Islam or progress of the nation?: an assessment of the aurat issue in Malay newspapers and magazines in the 1930s

Western media often perceive Islam as a misogynistic religion which hampers the progress of a nation. One related issue is “aurat” which is considered as a means to denigrate women in the society. In pre-Independent Malaya debates raged around the contested perceptions and interpretations of aurat in its relation to Malay modernisation and the urgency of achieving ‘progress’ for Malays on par with other communities in the country. Articles were published in Malayan newspapers and magazines debating the need to enhance awareness about the progress of the Malay nation. This study assessed the differing interpretations of the principle of aurat among Muslims in 1930s Malaya. The information scrutinised was derived from polemics published in Malay newspapers and magazines circulated in Malaya in the 1930s. The findings revealed that people were torn between modernization and traditionalism, viewing them as a choice between westernization and Islam. The establishment of secular education and social mixing with the non-Muslim community exposed the Malays to new norms and values. In this transitional period, social norms and values transformed according to the surroundings. The materials demonstrated how the Malay Muslims responded to the call of development and the extent to which they were ready to embrace modernization, which some viewed as a detachment from prestine Islamic teachings, especially regarding the issue of aurat

British intelligence on the Islamic community in Malaya at the beginning of the 20th century

British was prudence to the Muslim community in Malaya following the transformation that took place within the Muslim world following the First World War. British role in the demise of the Ottoman as well as in the conflict that occurred in Palestine serve as the impetus for this approach. Nevertheless, Malays’ oppositions and criticisms against British was still on tight rein and Britain took delight in controlling Malaya with support from a huge number of the Malays. Hence, this paper demonstrates responses and actions that persistently kept British in power in Malaya until 1957. Ergo, this paper illustrates historical background and analyzes intelligence activities carried out by the British on Muslims in 1914 until the 1950s. It also discusses steps took by the British following information obtained from their spies. Historical research methodology is utilized in this study. Discussions presented are based on primary sources, such as British administrative files and newspapers published in the period of study. In summary, this study emphasizes British delicate manoeuvres in order to stay in power in Malaya. Overall, this paper delineates cunning motions exercised by the British in ensuring that Muslims remains under its power. It illustrates in depth the cunning of British power in ensuring that Muslim society remain under their powe

Konsep "Pembangunan Masyarakat" Dalam Kalangan Masyarakat Melayu 1970-1990an Satu Cerapan Awal Kepada Media Massa Terbitan Al-Arqam

Pelancaran Dasar Ekonomi Baru mulai 1970 sehingga 1990 menjadikan pembangunan dan kemajuan masyarakat sebagai isu penting dalam masyarakat sepanjang tempoh berkenaan. Makalah ini menumpukan kepada konsep pembangunan masyarakat yang diterapkan dalam gerakan Al-Arqam kerana gerakan ini mempunyai latar belakang dan perkembangan yang berbeza berbanding gerakan yang muncul dalam masyarakat Melayu ketika itu. Justeru, makalah ini menganalisis apakah konsep pembangunan yang diterapkan dalam kalangan Al-Arqam dan bagaimanakah respon kumpulan tersebut kepada perlaksanaan dasar berkaitan pembangunan ekonomi dan masyarakat dalam tempoh berkenaan. Perbincangan dalam makalah ini adalah berdasarkan kepada cerapan kepada akhbar dan majalah yang diterbitkan oleh kumpulan Al-Arqam sgpanjang tempoh kajian. Ia memberikan gambaran tentang tanggapan mereka konsep "pembangunan masyarakat" yang seringkali dikaitkan dengan prinsip-prinsip yang ada dalam ajaran Islam. cerapan dan perbincangan dalam makalah ini diharap akan menlumbang kepada pemahaman yang lebih mendalam tentang peranan Islam dalam pembangunan masyarakat Melayu di Malaysia

Tanggungjawab guru dalam memperkasakan pendidikan menurut majalah berbahasa Melayu 1940-an hingga 1950-an

Makalah ini bertujuan untuk memperlihatkan satu sisi baharu dalam sejarah perkembangan pendidikan sekular di Tanah Melayu sepanjang 1940-an sehingga 1950-an. Ia memberi tumpuan kepada perbincangan yang diterbitkan di dalam majalah dan akhbar berbahasa Melayu berkaitan dengan tanggungjawab guru untuk memperbaiki mutu pengajaran mereka. Kajian ini dijalankan dengan kaedah kajian keperpustakaan dengan menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif. Maklumat berkenaan pendidikan dicerap daripada sumber majalah berbahasa Melayu sebagai sumber utama seperti Majalah Guru, Panduan Raayat, Sahabat dan Bintang Malaya. Di samping itu, sumber sekunder seperti buku dan artikel turut digunakan. Hasil kajian memperlihatkan guru-guru seharusnya mempunyai kreativiti dalam pengajaran di samping memiliki keperibadian yang baik. Malah, pihak kerajaan turut memberikan perhatian kepada isu berkaitan pendidikan dan berusaha membasmi masalah buta huruf dengan menggunakan siaran radio. Ringkasnya, perbincangan tentang strategi dan metodologi pengajaran serta keperibadian guru yang diterbitkan dalam majalah berbahasa Melayu dalam tempoh kajian adalah sumber berharga kepada semua yang terlibat dalam dunia pendidikan hari ini

Characteristics of persons with spinal cord injury who drive in Malaysia and its barriers: a cross sectional study

Study design: Cross sectional study. Objectives: To determine the prevalence, characteristics of and barriers to driving among persons with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Setting: SCI Rehabilitation Clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Methods: This is a questionnaire-based study on persons with SCI who attended the UMMC SCI Rehabilitation Clinic between June 2015 and November 2016. The questionnaire comprised demographic data, clinical characteristics, driving variables, Spinal Cord Independence Measure III, WHOQOL-BREF, and Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique Short Form. Malaysians aged greater than 18 years old with any etiology and levels of SCI, had no other physical disabilities and not suffering from progressive illness were recruited. A single investigator administered the questionnaire via face-to-face interviews. Results: A total of 160 participants were included in this study. Overall, 37% of persons with SCI drove and owned a modified vehicle. Almost half of persons with paraplegia (47%) drove, but only 12% of tetraplegia did. A majority (93%) of those who drove aged below 60 years, and had higher level of independence in activity of daily living. More drivers (81%) compared to non-drivers (24%) were employed; drivers also reported better community reintegration and quality of life. Three commonest barriers to driving included medical reasons (38%), fear and lack of confidence (17%), and inability to afford vehicle modifications (13%). Conclusions: The percentage of persons with SCI driving post injury is low. Based on the findings of this study, more efforts are needed to motivate and facilitate persons with SCI to drive

Mukim Slim : tapak pelancongan bersejarah di Perak

Mukim Slim adalah sebahagian daripada daerah Muallim yang terletak di selatan Perak. Ia merupakan destinasi yang ideal untuk dibangunkan sebagai tapak pelancongan bersejarah. Mukim Slim mempunyai berbagai lokasi bersejarah yang usianya menjangkau ribuan tahun, daripada pra sejarah sehinggalah kepada zaman penjajahan British. Kajian ini dijalankan berasaskan kepada kaedah kualitatif. Sumber primer dan sekunder diteliti daripada koleksi institusi seperti Arkib Negara Malaysia dan Muzium Perak. Selain itu, sumber primer juga diperolehi daripada laman sesawang. Hasil kajian mendapati, mukim Slim merupakan pusat kegiatan ekonomi masyarakat Melayu sebelum abad ke-19. Semasa Perang Dunia Kedua, mukim Slim adalah lokasi pertempuran terpenting di antara pihak British dan Jepun kerana “Perang Slim River” yang menentukan siapakah yang akan memenangi perang tersebut berlaku di sini. Jelasnya, latar belakang sejarah dan peristiwa yang berlaku di mukim Slim menyebabkan ia mempunyai potensi untuk dimajukan sebagai tapak pelancongan bersejarah di Perak. Namun begitu, kajian ini juga mendapati pelancongan bersejarah masih belum diberikan perhatian sepenuhnya di mukim Slim. Sehubungan itu, kerjasama bersepadu di antara semua pihak adalah perlu bagi menyemarakkan sektor pelancongan bersejarah di mukim Slim. Ia penting kerana pemerkasaan aktiviti pelancongan bersejarah akan membantu meningkatkan ekonomi setempat dan mempelbagaikan destinasi pelancongan di Perak sebagaimana yang dihasratkan oleh kerajaan negeri tersebut

Premature mortality among elderly in Malaysia, 2014

Introduction Substantial advances on the life expectancy have been achieved in Malaysia over the past few decades. It is essential that elderly lead a healthier old age which leans towards successful aging. Thus, this study describes the major causes of premature mortality among the elderly population in Malaysia, 2014. Methods The calculation of premature mortality in terms of Years of Life Lost (YLL) was based on the method used in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. YLL is the mortality component determined by the age-sex specific number of deaths and life expectancy at the age of death. Mortality data was obtained from the Department of Statistics Malaysia. Elderly aged 60 years and above were included in this study. Results The major causes of premature mortality among elderly in Malaysia were Cardiovascular and Circulatory Diseases (39.0%); followed by Malignant Neoplasms (16.6%), Respiratory Diseases (9.8%), Respiratory Infections (9.2%) and Diabetes Mellitus (6.8%). Conclusions Awareness programme, early screening and help seeking among elderly should be a priority in planning health services to reduce the burden of Non-communicable diseases (NCD) among elderly