Model for UiTM's Institute of Forensic Science....

The formation of this new institute will certainly create a niche for UiTM. There are various models that we can benchmark. The University of Teesside (UK) for example has a forensic institute that establishes two "Crime Scene" houses, a digital lab, CSI lab, training rooms, moot court and several undergraduate and post graduate programs.
During her visit to the university's forensic lab in March 2010, Prof Dr Normah was briefed on the history of the institute and was taken to tour the various labs and Crime Scene houses. Seen here are two crime scene rooms

FRGS 2/2010

The FRGS grant is getting more competitive every year. The FRGS second cycle 2010 (FRGS 2/2010) saw more than 3500 applications for seven research clusters nemely Pure Sciences, Applied Sciences, Health Sciences, Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences, IT & Engineering and Natural Sciences & Heritage. The evaluation sessions were held from 26 to 29 July in Malacca. Applicants have to compete among themselves and only the best proposals were selected.
There's a tremendous increase in application by the young academics who are mainly in the "lecturers category". This is definitely a good sign for Malaysian universities. Interest towards research is increasing. One of the expected spinoffs of the FRGS research is an increase in indexed publication and improved citation rate for Malaysia as a country.....

Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting

The Emerald Publishing Group acquired one of UiTM's journal in August 2009. The journal was established by the Faculty of Accountancy & ARI in 2003. Effective June 2010, the Emerald group has taken over the responsibility of publishing the journal. ARI hopes the acquisition will result in increased readership and higher citation from the journal.

Talk on Bond Pricing Agency

Compared to the stock market, bonds are very much "low profile" in nature, particularly in this country. Nevertheless, the funds involved are enormous. The Sukuk bonds are within this category of bonds market. There are basically more than 2500 bond issuers in Malaysia. Today, to facilitate our finance SIG researchers, ARI invited a Bond Pricing Agency company to give a talk on the bonds market.
Mr Syah, the marketing manager, shared with us about the databases that his company has developed. ARI hopes to subscribe useful databases if there are sufficient demand from researchers (staff and Students)who wish to explore in this type of research...

Institute of Forensic Science in UiTM

Preparation is underway for the establishement of a new centre of excellence in UiTM: Institute of Forensic Science. The institute will see a strategic collaboration of experts and researchers from different faculties: medicine, applied sciences, law, accountancy & computer science. ARI will also be working closely with the new institute particularly in the area of financial criminology...

Thank You Professor Humayon Dar

ARI wishes to thank Prof Humayon Dar, CEO of BMB Islamic (UK) and an economic professor from the University of Laborough for an inspiring talk entitled "Sustanability of Islamic Financial Institutions in Current Financial Crisis".
Though a strong proponent of the Islamic Financial Institutions, Prof Dar gave a dynamic view of how and why Islamic Financial Institutions (IFIs) should go beyond "Shariah Compliant". To remain competitive and attractive to other non-muslim prospects, Prof Dar suggested the need for IFIs to introduce reformation of their products or services. For example, IFIs should be thinking of innovating products that could alleviate poverty, enhance community service and to help the needy. Currently IFIs are expected to grow and reach the USD3 trillion market capitalization. To sustain within a highly competitive industry, IFIs must introduce reform and innovate. Prof Humayon Dar is a visiting professor at UiTM's Centre of Islamic Thought and Understanding (CITU).

Launching of the Integrated Case Study Book in Accounting

In view of the new "Halatuju" accounting curriculum, the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) initiated a joint project to produce a Malaysian case study book for the newly introduced "Integrated Case Study" course.
What is interesting about the book is the collaborative effort shown by both accounting practitioners and academicians to write the cases. Basically, all the cases comprised of Malaysian companies who have given permission and consents for the authors to write about their practices. Once the cases were initially written, the groups invited case study experts from Harvard University and INTAN to further improve the case write ups. All in all, well done everyone. One of ARI's research associates, Dr Sharifah Khadijah Syed Agil is one of the authors of the case study book.

University-Industry Collaborative Enhancement Program

The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) launched the University-Industry Collaborative Enhancement Program in Putrajaya this morning. Basically, the collaboration is now grouped into nineteen clusters. University and industry experts will form collaborative projects with the objective of positioning Malaysia into a high income, developed nation as aspired by the Vision 2010. The program was launched by the Minister of Higher Education, Y Bht Dato' Seri Khaled Nordin. The launching was then followed by group MOUs between Malaysian universities and the industry. UiTM was represented by the vice chancellor, YBhg Dato Ir Dr Sahol Hamid

Welcome New Research Fellows and Associates

ARI wishes to welcome our new research fellows effective July 2010: Associate Prof Dr Ppk Wee Ching (Finance & Capital market); Dr Hilwani Hariri (Audit & governance); Associate Prof Dr Rohana Othman (Public Sector & financial management); Dr Nawal Kasim (Islamic Finance & Shariah Audit); Dr Intan Salwani (Accounting Information System); Assoc Prof Dr Ezani (Islamic Economics & Islamic Finance); Dr Siti Khadijah (Shariah)and Dr Halil Paino (Auditing & Forensic Accounting)

Forensic Accounting Seminar at AGC

ARI wishes to congratulate the Attorney General Chamber for organising a two-day conference on Practical Forensic Accounting in Financial Fraud Investigation. Prof Dr Syed Noh and Prof Dr Normah were invited as guest speakers on the first day of the conference today.
Some three hundred lawyers and legal officers attended the sessions. Whilst Prof Syed Noh presented an overview of forensic accounting, Prof Normah spoke on the use of forensic accounting in Financial Statement Fraud Investigation...

Congratulations Dr Yaseen

ARI wishes to congratulate Dr Yaseen (from Yamen) for passing his PhD viva this morning with very minor corrections. Dr Yaseen's research topic was in Corporate Governance focussing on countries such as Saudi Arabia and UAE. Dr Yaseen has indicated interest to continue staying in UiTM/ARI for another 2-3 years as a post-doctoral candidate. ARI welcomes his intention and hopes that he will continue to publish his research findings in reputable journals. Congratulations Yaseen...

ARI's Collaborative Projects with Prof Dr Omar Masood

Prof Omar Masood from the University of East London is a person with many talents. His research interests are in Islamic Finance, Islamic Banking, Islamic Governance and Financial Criminology.
As his interests are in line with ARI's own niche in Islamic Financial Criminology, we have invited Prof Omar for a strategic discussion on two collaborative research projects, co-supervision of two phd students in Islamic Financial Criminology, collaborative training programs for professionals and co-authorship of several journal papers. ARI will be inviting Prof Omar to a more focus projects in December 2010.

MAR Special Issue

The Malaysian Accounting Review (MAR) journal- a special issue on Islamic Financial Criminology will be published in September 2010. In addition to the normal "call-for-paper" process, ARI has invited several renowned authors to contribute to the papers. One of the aims of the Bukit Tinggi Retreat was also to produce concept papers in Islamic Financial Criminology. ARI is currently in the final round of reviewing the concept papers....

Welcome Prof Omar Masood

ARI welcomes Prof Omar Masood (the one in white & striped shirt), a visiting professor from the University of East London, United Kingdom.
Prof Omar has a very impressive credential particularly in the areas of Islamic Finance and Risk Management. He will be here in UiTM for a week and ARI hopes to invite him again in December 2010.
ARI will be conducting a few collaborative research projects with Prof Omar in these areas. As Prof Omar is also an accountant by training/profession, he will also be collaborating with ARI in Financial Criminology research projects.

Strategic Alliance with Top Notch Research Centres

One of the Vice Chancellor's Special Projects (VCSP) is for the university's centres of excellence to forge strategic alliances with top notch research centres worldwide.
ARI, through its Director has been selected to be the project manager. Part of the project initiatives will include research collaboration, joint-publications, international research grant/sponsorship.
Members of the project comprise directors of UiTM Centres of Excellence. The overall project director is the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation). The project monitoring is done through the digitalized UePMO system. A weekly meeting will be held to discuss progress of the projects.

FRGS Final Countdown....

ARI and the Faculty of Accountancy hope to submit fifty FRGS research proposals by early next week. Prof Dr Rozainun is heading this project. A lot of workshops have been conducted to facilitate researchers. Responses from lecturers have been very encouraging. We are confident of reaching our target of fifty proposals.

Corporate Integrity System for Malaysia

As a research team member of the Corporate Integrity System project under the Malaysian Institute of Integrity, Prof Dr Normah Omar was invited to speak and introduce the Corporate Integrity System (CIS)at a Corporate Governance Week Conference jointly organized by Bursa Malaysia and the Securities Commissions.
The CIS is a research project initiated by the Private Sector Division of the Malaysian Institute of Integrity. Research members comprised of Prof Dr Normah Omar from ARI, Prof Datin Dr Hasnah & Dato Ishak from USM, Prof Dr Syed Hamid from INCEIF, Prof Dr Salleh Hassan from Nottingham University and the Private Sector Division. Participants of the conference are mainly Board members and top management of PLCs.