The Accounting Research Institute (ARI) thanks our beloved fellow, Professor Dr Rashidah Abdul Rahman who recently took optional retirement. Prof Rashidah was involved directly with the establishment of ARI way back since 2002 when she formed the Corporate Governance Special Interest Group. The SIG was later "upgraded" when a MOU was signed with the Chairman of the Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance (MICG), Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin in early 2003. Spearheaded from that event was the establishment of more research centres. Today, there are eight research centres in ARI: (1) UiTM-MICG Corporate Governance Centre , (2) UiTM-CIMA Management Accounting Cente, (3) UiTM-ACCA Financial Reporting Centre, (4) UiTM-CPA Australia Public Sector Centre, (5) Forensic Accounting Centre, (6) Islamic Accounting & Muamalat Centre, (7) Sustainability Research Centre and (8) GLC Research Centre. Prof Rashidah was ARI's Deputy Director until her recent retirement. As a research at ARI HICoE, Prof Rashidah was the head of the Shariah Governance Research Cluster. Through her leadership, a new business model of Islamic Microfinance was developed by ARI HICoE. The business model was pilot-tested through a collaboration with the Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) as microfinance financiaer and Mydin Holding as supplier and marketer. The Tanjung Karang tailoring business project is Prof Rashidah's landmark success in promoting Islamic Microfinance as a strategic tool to alleviate poverty among the Ummah. Professor Rashidah has gone to many countries to promote the business model. Today, two countries namely Philippines and Tunisia have indicated their interest to emulate the Tanjung Karang project to their respective countries. Within the last 5 years as ARI fellow, Prof Rashidah has published more than 100 papers in indexed journals and presented key note papers in many international conferences. We will certainly miss you Prof Rashidah, God bless you always.
