Analysis of Asnaf Entrepreneurial Development Based on the First Principle of Islamic-based Development

The advent of Covid-19 pandemic, which surprised the world in 2020, has increased the poverty gap worldwide. Malaysia is not spared. In Malaysia, zakat institutions endeavored to develop several poverty management programs to assist asnaf (poor and needy) in meeting their basic necessities while developing their own ability to escape the chains of poverty. Literature suggests that these asnaf are shackled in the poverty culture and requires close supervision. In the zeal of developing these asnaf as entrepreneurs to fulfill their tangible needs, they too need knowledge of their responsibilities as khalifah (caliphs) on earth. This study intends to examine asnaf entrepreneurial development from the perspective of Islamic-based development based on the first principle–tasawwur (or Islamic worldview). It seeks to identify how asnaf entrepreneurial development is associated with tasawwur as the mould to development. This concept covers three fundamental components of Islamic tasawwur. Based on the collection of secondary data through documents reviews and using content analysis, proves that developing asnaf entrepreneurs to be dynamic and pious entrepreneurs who are governed by the Quran’s teachings by emphasizing solely on tangible or material factors alone is inadequate. There needs to be concerted efforts to incorporate the three Islamic tasawwur components. The implication from the findings suggests that there is a need for zakat institutions, government agencies, NGOS, and the asnaf themselve to commit to develop asnaf entrepreneurs by incorporating these components in their poverty management strategies to ensure that the entrepreneurs that are born from such programs are materially independent, imbued with strong resilience requiring minimal supervision. Keywords: Islamic tasawwur, asnaf entrepreneurs, Islamic development principles, Islamic-based development, zaka

Compliance Intention to Pay Zakat on Salary: A case from East Malaysia

This study examines the effects of attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioural control, and taqwa on compliance intention to pay zakat on salary in East Malaysia. A deductive approach is employed to examine young public servants' compliance intention to contribute to zakat payment on their salary. The model is tested using survey data from 202 respondents in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, East Malaysia. The results obtained indicate that attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control are significantly related to compliance intention. Besides these factors, taqwa is also significant. The post hoc analysis indicates that attitude can play a role as a mediating variable for the relationship between taqwa and compliance intention. This study improves the generalisation of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to include zakat payment, where Islamic altruism is brought into play. Our findings are of the essence to provide valuable insights for zakat authority to manage zakat payers effectively by considering new millenials as new zakat payers' base and patronage factors as captured in this study

The acceptance of online zakat payment among Muslims in east Malaysia: a conceptual study

Paying zakat is one of Islam’s many obligations. Zakat, as one of the five pillars of Islam, is usually paid in cash. However, changes in time and technological modernity have pushed people to pay zakat in new ways, such as online. The ability to pay zakat online is closely driven by the availability of the payment service and the readiness of technological access. Individuals who intend to pay zakat online in East Malaysia are assumed to face significant challenges, such as a lack of internet connectivity infrastructure, which resulted in slow technology adoption. This research aims to look into the acceptance of online zakat payment among Muslims in East Malaysia. Factors, namely perceived usefulness and perceived ease-of-use of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), with the addition of perceived efficiency and maslahah, were used as the study framework. The study’s findings are expected to show the significance of Muslim individuals accepting to pay zakat online in East Malaysia. In any case, apart from contributing to the body of knowledge, this study is expected to provide insights to policymakers, especially zakat institutions, on the need to improve the awareness and motivate muzakki to pay zakat online

Urban Household Credit Card Debt Behaviour in East Malaysia: A Conceptual Framework

ABSTRACT Society in the modern world nowadays see debt as something normal. Hence, household seems difficult to escape themselves from debt. Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) recorded from 50,361 cases that enrolled in debt management program, 10.6 percent households could not pay their credit card debt while the remaining had repayment problem with housing loans, car loans and credit cards outstanding (Nie, 2010). The development of credit card facility as a medium of payment to buy goods and services also encourage household to spend beyond their means. Given the increase of cost of living like subsidy restructuring like petrol, increase in tariff electricity and also the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) among the factors which induce the use of credit card to accommodate their cost of living. At the same time, credit card issuer such as financial and nonfinancial also contributed to the increase of household debt by giving easy terms and condition with low interest rate. Therefore the objective of this research is discuss on related literature reviews and follows by the development of conceptual framework that determine urban household credit card debt by integrating psychological factors, bank's policy factors and socio-demographic factors. Next, this paper also will discuss methodology instrument that will be used for this study

Penelitian susun atur akad dalam borang takaful kenderaan di Malaysia: Kajian perbandingan borang takaful kenderaan di Malaysia dan Jordan

Takaful ialah alternatif kepada insurans konvensional yang telah difatwakan haram oleh jumhur ulama kerana mengandungi unsur-unsur riba, gharar, dan perjudian.Walau bagaimanapun akad takaful yang berteraskan tabarru’ masih wujud kekurangan antaranya, ianya banyak menyerupai insurans biasa daripada segi penjualan polisi perlindungan, pengurusan dana dan dalam proses pengunderaitan serta pengkelasan risiko yang menjadikannya lebih rumit untuk difahami oleh masyarakat.Berdasarkan susun atur dan perletakan ayat dalam borang akad takaful kenderaan berkemungkinan menjadikan penyebab sumber kecelaruan pemahaman dalam membuat akad dan pengandalian borang akad takaful kenderaan yang hampir menyerupai konsep insurans konvensional. Hal ini boleh menimbulkan kebimbangan dan kajian perlu dijalankan terhadap perletakan konsep akad di dalam helaian borang daripada pelbagai segi terutamanya dengan melihat bagaimana negara lain seperti negara Jordan menghasilkan borang akad takaful kenderaan mereka sebagai langkah memurnikan urusan akad itu sendiri

Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Nanosized Polyaniline

Polyaniline (PANI) is a conductive polymer easily converted into a conducting state. However, its limited mechanical properties have generated interest in fabricating PANI composites with other polymeric materials. In this study, a PANI–prevulcanized latex composite film was synthesized and fabricated in two phases following chronological steps. The first phase determined the following optimum parameters for synthesizing nanosized PANI, which were as follows: an initial molar ratio of 1, a stirring speed of 600 rpm, a synthesis temperature of 25 °C, purification via filtration, and washing using dopant acid, acetone, and distilled water. The use of a nonionic surfactant, Triton X-100, at 0.1% concentration favored PANI formation in a smaller particle size of approximately 600 nm and good dispersibility over seven days of observation compared to the use of anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate. Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) showed that the PANI synthesized using a surfactant was in the emeraldine base form, as the washing process tends to decrease the doping level in the PANI backbone. Our scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that the optimized synthesis parameters produced colloidal PANI with an average particle size of 695 nm. This higher aspect ratio explained the higher conductivity of nanosized PANI compared to micron-sized PANI. Following the chronological steps to determine the optimal parameters produced a nanosized PANI powder. The nanosized PANI had higher conductivity than the micron-sized PANI because of its higher aspect ratio. When PANI is synthesized in smaller particle sizes, it has higher conductivity. Atomic force microscopy analysis showed that the current flow is higher across a 5 µm2 scanned area of nanosized PANI because it has a larger surface area. Thus, more sites for the current to flow through were present on the nanosized PANI particles

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P &lt; 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Susun atur akad borang takaful kenderaan di Malaysia: perbandingan borang takaful kenderaan di Malaysia dan Jordan

Akad adalah sesuatu yang sangat penting dalam muamalat. Telah dikenal pasti akad takaful yang berteraskan tabarru’ masih wujud kekurangan yang hampir menyerupai insurans konvensional daripada segi penjualan polisi perlindungan, pengurusan dana dan dalam proses pengunderaitan serta pengkelasan risiko yang menjadikannya lebih rumit untuk difahami oleh masyarakat. Berdasarkan susun atur dan perletakan ayat serta terlalu panjang padat dan penuh dalam borang akad takaful kenderaan berkemungkinan menjadikan penyebab sumber kecelaruan pemahaman dalam membuat akad dan pengandalian borang akad takaful kenderaan yang hampir menyerupai konsep insurans konvensional. Hal ini boleh menimbulkan kebimbangan dan kajian perlu dijalankan terhadap perletakan konsep akad di dalam helaian borang daripada pelbagai segi. Perbandingan negara Jordan menghasilkan borang akad takaful kenderaan telah digunakan dalam kajian sebagai pengukur