housing study in Malaysia became widespread in the early 21st century since the government encourage home ownership for all income groups and beforehand the government was focused on the low cost housing provision. However, in the early affordable housing study, most of the research emphasis on affordability among the middle income group instead of study in different generation affordability, particularly among young graduate’s affordability. Hence, this paper will discuss on young graduate housing affordability in urban area and to be more specific, observing the negative consequences of unsustainable affordable housing that reflex to young graduate’s well-being. Affordable housing issue for young graduate is a vital issue as they are considered not eligible to purchase the low cost housing and cannot afford to buy the middle and high cost house. Another essential point, young graduates who are just entering into the employment market in certain duration of the period with a monthly salary approximately RM 3000 have negative impact to their quality of life. In addition, marriage is common among fresh graduates in Malaysia and this adds to the pressure of purchasing an affordable housing that allows them to start a new family and they also consider in getting marriage and importance for them to having a house as beginning to dictate important decisions such as starting a family. Furthermore, this paper will discuss homeownership in Islamic perspective or Maqasid Syariah

Historical influences to present legal setting of planning law in Malaysia

Malaysia is a federation of thirteen states and three federal territories. Thus, it is a challenge to achieve uniformity of laws among the states. Presently, there are four sets of planning laws applicable in Malaysia. This paper looks at the historical factors that led to the non-uniformity of planning law in Malaysia. By using historical research methodology, this study found that the emergence of individual states back in the year 1400 AD is among the historical factors contributing to this non-uniformity of law. Additionally, the colonisation and the British influence over Malay Peninsula and the Borneo region, the formation of the Malaya Federation and the creation of federal territories also have strong implications in terms of administration and law uniformity. Despite the states eventually united under the essence of federation in 1963, this did not entail uniformity of laws among them. Additionally, states also have no obligation to adopt laws enacted by the Federal Government. Nevertheless, efforts to harmonise planning in the country have been undertaken. These include the amendment of planning laws and the establishment of national level planning committee

Public facilities and human wellbeing in the context of Maqasid al-Shari’ah

Public facilities are one of the most important land use categories in town planning. It transcends basic human needs that contribute to the overall liveability and wellbeing in its human welfare sense. The provision of public facilities somehow realizes the Maqasid al-Shariah (the objectives of Islamic law) that is to preserve the maslahah (benefits) for humankind. This study examines seven types of public facilities in Malaysia against the five essentials of Maqasid al-Shari’ah namely faith, self, intellect, posterity, and wealth. Hence it is exploratory in nature adopting the content analysis and interview with several experts from planning and Islamic background to match the public facilities provided in the plans with the Maqasid al-Shari’ah principles. The conclusive findings are that the provision of public facilities is very much conceptually related to the Maqasid al-Shari’ah. This approaches simultaneously provides an insight to the policy makers on the level of importance of the five essentials and the need to fulfill each one of them to ensure balanced provision and enjoyment of the public facilities. This also shows all those objectives of Islamic Law that should take into considerations in planning and this have been highlighted by Malaysian Government through their effort to develop the Maqasid al-Shari’ah Index to measure the “Islamicity” of the country