Welcoming Guests from P.M Communications

ARI welcomes Ms Ana Maria Nardelli, Mr Thomas Gallagher and Mr Edvoud from the P.M. Communications Agency who paid us a visit this morning. P.M. Communications is a leading international press and communication agency based in the United Kingdom which has been working exclusively with the Daily Telegraph newspaper for over 12 years. The trio is here in Malaysia undertaking a special project to interview the Ministry of Higher Education staff, vice chancellors of research universities, private & public universities and Higher Institution's Centres of Excellence (HICoE). As one of six HICoEs, ARI has been selected for inclusion in the project.
In showcasing the Malaysian Higher Education globally, the Daily Telegraph newspaper in the United Kingdom will be producing a special issue probably in November 2010. We look forward to the publication...

Congratulations Dr Hilwani...

Dr Hilwani Hariri, head of the Corporate Governance Research Centre (CGRC) has been invited as an observer to a two-day roundtable & forum: Network on Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in Asia on 24th-25th May 2010 held at the Shang-Rila Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. The forum was organized by the OECD and hosted by the Minority Shareholders Watchdog Group. The Asian Roundtable on Corporate Governance has decided to develop, under its auspices, a specific activity on the corporate governance of SOEs to raise awareness and promote the use in Asian economies of the OECD Guidelines on Corporate Governance of State-Owned Enterprises. It was really an honour for Dr Hilwani to be there at the forum. A great way to network...

UiTM: Readers Digest's Trusted Brand 2010

We did it again.
Universiti Teknologi MARA has been named one of the most trusted brand in the Readers Digest's Trusted Brand 2010 under the category of Services: University.Congratulations everyone...

Congratulations Dr Zaini Ahmad

ARI wishes to congratulate our research associate Dr Zaini Ahmad for her recent success. Her paper title "Committment to Independence by Internal Auditors: Effects of Role Ambiguity and Role Conflict" which was co-authored with Professor Dennis Taylor from RMIT Australia has been chosen as a highly commendable award winner at the Literati Network Award for Excellence 2010. Congratulations, we are so proud of you

Visit to Bank Negara Malaysia

Three researchers from ARI met and discussed with officers from BNM to discuss possible research collaboration in the areas of Islamic Financial Criminology. We met Mr Yusof Sulong, Deputy Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU); Mr Mohd Fuad Arshad; Research Manager of FIU and Mr Rahizam Ibrahim, manager of the Islamic Banking and Takaful Departnment of BNM. . In essence there's a lot of research areas that could be embarked collaboratively by both entities. We managed to identify several topics related to negative perceptions placed on Islamic products or agencies that could be undertaken immediately. Research related to perception that connotes Islam and Islamic products with Terrorist Financing for example will be done this year itself...

New Applied Research Monographs

ARI and the Faculty of Accountancy are happy to announce the completion of 11 applied research monographs by our Master in Forensic Accounting and Financial Criminology students. We hope to get some of these research published in indexed journals soon. Research titles include (names of specific organisations witheld):
1. An Investigation of a CBT Fraud in a Banking Institution: A Case of a Bank in Masjid Tanah Branch; 2. The Cost Of Plagiarism and Control Mechanisms to Mitigate It:
A Case Study; 3. The Effectiveness and Efficiency of the Purchase-to-Pay Process to Combat Fraud at a Telecommunication Company; 4. Financial Reporting Supply Chain: The Missing Link - A Case Study 5. Internal Control System and the Non-compliance of the Payment Procedures in a Government Agency; 6. The use of financial ratios to detect misleading financial information by companies reprimanded by the securities commission: a contemplative analysis; 7. Fraud Policy & Whistle Blowing Procedure of a PLC: An Analysis of their Contribution And Effectiveness Towards Fraud Prevention; 8. Non-Compliance to the AML Customer Due Diligence Requirement: A Case Study of an Insurance Company; 9. Privatisation Fraud: A Case Study a Local Authority. 10. Fraudulent Online Banking and Anti-Fraud Policies at a Local Bank: A Case Study and 11. An Assessment on the Inability of a PN17 Company to Submit Its REgularization Plan to SC. Congratulations everyone

Malaysian Accounting Review - Special Issue

ARI's journal, Malaysian Accounting Review is an international refereed journal that is currently indexed with three international databases namely Ebscohost, Cabell's and Ulrich. The journal is also ranked by two Australian databases: ERA and Bardsnet. Currently the journal is under review for possible indexing by SCOPUS. In tandem with ARI's recognition as a Higher Institutions' Centre of Excellence (HICoE), we will be publishing (this year) MAR's special issue on Financial Criminology - An Islamic Perspective. ARI is inviting interested authors to submit their papers (conceptual or empirical) as soon as possible.

Congratulations New Graduates

It was indeed a very happy occassion today, .celebrating the success of our new PhD and Masters graduates who received their scroll today from the king himself. It is UiTM's 72nd convocation since its inception in 1956. Our three PhD graduates: ) Dr Zaini Ahmad (Thesis on Auditing), Dr Sharifah Khadijah Syed Agil (Professional Ethics)and Dr Siti Noor Hayati Mohd Zawawi (Forensic Accountingare examplary of sheer hard work, great work ethics and committment to "finish what they started" and our twenty Master in Forensic Accounting & Financial Criminology - Congratulations Putri, Rosdi, Shahrul, suhaini, Nisha, Ezadee, Khairul, Nurahim, Huda, Ain, Amiruddin, Fazlysham, Syah, Ismayanti, Juhana, Salihuddin, Mariani and others we are so proud of all of you....

New Graduate Enhancement Program

The university has agreed in principle to allow the Faculty of Accountancy to commence two new graduate enhancement programs for our Bachelor of Accountancy students. These enhancement programs are namely the post graduate certificate Anti-Money Laundering Specialist by ACAMS (USA) and the Post-Graduate Certificate in Islamic Finance (CIMA). Both are part of the faculty's initiatives to enhance the marketability/employability of our graduates. The programs are expected to commence in December 2010...

Visit to MINDA

Today a group of researchers from ARI paid a return visit to MINDA, the Malaysian Directors Academy. ARI has been identified by MINDA to write case studies on government-linked companies (GLC) for the purpose of directors training materials. MINDA office is one of those "state-of-the-art", modern office located strategically in the heart of the Kuala Lumpur city. Very impressive indeed.
MINDA aims to address Board performance by equipping Directors of GLCs with world class knowledge, skills and mindset to perform to a consistently high standard. To be an effective Director, performance is critical. This includes understanding the boundaries between Board and management, active problem solving with both the Board and key management on strategic issues, whilst leveraging networks and managing multiple stakeholders in a proactive manner.

Research Workshop on Islamic Finance & Criminology

Today, ARI organised a one-day workshop on Islamic Finance and Criminology. We invited Associate Prof Dr Asyraf Wajdi, the Head of Research Affairs from the International Shari’ah Research Academy for Islamic Finance or more commonly known by its acronym, ISRA to give a keynote address to the participants.
The aim of the workshop was to discuss contemporary issues in Islamic Finance and criminology and to identify viable research topics to be further elaborated on during ARI forthcoming research retreat in June 2010. The workshop was attended by fifty researchers.
Among the topics identified were: The development of shariah audit framework; Role of Shariah Advisory Council in mitigating fraud; Patriot Act and the Birth of Islamic Finance Worldwide; Financial Crisis and Islamic Finance; The Polemics of Shariah-Compliant - form vs substance; Understanding Maqasid al-shariah and an Appraisal of Islamic Finance Instrument.

CSSR 2010 will be Indexed by IEEE/Scopus

The university's annual Conference on Science and Social Science Research (CSSR) will be going international this year. The International CSSR 2010 will be held in KUala Lumpur on 5-8 November 2010. This year, the conference will be co-organized by RMI & IEEE and the conference proceeding will be indexed by SCOPUS. It is a great opportunity for all ARI members to participate in this event. Each paid participant can submit and present up to two papers during the conference. ARI is targeting between 30-40 papers to be submitted by its members this year....

ARI Winners at ITEX 2010

Congratulations all ARI members who had successfully showcased their research products in the recent ITEX 2010 in Kuala at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The following members have received awards: Associate Prof Dr Rohaya Mohd Nor (Bronze); Amirul (silver); Izzah (Bronze); Syuhada (Bronze); Intan Salwani (Bronze); Assoc Prof Dr Roshayani (Silver) and Assoc Prof Dr Zuraidah (Bronze).

Seminar on Islamic Finance for Government Officers.

ARI wishes to thank the Malaysian Islamic Progession Department (JAKIM) for inviting our members to attend a half-day Islamic Finance seminar for government officers in Putrajaya today. It was indeed an eye-opener to see the potential of Islamic Finance and Islamic Banking in today's economy.
We were informed that currently, the Islamic banking is only capturing about 20% of the existing financial market. Graduates with qualifications in Islamic Banking and Islamic Finance are very marketable. Some 6,000 Malaysian professionals in Islamic Finance are being employed globally.

Anti Money Laundering and Financial Criminology - Class of 2010

It was our last day of class today. The Master of Forensic Accounting and Financial Criminology students were all excited. It was quite an accomplishment.
Apart from the normal class, we had two very interesting guest lectures given by two prominent practitioners and twelve written real Malaysian cases on financial criminology and money laundering. ARI plans to publish these cases either in the form of book chapters or in applied research journals. Congratulations everyone....

Professional Enhancement Program in AML

In todays' competitive environment, it is important that graduates equipped themselves with relevant skills and competencies. For our graduates, one of the options available is for them to embark on professional programs as an "add-on" to their basic qualification. One such professional program is the Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (CAMS), a US-based qualification. Recognized worldwide by employers in both private industry and government and acknowledged by regulators and examiners, the Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist® (CAMS) credential denotes proven knowledge in the detection and prevention of money laundering. AML professionals who earn the CAMS designation position themselves to be leaders in the industry and experience professional growth.

Possible Collaboration with AG Chambers....

Today, ARI was visited by a group of deputy public prosecutors from the Attorney's General Chambers in Putrajaya.
Discussions were basically focussed on possible collaboration between the two organisations - ARI (UiTM) and the AG Chambers - perhaps on areas involving capacity building, research collaboration and joint-seminar organisation for Forensic Accounting & Financial Criminology. ARI welcomes such collaboration and we look forward to a fruitful relationship..