Does socio-Demographic Variables Matter in Explaining Issues and Challenges in Islamic Microfinance? Evidence from Malaysia

Purpose - In line with the wide acceptance of the microfinance industry globally, Islamic microfinance has also evolved rapidly in the past years to cater for the demand for Shariah-compliant microfinancing schemes. Despite this, the industry is facing various issues and challenges from both the clients and microfinance institutions. This study aims to identify the issues and challenges faced by different demographic background of microentrepreneurs receiving Islamic microfinancing from Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM). Methodology- It adopts the quantitative research methodology where primary data is collected using survey questionnaires administered on 393 women entrepreneurs who are currently clients of AIM’s Islamic microfinance scheme located in Selangor. The descriptive and cross-tabulation analyses are applied in efforts to understand the influence of socio-demographic factors (age, education level, duration with AIM, and times of receiving financing) on the following issues: cost of repayment, financing period, amount of financing, distance to AIM center, group lending mechanism, discipline among members, problematic group members, and consultation services. Findings - The study finds that clients with different socio-demographic factors perceived the issues differently, suggesting an influential role of clients’ demographic factors on the microfinance intervention. Practical implications - These findings have important implications to the microfinance industry in terms of further improving their products that are tailor-made to the socio-demographic characteristics of their clients. Originality – This research taken views of AIM’s microfinance recipients which were woman entrepreneurs in Selangor directly through a survey. Results of the research would be useful to AIM to enhance their products and services in future.     Keywords: Islamic microfinance, socio-demography, Islamic finance, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysi

Determinants of information technology adoption among Malaysian farm-based enterprises

Information technologies (ITs) have been employed in various fields of human endeavour especially to engender socio-economic development. One key sub-sector in which the adoption of ITs is increasingly becoming critical in Malaysia is the farm-based (agri-based) enterprises. However, previous studies have suggested that a number of factors influences the adoption of ICT by enterprises, especially small and medium firms. This study was prompted by the need to determine the factors that influence the adoption of IT among farm-based enterprises. A pre-test study was conducted with 50 IT-using entrepreneurs selected from five farm-based firms that were selected using systematic random sampling from a population of 500 farm-based entrepreneurs (selected from 50 farm-based firms) in Selangor, Malaysia. The study applied modified Entrepreneurial Event Model (EEM) theory with System Support and Readiness and Perceived Benefits as independent variables, while IT Adoption was the dependent variable. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics and factor analyses. The findings revealed that System support and readiness and Perceived benefits are the critical factors that determine IT adoption and that most of the enterprises (M = 3.81, SD = 1.00) adopted basic entrepreneurial ITs while a number of them (M = 3.68, SD = 1.23) adopted advanced entrepreneurial ITs. The limitations of the study include the size of the sample. Recommendations for effective application of IT into practical usage for farm-based enterprises development were included

Implementation of cryptography algorithms in SCADAKratos application

This paper studies cryptography algorithms to be implemented into the SCADAKratos application of thermal vacuum chamber (TVC) system. SCADAKratos application is used to control and monitor the operations of the TVC which is a satellite test equipment that is located at the Malaysia Space Centre, Banting, Malaysia. The security features had been put aside during the development as it was claimed that there is no threat to the system since the system is operated internally. However, during service and troubleshooting by the manufacturer, the system will be accessed through public network. Besides that, the system also can be accessed remotely during operation for control and monitoring purpose. In addition, the testing data results also need to be transferred to the customer through the internet as it is easier and faster. The remote access through public network will cause the TVC system to face a risk to any threat and attack. Therefore, the implementation of cryptography algorithm into TVC system is needed in order to secure and protect the system from unauthorized access. This paper explains the architecture of SCADAKratos application of TVC system and how the cryptography algorithms could be implemented through this application. Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA-1) and AES algorithm (AES) are chosen as the encryption technique which will be applied in the TVC system. Simulation result shows that this technique is feasible for the mentioned implementation

Micro Entreprise Empowerment Model Through Islamic Financial Service Cooperative (Study in Indonesia-Malaysia)

Micro-enterprise is a business that dominating the economy of Indonesia and Malaysia. The main problem faced by micro businesses is the issue of capital. The existence of Islamic financial service cooperative is expected to solve the problems of capital for micro-enterprises. Based on these descriptions then this study wanted to exercise how the empowerment model of micro enterprises implemented through enterpreneurs empowerment by Islamic financial service cooperative (IFSC). This study used qualitative methods to explore micro enterprises empowerment in order to get a micro business empowerment model. Both in Indonesia as well as Malaysia empowering micro businesses by IFSC appears from its ability to obtain capital, able to motivate the group, and was able to get access to the Government. The difference is in the intensity of the attention of the Government, the Government of Malaysia more intense attention on micro enterprises, so that micro enterprises more easily get access to the goverment and other financial institutions. Type of Paper: Empirical     Keywords: Micro Entreprise; Islamic Financial; Service Cooperative; Empowerment, Mode

Aerodynamics characteristics around simplified high speed train model under the effect of crosswinds

The aerodynamics problems of train commonly come when the flow pass through train body. The increasing speed of train to achieve highly technology demands has led to increase the forces and moments and increase sensitivity of train stability and may cause the train to overturn. In this paper, two prisms arranged in tandem represent a simplified model of high speed train are performed at different yaw angle ranging from 0° to 90° by using the unsteady Reynolds- Averaged Navier Stokes (URANS) equation combined with k-ω SST turbulence model. The Reynolds number is 3.14x105based on height of the train and the free stream velocity. The aerodynamic quantities such as the side force, lift force and drag force coefficient show a similar trend where the forces increase with the yaw angle until a certain critical yaw angle before start to decrease till the yaw angle of 90°. The flow structure around the train under the effect of crosswind is visualized. The vorticiticy start to form from the nose and slowly drifts away further towards the trailing edge. The two-dimensional mean streamlines on the cross-section of train at different yaw angle show that the size of vortex increase as the yaw angle increase. Time averaged pressure contour plotted on the cross section along x-axis show the variation of region between high pressure and low pressure region on the leeward and windward side of the train model that may cause train to overturn. © 2006-2017 Asian Research Publishing Network (ARPN)

Identifying national security fundamentals in the big data of digital asymmetrical environment communication

This conceptualization article discusses the impact of technology to society from variousperspectives which relates on humanities aspect of social convention, hegemony, generation warfare and intelligence constructs.The narratives provide understandings of the current transition, emphasizing the changing need of intelligence protocols to understand the society in current technological advancement era. Intelligence output is detrimental as information is no longer secluded in this borderless communication spheres. The article narrates generation warfare intelligence in complex information system of digital asymmetrical environment in current generation warfare to digest the social implications and of technology to society and provides appropriate recommendations.Keywords: communication; generation warfare; hegemony; intelligence; society; socialconvention

Semisolid Metal Processing Techniques for Nondendritic Feedstock Production

Semisolid metal (SSM) processing or thixoforming is widely known as a technology that involves the formation of metal alloys between solidus and liquidus temperatures. For the procedure to operate successfully, the microstructure of the starting material must consist of solid near-globular grains surrounded by a liquid matrix and a wide solidus-to-liquidus transition area. Currently, this process is industrially successful, generating a variety of products with high quality parts in various industrial sectors. Throughout the years since its inception, a number of technologies to produce the appropriate globular microstructure have been developed and applied worldwide. The main aim of this paper is to classify the presently available SSM technologies and present a comprehensive review of the potential mechanisms that lead to microstructural alterations during the preparation of feedstock materials for SSM processing