Smart community: The Malaysian perspective

Countries globally are becoming information literate.Future communities should be able to create, distribute, and access information or manage knowledge using current information and communication technologies.Communities such as these are known as smart communities.The question is: Can such a smart community to bridge the digital divide be built in Malaysia? This paper discusses about knowledge management, the smart community projects both globally and locally, Malaysia’s readiness for a smart community, and suggests a model for smart communities in Malaysia.The paper will very briefly talk about the Smart Communities International Network (SCIN) and compares initiatives made by the SCIN partners

Kuala Kedah ke arah destinasi pelancongan warisan: Satu perspektif awalan

Warisan telah menjadi semakin penting kepada pelancong pada hari ini.Di kebanyakan tempat di seluruh dunia, warisan dikategorikan sebagai salah satu kornponen utama dalarn pembangunan pelancongan terutamanya apabila ia digabungkan dengan aktiviti pelancongan dan rekreasi.Pada masa sekarang, dapat dilihat bahawa aktiviti perjalanan mengunjungi destinasi berteraskan warisan telah berkembang dengan pesat.Memandangkan potensi pelancongan berteraskan warisan adalah arnat besar, Kuala Kedah sebagai sebuah pekan nelayan yang amat sinonim dengan sejarah Kesultanan Kedah yang lampau seharusnya mengambil kesempatan ini untuk membangun sebagai sebuah destinasi pelancongan warisan. Justeru, kertas konseptual ini akan mengupas dan memberi penjelasan tentang aspek-aspek seperti definisi dan konsep warisan, pelancongan warisan, interaksi dinamik antara pelancongan dan pemuliharaan, dan ancaman pelancongan terhadap warisan budaya sebelum membincangkan potensi dan peluang yang terdapat pada Kuala Kedah untuk membangun menjadi sebuah destinasi warisan yang menarik dan berjaya. Di akhir kertas konseptual ini, beberapa cadangan akan dikeutarakan bagi membantu Kuala Kedah merancang dan membangunkan pelancongan dalam konteks yang lebih berkesan dan sempurna

Membangunkan Kuala Kedah sebagai destinasi pelancongan warisan: Penerapan konsep pembangunan pelancongan lestari

Di kebanyakan tempat di dunia, warisan yang telah menjadi semakin penting kepada pelancong pada hari ini, dikategorikan sebagai salah satu komponen utama dalam pembangunan pelancongan terutamanya apabila ia digabungkan dengan aktiviti pelancongan dan rekreasi. Malahan, aktiviti perjalanan mengunjungi destinasi berteraskan warisan telah berkembang dengan pesat.Dengan potensi pelancongan berteraskan warisan yang agak besar, Kuala Kedah sebagai sebuah pekan nelayan yang amat sinonim dengan sejarah Kesultanan Kedah yang lampau seharusnya mengambil kesempatan ini untuk membangun sebagai sebuah destinasi pelancongan warisan.Melalui kertas konseptual ini, aspek-aspek seperti definisi dan konsep warisan,pelancongan warisan, interaksi dinamik antara pelancongan dan pemuliharaan, dan ancaman pelancongan terhadap warisan budaya akan dibincang dan diperjelaskan.Potensi dan peluang yang terdapat pada Kuala Kedah untuk membangun menjadi sebuah destinasi warisan yang menarik dan berjaya juga akan dibincangkan dengan memberi penekanan terhadap konsep dan amalan pembangunan pelancongan lestari.Pendekatan pembangunan pelancongan lestari bagi setiap perancangan pelancongan adalah amat diperlukan kerana sekiranya sumber-sumber pelancongan dimusnah atau dimansuhkan, maka sesebuah kawasan atau destinasi pelancongan itu tidak boleh lagi menarik pelancong dan akhimya pelancongan di kawasan berkenaan akan gagal.Ianya juga adalah penting terutamanya bagi penduduk setempat supaya tidak 'menderita' akibat daripada kemusnahan persekitaran dan masalah-masalah lain yang ditimbulkan akibat aktiviti pelancongan yang tidak terkawal. Melalui kertas konseptual ini juga, aspek-aspek yang berkaitan seperti definisi, konsep dan perkembangan pelancongan lestari, pembangunan pelancongan lestari positif, pendekatan konseptual, prinsip pelancongan lestari dan pengurusan pembangunan pelancongan lestari akan turut dibincangkan

THE APPLICATION OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP IN ASSET-BASED SUKUK: A SHARIÑAH ANALYSIS

There are two categories of sukuk namely Asset-based and Asset-backed sukuk. Assed-based sukuk is a sukuk whereby the existence of an underlying asset is sold to the investors only to facilitate the issuance of sukuk. Whereas in asset-backed sukuk, the asset is not merely used as a tool to facilitate the issuance but it is really transferred to the investor via a true sale transaction. However, in asset-based sukuk issuance, the transfer of asset to the investor is not a true sale. In simple word, only beneficial ownership is transferred to the investor while the legal title remains with the originator. The practice is seemed not to be persistent with the Shariah principle that requires the complete transfer of ownership to the buyer. In Islamic law, the ownership will determine the obligation of the owner toward his property. For example, a lessor is liable for the impairment of his property because he is the legal owner of the property while the lessee is not responsible for it because the lessee only owns the beneficial right of the property. Hence, this study is very important to determine the status of the transfer of beneficial ownership in asset-based sukuk whether it is compliant with Shariah or not? The status is vital because the result will lead to the different consequences especially with regard to the sukuk holder whether he is liable for the underlying asset or not

Involvement of CYP450 system in hepatoprotective activity of Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI)-produced virgin coconut oils.

The present study aims to determine the role of cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzyme system in hepatoprotective activity of virgin coconut oils produced by Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI). Paracetamol (PCM)-induced hepatotoxic rat was used as a model. Liver injury induced by 3 g/kg PCM increased the liver weight and liver enzymes (e.g. alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphate (ALP)) and decreased cell viability indicating liver damage. Histological observation also confirms liver damage indicated by the presence of inflammations and necrosis. Pre-treatment with VCOA or VCOB reversed the significantly (P < 0.05) reversed PCM toxic effect. Groups pre-treated withvirgin coconut oil (VCOs) followed by inhibitor or inducer of CYP450 demonstrated significant (P < 0.0.5) increase in liver weight, liver enzymes levels and decrease in cell viability, which are, however, significantly (P < 0.05) less remarkable as compared to group treated with PCM alone. In conclusion, VCO possessed hepatoprotective effect, which is believed to be mediated via a non-CYP450 system and might be associated partly with the antioxidant potential of the oil. Further studies are warranted to determine the actual mechanisms of hepatoprotection involved

Kuala Kedah towards a heritage tourism destination: A preliminary perspective

At present heritage is generally an important aspect for many tourists.In many parts of the world, heritage is categorized and recognized as one of the vital components of tourism development especially when it is linked to tourism and recreational activities.Nowadays, there is increasing evidence that traveling to a destination rich- in- heritage is gaining more popularity and becoming a growing trend. Due to greater potential of heritage-based tourism all over the world Kuala Kedah, which is known as a fishermen village and very synonymous to the history of Kedah's Sultanate, should take the opportunity to be developed as a destination for heritage tourism.Therefore, this conceptual paper will unwrap and explain aspects such as definition and concept of heritage, heritage tourism, dynamic interaction between tourism and sustainability and threat of tourism to cultural heritage before discussing some potentials and opportunities in developing Kuala Kedah as an attractive and successful destination for heritage tourism.At the end of this paper, some recommendations will be proposed to help Kuala Kedah plan and develop a more efficient and ideal tourism

Initial assessment of runoff quality from a road and highway in Klang Valley

Primary data is being collected to study the quality of storm runoff produced from the road surfaces in Klang Valley. Seven locations at various tolled highways and one location at IIUM are selected for the collection of primary data on storm runoff quality. As many as 20 various relevant water quality parameters, consisting the major groups of pollutants, are chosen to be tested for runoff quality from the selected road and highways. Event Mean Concentration (EMC) is being calculated to compare the runoff quality from various roads. However, not all pollutants are tested yet. This paper presents results of runoff quality from a road selected at IIUM and nearby MTD toll on Kuantan highway. According to the initial evaluation, EMC value for COD of the highway runoff (73 mg/L) is higher than that of local road runoff (44 mg/L). On the other hand, the TSS of the road runoff (273.5 mg/L) is higher than that of highway (215 mg/L). When compared to Class II of the National Water Quality Standard (NWQS), it was observed that the runoff from the roads and highways are inferior with respect to BOD, COD, TSS and Turbidity, indicating road runoff must be treated before discharged into the river system. It is expected that completion of the study would provide some baseline EMC values for the highways in the Klang Valley

Determination Of Had Kifayah Zakat Among Pre-Graduate Students at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (Usim)

This research was supported by Pusat Wakaf dan Zakat, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia under grant no PPPI/KHAS_PWZ/FSU/051007/15319.Had Kifayah refers to a minimum basic necessity rate set based on the current cost of living. The objective of this paper is to determine the current Had Kifayah for asnaf candidates focusing more on USIM Pre-Graduate students as the target group. The research method used are the qualitative and quantitative which apart from referring to existing writing and references, a survey was conducted to obtain the latest data from asnaf students through previous databases. The survey has been conducted via online instead one to one interview due to Covid-19 pandemic. Through a survey that covers aspects of student spending and income, the average of spending method has been used as per agreed with all team members to determine the Had Kifayah, in line with the method used by the state Islamic religious council as a reference. With the improvements made in the agreed calculation system, a more accurate calculation method has been developed and at the same time can help the process of proper distribution of zakat.Pusat Wakaf dan Zakat, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia under grant no PPPI/KHAS_PWZ/FSU/051007/1531

Antinociceptive activity of a synthetic oxopyrrolidine-based compound, ASH21374, and determination of its possible mechanisms

This study was carried out to determine the antinociceptive activity of a novel synthetic oxopyrrolidine-based compound, (2R,3R,4S)-ethyl 4-hydroxy-1,2-dimethyl-5-oxopyrrolidine-3-carboxylate (ASH21374), and to elucidate the involvement of the opioid, vanilloid, glutamate, and nitric oxide – cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO/cGMP) systems in modulating the observed antinociception. ASH21374, in the doses of 2, 10, and 100 mg/kg body mass, was administered orally to mice 60 mins prior to exposure to various antinociceptive assays. From the results obtained, ASH21374 exhibited significant (P< 0.05) antinociceptive activity in the abdominal constriction, hot-plate, and formalin tests that was comparable with 100 mg/kg acetylsalicylic acid or 5 mg/kg morphine, respectively. ASH21374 also attenuated capsaicin- and glutamate-induced paw licking. Pre-treatment with 5 mg/kg naloxone significantly (P< 0.05) inhibited the activity in all assays, while pretreatment with 10 mg/k-funaltraxamine, 1 mg/kg naltrindole, or 1 mg/kg nor-binaltorphimine significantly (P< 0.05) reversed the activity in the abdominal constriction test. L-Arginine,NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl esters (L-NAME), methylene blue, and their combinations, failed to inhibit the ASH21374 antinociceptive activity. In conclusion, ASH21374 demonstrated antinociceptive activities on the peripheral and central nervous systems, mediated through the activation of opioid receptors, inhibition of the glutamatergic system, and attenuation of vanilloid-mediated nociceptive transmission. Further studies have been planned to determine the pharmacological potential of ASH21374

Predictor of academic performance: personality traits and catechol-O-methyltransferase polymorphisms

Personality traits and genetics are important factors in determining academic performance. Although there have been studies on the association between genetics and academic performance, there is limited data on the effect of personality traits and the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) rs4680 polymorphism on academic performance, particularly among university students in Malaysia. The objective of this study was to correlate the relationship between personality traits, COMT rs4680 polymorphism, and academic performance among health sciences undergraduate students at a Malaysian university. The research design was a correlational study where 221 students were recruited based on the convenient sampling approach. The demographic and international personality item pool (IPIP) questionnaires were administered online, whereas the COMT rs4680 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was determined using a tetra-primer allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). From the IPIP results, the conscientiousness trait was positively and significantly correlated with academic performance (r=0.141, p=0.036). Participants with homozygous Met/Met allele of the COMT rs4680 polymorphism tended to perform better in academics (p=0.009) as compared to participants with homozygous Val/Val and heterozygous Val/Met alleles. As a conclusion, students with a higher conscientiousness score and carriers of the homozygous Met/Met allele of COMT rs4680 showed better academic performance