Language Shift and Ethnic Identity: Focus on Malaysian Sindhis

This paper focusses on the minority community of the Malaysian Sindhis to show that ethnic and cultural identities can be constructed through means other practices than solely by the heritage languages. The study draws on an open-ended question directed to 79 lady members of the Sindhi community in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The respondents were women aged 50-70 and a friend of a friend helped in obtaining further respondents. This age group was selected as they often met for kitty parties, gambling sessions, and lunch parties. Their one-word responses were recorded and returned to the facilitator helping in data collection. The question was “What do you mean when you say you are a Sindhi?”. Based on the data, we contend that the term ethnicity denotes a subjective sense of community, meaning a shared identity which results in a sense of group solidarity. Identity is rooted in actual cultural practices and experiences

THE IMPACT OF ETHICAL LEADERSHIP ON INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEMS

Purpose: The paper aims to investigate the impacts of ethical leadership on the effectiveness of internal control systems in government departments   Design/methodology/approach: The investigation is based on 182 distributed survey questionnaires provided to government department employees in managerial positions. The questionnaire items relating to ethical leadership are based on the components of role-modelling, strictness and openness. Internal control systems were evaluated based on the COSO framework, and the hypotheses were tested using regression models on the correlation between ethical leadership and internal control systems.   Findings: The major conclusion of the study is that there is a significantly positive correlation between ethical leadership and internal control systems. The study points out the importance of ethical leadership in ensuring the effectiveness of internal control systems.   Contribution: The results provide insight and information on how to enhance internal control systems through ethical leadership. The study also contributes to internal control systems literature by providing empirical evidence on the causal effect that a leader has on systems effectiveness. Keywords: Ethics, government, internal control, leadership, public sector.   Cite as: Zahari, A. I., Syed Yusuf, S. N., Said, J., Abdul Manan, D. I., & Mohd Tahir, H. (2023). The impact of ethical leadership on internal control systems. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 8(TI), 1-25. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol8issTIpp1-2

Synthesis, characterization and biological activity of NitrogenOxygen-Sulfur (NOS) transition metal complexes derived from novel s-2,4-dichlorobenzyldithiocarbazate with 5-fluoroisatin / Mohd Abdul Fatah Abdul Manan ... [et al.]

A novel Schiff base containing nitrogen-oxygen-sulfur (NOS) donor atoms formed from the condensation reaction of S-2,4dichlorobenzyldithiocarbazate (S-2.4BDTC) with 5-fluroisatin has been synthesized. Complexes of cobalt(ll), nickel(ll), copper(ll), zinc(ll) and cadmium(ll) with this Schiff base have been prepared and characterized using elemental analysis and various physico-chemical techniques. In the cobalt(ll) andnickel(II) complexes the SchifJbase behaves as a uninegatively charged tridentate nitrogen-oxygen-sulfur (NOS) chelating ligand, bonding through the azomethine nitrogen, thiolate sulfur and carbonylic oxygen of the isatin moiety. However. in the copper(ll), zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes the Schiff base behaves as a nitrogen-sulfur (NS) bidentate chelating ligand, bonding through the azomethine nitrogen and thiolate sulfur. The Schiff base and the metal complexes were evaluated with respect to antimicrobial activity, which was performed in reallion to two selected pathogenic microbials (Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). It was observed that only the zinc Schiffbase complex exhibited strong activity against the Bacillus subtilis bacteria with an inhibition zone of 25 mm

Anti-ulcer activity of Ficus religiosa stem bark ethanolic extract in rats.

Ficus religiosa is being used in Ayurvedic and Malay traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases including gastric ulcer. Considering the above claims, the present work was undertaken to validate the anti-ulcer potential of the ethanol extract of stem bark of F. religiosa against in vivo indomethacin- and cold restrained stress-induced gastric ulcer, and pylorus ligation assays. The extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.05) reduced the ulcer index in all assays used. The extract also significantly (P<0.05) and increased the pH of gastric acid while at the same time reduced the volume of gastric juice and, free and total acidities. In conclusion, the present study provide preliminary data on the antiulcer potential of F. religiosa stem bark and support the traditional uses of the plant for the treatment of gastric ulcer

Enabling synergy through ta’aruf in strategic planning with Ulul albab approach for Masjid Tepi Sungai

This document reports the ta’aruf or ice-breaking session among consultants prior to conducting desktop research and proposal for strategic planning of Masjid Tepi Sungai (MTS). Ta’aruf or introduction enables members of consultants to bridge the gap of differences so that they could work in the consultancy without any barrier. In consultancy, every member plays significant role in making the consultancy rigorous, holistic and complete

Mapping mismatches : English-medium education policy, perceptions and practices in the low-fee private schools in Quetta Pakistan / Syed Abdul Manan

Pakistan is a multilingual and multi-ethnic country whereby English is the official language and Urdu is the national language. It has five different school systems, which operate in parallel and practice different media of instruction. Such different school systems reflect the various socio economic status of the students. Consequently, this study focuses on the low-fee English-medium private schools that cater to children largely from low-income backgrounds. The number of low-fee schools has exponentially proliferated over the last two decades, almost ten-fold as estimates suggest. One out of three school-going children attends private schools. Low-fee schools use an English language curriculum and advertise themselves as English-medium, which motivates parents from low-income families to enrol their children wanting them to learn English because it is the ‘passport to privileges’. This study examines the straight-for-English policy these schools adopt, although, researchers in bi/multilingual education propose a mother-tongue based policy at primary level, a language familiar to children, the one to which they have maximum exposure in their social environment. The study addressed three aspects of the policy: perceptions of stakeholders about straight-for-English policy, English-teaching and learning practices and children’s exposure to English. Employing a mixed methodology involving questionnaires, interviews, observations and field notes, the study surveyed 11 schools in Quetta city, Pakistan. The respondents consisted of 245 students from high-secondary classes, 8 teachers, 11 school principals, and 9 expert observers. The study used mixed methodology with a triangulation research design. Two different perceptions emerge from the data where students, teachers and school principals strongly endorse the current straight-for-English policy presuming that the earlier the child gets exposed to the English language, the better. However, language policy experts express concerns over straight-for-English policy and recommend mother tongue based multilingual policy. They propose that the formulation of the medium of instruction policy must be contextualized considering theory, research, available human resources, and the sociocultural and socioeconomic realities of children. The current policy can be elusive and ill-informed as it does not take into account any of the above conditions. In practice, English is not used meaningfully and substantively in classroom transactions, which can be helpful in learning the language as purported in policy and presumed by supporters of the policy. In fact, teachers use Urdu language to teach English. On the other hand, reading practice is usually a chorus repetition, while writing is limited to copying from textbooks and examination is rote-learning based. As a result, the writing ability of students stands below average. The children learn a translated bookish English with no communicative potential; their learning of content is imitative, not interpretive and the use of English can be symbolic and pretentious. Belonging predominantly to illiterate and semi-literate parental backgrounds, barring a negligible number, vast majority of children have no exposure to English at home. The study concludes that straight-for-English policy needs to be reviewed as it suffers from mismatches in terms of theory, practice and sociocultural landscapes of students. It might be better if children are taught in their mother tongues at least in the primary level

Intramedullary Spinal Cord Metastasis as Initial Presentation of Malignant Melanoma: A Unique Case Report and Role of Contrast vs Non-contrast MRI in Its Diagnosis.

Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis (ISCM) is a diagnostically challenging and dreadful complication of cancer. Twenty-seven cases of ISCM exclusively related to malignant melanoma have been reported so far in a recent study.On review of literature, we could not find any reported case with ISCM secondary to malignant melanoma as initial presentation. To the best of our knowledge, we are reporting the first such case. We report a case of a 71-year-old lady presenting with gradual onset of bilateral leg weakness "off legs" and lower limb paresthesias. On examination she had an upper motor neuron pattern lower limb weakness with reduced sensations to all modalities and brisk reflexes with extensor plantar responses. She was evaluated with non-contrast MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) spine which showed focal myelopathic cord signal at the conus and at the level of T10 and T11 vertebrae (radiological differential diagnosis given on MRI were B12 deficiency/inflammatory/infection). Thorough radiological scans were ordered which revealed a disseminated malignancy. A biopsy sample from gastric lesion revealed diagnosis of malignant melanoma. A repeat MRI whole spine with gadolinium contrast was done later with suspicion of spinal metastasis which has led to lower limb weakness. MRI with contrast showed an enhancing soft tissue metastatic mass lesion within conus in comparison with plain MRI done one week earlier. At present, diagnostic modalities available for diagnosing ISCM particularly secondary to melanoma do not have high specificity. Contrast MRI is the diagnostic modality of choice at present. Non-contrast MRI has low sensitivity in diagnosis of ISCM compared to contrast MRI and could potentially delay the management, especially in highly aggressive malignancies like malignant melanoma where an early diagnosis and treatment is critical for better outcome

Online news and public opinion: how Malaysians respond to news on a state by-election

This study articulates the agenda setting function of online news that is shared on Facebook. Many news organizations today have their own Facebook pages in which they publish news stories or links to articles. Having facebook pages allow the newspapers to reach a wider readership as well as promote reader participation through the comments section on Facebook posts. When audience members read and subsequently comment on news articles on Facebook, it becomes possible to identify the effectiveness of a newspaper’s agenda setting function by scrutinising how the readers respond to the issues covered in the newspaper. Content analysis was done on over 450 news articles from four major online newspapers during the Semenyih by-election in Malaysia. The study found that while the online newspapers and the readers do share some issue salience, the relationship is not as simple and direct. The dynamics of Facebook now enable news readers to become more than just receiver of news. Instead, they disrupt the conventional agenda setting function by becoming commenters who influence how other readers receive and contemplate news and issues

News online and public opinion: how Malaysians responded to news on a state by-election

This presentation discusses whether news online such as Facebook set the agenda for its readers. In response to the importance of social networking sites as sources of information, news media organizations have set up Facebook channels in which they publish news stories or links to articles. This allows for a wider news reach as well as audience participation. When audience members read and subsequently comment on news articles on Facebook, it becomes possible to identify public opinions and sentiments on the issues being covered