Toxoplasma gondii infection in native village chickens (Gallus domesticus) in Selangor and Melaka, Malaysia

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by the protozoa Toxoplasma gondii which affects human and animals. Village chickens Gallus domesticus) most commonly known as Ayam Kampung or free-range chickens, have been suggested to play a role in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis. This study determines the presence of T. gondii in the villagechicken populations in two states of Malaysia. A total of 50 serum samples from the chickens from Selangor (n=20) and Melaka (n=30) were collected and analysed using commercial serological kits. T. gondii antigen was detected in 20% (Selangor 30%; Melaka 13%) samplesusing ELISA test and anti-T. gondii antibody was detected in all positive ELISA samples using the indirect haemagglutination test (IHAT). Histopathological examination revealed tissue changes such as inflammation and degeneration in brain and liver of seropositive chickens.This is the first report of T. gondii infection in the village chickens in Malaysia

Knowledge management model for UUM’s Golf Club

Knowledge is an important asset that can determine the success of any organizations.It is a combination of information, social interaction, and contextual situation.This paper presents a study that attempts to identify the knowledge assets that exist within the UUM’s Golf Club (UUMGC), to classify the knowledge into tacit and explicit and finally to propose a Knowledge Management Model for UUM GC by adapting Nonaka’s SECI Model.The methodology adapted for this research is the Expert System Development Life Cycle (ESDLC).The proposed model can be used not only by UUM GC but also other similar organizations

Complying with the requirements for issuance of SRI sukuk: the case of Khazanah’s Sukuk Ihsan

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to provide a critical review on how the Khazanah’s Sukuk Ihsan was structured in compliance with the requirements for issuance of Sustainable and Responsible Investment (SRI) sukuk set by the Securities Commission (SC) Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach – To explain the structures and features of the Sukuk Ihsan, this study extracted important information from the sukuk’s Principle Terms and Conditions and Information Memorandum and presented them in a simple and easy-to-understand way. Next, this study refers to Part D: Requirement for Issuance, Offering or Invitation to Subscribe or Purchase Sustainable and Responsible Investment Sukuk of the SC’s Guidelines on Sukuk (revised edition: 28 August 2014) to assess the compliance of the sukuk in terms of eligibility of SRI sukuk issuer and SRI projects, use of proceeds, reporting and disclosure and independent assessment on SRI programmes. In addition, this study then compares the requirements stated in the SC’s SRI Sukuk Framework with the International Capital Market Association’s Green Bond Principles (GBP) and the USA’s Social Impact Bond (SIB) Act 2014. Findings – The present study finds that the definition of eligible SRI sukuk issuer in the Guidelines on Sukuk seems to be more stringent compared to the one provided in the GBP and the US’ SIB Act. Nevertheless, the SRI Sukuk Framework provides a more comprehensive yet precise list of eligible SRI projects, covering both environmental and social aspects, compared to the GBP (which only focuses on broad categories of environmental projects) and also the USA’s SIB Act (explicitly outlines 13 social projects which are aligned with the US Federal Government’s agenda in tackling social illnesses). Indeed, the main difference between the eligible SRI sukuk projects and its conventional counterparts lies in its compliance to Shariah principles. It is also observed that a significant emphasis has been given on SRI legislations in ensuring proper reporting and disclosure provided to the SRI sukuk stakeholders together with critical evaluation on the impacts of SRI programmes provided by an independent assessor. Practical implications – This paper contributes towards enriching the literature on the Islamic capital market, particularly on the integration between sukuk and social impacts investing. This paper was intended to highlight the important requirements in issuing SRI sukuk to various stakeholders of the Islamic capital market. Originality/value – The authors hope to shed some lights on the unique features and structural applications of SRI sukuk and its importance in becoming an effective instrument to raise funds for social agenda of a country by providing a real and practical example

Enforcing strict guidelines and regulations for express bus companies in hiring competent bus drivers in Malaysia / Fatma Diyana Hassan … [et al.]

Recently accident case involving express bus in Malaysia is increasing especially during festive season. Even the government took precautions for example Code of Practice in managing the scheme of work of express bus however, the increasing cases showed, the regulations and guidelines need to be more strict and the enforcement of the guidelines and regulations should be strictly commanded by authorized body. Although there is guidelines and regulations to be followed by the companies, however the guidelines for the express bus companies to hire competent express buses drivers is not included and the observation from the authority should be compulsory and strictly be enforced because we are dealing with many lives of the passengers of the express bus in which should be protected in this issue

Housing Affordability of Middle Income Households in Kuala Lumpur

The housing price in Kuala Lumpur is more expensive than other areas in Malaysia. The mismatch between demand and supply is not due to lack of supply, but the constraint is on the supply of housing that can be accessed especially by the middle income households. Apart from housing price and household income, housing type is also a crucial factor that directly influences housing affordability in Kuala Lumpur. Terraced and high-rise houses are favoured and within affordable means of the middle income groups. Analysis of the housing price index for these two types in Kuala Lumpur plotted against Malaysia Housing Price Index (MHPI) from 2000 to 2016 portrayed that both exceeded the rate of MHPI with a higher value and sharper gradient in the terraced house index, signifying rapid increment in their values. Detail analysis was also carried out on these two types using Price to Income ratio method to calculate housing affordability. Kuala Lumpur seems to fall into the seriously to severely unaffordable household category at Price-Income ratios of 4.27 to 6.76 for terraced and high- rise, respectively

[Application of Ijarah in Sustaining Educational Endowment at People's Religious School (Sar): A Study in Penang, Perlis And Kedah] Aplikasi Ijarah ke Arah Melestarikan Wakaf Pendidikan Sekolah Agama Rakyat (Sar): Kajian di Pulau Pinang, Perlis Dan Keda

The People's Religious School (SAR) is part of the educational institution at Malaysia which contributes to the educational development of Muslims. The institution, established by the people for the benefit of the people, needs to be fortified so that its presence in the education sector is truly felt. The function of SAR as a place for the dissemination of Islamic knowledge needs to be preserved. Because of that, SAR administrators need to be aware and pro-active in their efforts to maintain their existence of this Islamic educational institution. One of the efforts to maintain SAR is to apply the endowment mechanism to the asset that is owned, be it movable, or immovable properties. These endowment assets can be developed to deliver sustainable profits. For example, through the implementation concept of Ijarah on the owned waqf assets. Thus, this study was conducted to identify the implementation of ijarah on educational properties available in selected SARs in the states of Penang, Perlis and Kedah, and to analyze its effectiveness. This study involves in-depth, semi-structured interviews on selected SAR administrators. The obtained data were analyzed by qualitative content analysis. Through this, it was found that the implementation of the concept of ijarah in the development of educational facilities in SAR has successfully maintained the sustainability of benefits of the educational property. At the same time, it is also financially beneficial to the SAR itself. Sekolah Agama Rakyat (SAR) merupakan sebahagian daripada institusi pendidikan di Malaysia yang turut menyumbang kepada pembangunan pendidikan umat Islam. Institusi yang ditubuhkan oleh rakyat untuk kepentingan rakyat terutamanya umat Islam ini perlu diperkasakan supaya keberadaan institusi ini dalam sektor pendidikan tidak dipandang sepi. Fungsi SAR sebagai tempat penyebaran ilmu-ilmu Islam perlu dipelihara. Oleh sebab itu, pihak pentadbir SAR perlu peka dan bersifat pro-aktif dalam usaha mengekalkan kewujudan institusi pendidikan Islam ini. Salah satu usaha mengekalkan SAR ialah dengan megaplikasikan mekanisme wakaf terhadap aset yang dimiliki sama ada harta alih mahupun harta tak alih. Aset wakaf ini dibangunkan agar dapat menghasilkan manfaat yang bukan hanya sekali, malah manfaatnya dapat digandakan. Sebagai contoh melalui pelaksanaan konsep ijarah terhadap aset wakaf yang dimiliki. Ekoran daripada fenomena inilah kajian ini dijalankan bagi mengenal pasti pelaksanaan konsep ijarah terhadap harta wakaf pendidikan yang terdapat di SAR terpilih di negeri Pulau Pinang, Perlis dan Kedah dan menganalisis keberkesanannya. Kajian ini melibatkan temu bual secara mendalam menggunakan soalan separa berstruktur terhadap pentadbir SAR yang terpilih. Data yang diperoleh dianalisis secara analisis kandungan kualitatif. Kajian ini mendapati pelaksanaan konsep ijarah dalam pembangunan wakaf pendidikan di SAR telah berjaya mengekalkan kelestarian manfaat dan harta wakaf pendidikan. Malah dalam masa yang sama turut menyumbang dana kewangan kepada SAR itu sendiri