Visitor From IIU

A researcher, Dr Achmad Tohirin from the Center of Islamic Economics Development and Studies, Indonesia Islamic University (IIU) paid us (Accounting Research Institute) a visit to discuss possible joint research initiatives and collaboration in the area of Islamic Accounting and Muamalat. Also being discussed was the prospect of the two universities (IIU & UiTM) offering joint post graduate programs in the same area of research. The two universities have recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU)to signify future collaboration. Thus the visit is just a step forward to realize the MOU...

ARI-PDRM Training Program

As the Accounting Research Institute (ARI HICoE) embarks on its niche research area of Financial Criminology, one of our very important aspirations is to increase awareness and competency of those involved with the investigation of financial fraud cases.
In investigating financial fraud cases, investigators must be at ease with the financial numbers. More importantly, they must acquire the skills and competency of how to interpret financial numbers; understanding "financial number game" and to know how the game is played. Today, ARI training team met up with some officers from the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) to discuss possible financial criminology on-the-job training program that could be offered to RMP investigation officers. Such university-RMP collaboration should be encouraged.

Congratulations New PhD Qualifiers

The Accounting Research Institute congratulates five of our colleagues who have recently completed their PhD program: Dr Zuraedah (University of Glasgow,UK), Dr Raja Azrin (Curtin University, Australia), Dr Shahrul, Dr Rahimah and Dr Sharifah (Edith Cowan University, Australia). Congratulations and well done all....

ARI Exhibition at PECIPTA 2011

The Accounting Research Institute (ARI) will be taking up a booth to showcase our activities and research products at the forthcoming PECIPTA 2011 to be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) on 13-15 September 2011. Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) will be hosting the event. ARI will be showcasing some of its research publications in the area of Islamic Financial Criminology. Some ARI members will also be taking part in the PECIPTA 2011 product exhibition and competition.

ARI's Two Newly Qualified Polygraph Examiners

The Accounting Research Institute (ARI) congratulates two researchers: Associate Professor Dr Rohana Othman (ARI Research Fellow) and Ms Munirah Morad (ARI Research Officer)for successfully completing a six week plygraph training at Malaysia's only Polygraph Science Academy. Both of them are now Qualified Polygraph Examiners. Since ARI is in the final stage of establishing its own polygraph laboratory, their certification is just timely. More researchers will be trained this year and we hope that through our polygraph lab, we will be able to train more forensic accountants to be competent with the polygraph machines. According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, a polygraph machine(popularly referred to as a lie detector measures and records several physiological indices such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions. The belief is that deceptive answers will produce physiological responses that can be differentiated from those associated with non-deceptive answers. ) ARI Polygraph laboratory is a contribution from the HICoE funding and will be fully operational by early 2012. Through our own Polygraph laboratory, we hope to be able to train as many people (especially forensic accountants and financial fraud investigators) as possible in the usage of polygraph machines as an investigative tool. Surely we will offer the study polygraph science as a possible elective for our Masters students. Research experiements can also be conducted to examine the incidents of lying by perpetrators and witnesses...

2011 IFCTF

In its effort to drive research programs in the area of financial criminology, the Accounting Research Institute (ARI) will be collaborating with the industry to organize an International Conference on Financial Crime and Terrorism Financing. 2011IFCTF will be held on 19-20 September in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Themed "Raising the Bar in Compliance and Enforcement", the organizers anticipate the number of participants to exceed five hundred. Several renowned speakers have indicated their agreement to participate. 2011 IFCTF showcases interesting current issues in the areas of financial crime and terrorism financing and highlights practical solutions...

External Appointments

As part of the university's effort to encourage participation of external experts (both at national and international levels) with the university's own scholars, a committee has been set up to come up with criteria, proposed activities and deliverables.
The committee headed by the deputy vice chancellor (academic and internationalisation) Prof Dr Azni Zain Ahmed is assisted by professors and selected senate members. ARI director, Prof Dr Normah Omar is a member of this committee. Following through a draft working paper prepared at Frasers Hill early this year, the committee met today to finalize the proposed criteria, activities, expected outcome and quantum of honorarium payment for these experts. Within the ambit of these external appointments are positions for visiting noble laurettes, distinguished visiting professors, distinguished visiting scholars, distinguished visiting scientists, distinguished creative artists, industry panel experts, visiting fellows, external examiners, academic advisors, visiting research fellows, adjunct professors and many others. The finalized draft will be deliberated at the senate meeting for subsequent approval.

JFRA Special Issue

The Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting (JFRA), which is indexed with the UK-based Emerald Publishing International will have a special issue publication in 2012 with the theme "Islamic Financial Criminology". Specifically, the guest editor invites both conceptual and/or empirical papers in the areas of Islamic Accounting & Finance and Financial Criminology. Papers could incorporate contemporary issues such as counter human trafficing, counter financing of terrorism,sukuk, Islamic microfinancing, zakat invesment, waqaf and many other related areas. All papers can be submitted to normah645@salam.uitm.edu.my for initial review.

Research Talk on Strategic Management Accounting

The Asian Management Accounting Research Centre (AMARC), one of ARI's research cluster group organized a research talk for students and staff today. The speaker, a renowned researcher and author, Emeritus Professor Dr Michael E. Tayles from Hull University Business School. Prof Tayles's talk titled "Strategic Management Accounting Practices: Sharing of Empirical Evidences" compares practices in the UK, USA and Australia. Effectively, there is implication showing: (i)a significant shift on the role of management accounting from operational focus to strategic focus and
(ii) the increasing use of management accounting principles to evaluate intangible items rather than just focusing on tangibles. Today, the role of management accounting has shifted from the traditional "providing financial information to management for control and decision making purposes" to that of a business partner and helping the organizations towards value creation.

External Research Grants for ARI

The Accounting Research Institute congratulates the following researchers for securing new research grants from external sources: (1) Prof Dr Rashidah Abdul Rahman and her PhD student Wan Mohammad Taufik Wan Abdullah obtained research funding from the Institut Bank-Bank Malaysia (IBBM) for a project titled "Social Networks, Performance and Directors Remuneration Determination: Malaysian Evidence"; (2)Two research projects received grants from CIMA (UK) - (i) PhD student Norlaila Md Zin with her supervisor, Prof Dr Suzana Sulaiman for project "Role of Management Accountants in Enhancing Balanced Scorecard (BSC) Implementation" and (ii) Dr Sharifah Norzehan Syed Yusuf for project titled "Information System and Decision Making in Non Profit Organisation"; (3) Associate Professor Dr Wee Shu Hui and her team members obtained a research grant from INFORMM, USM for their project titled "Cost Effeciency Model in Harm Reduction Methadone Treatment". Congratulations all for job well done...