SCIENCE seems to be a word that scares many people. Certain images are conjured up and associated with science. One such image is that science is a difficult discipline of knowledge that only people with thick glasses and unkempt hair are able to understand. This stereotypical view of science has discouraged many students from taking…
WISE men have said that more often than not, youth is wasted on the young. This aphorism is ironic in that it is often uttered by those who no longer possess the gift of youth. Perhaps the reminder of the Prophet of Islam rings true in this instance: “Utilise five things before five other things…
THE information age is now a reality, patterned according to the positive experience of the Internet. With its wide-reaching capability, the Internet is not only used to retrieve information, but also to add information to the world communication network. One can find in it a plethora of input and experiences from thousands of people of…
WE are four days away from the first anniversary of the tragedy of Sept 11. This modern-day tragedy has sent shockwaves across the world impacting almost every aspect of our lives. For Muslims, life has been difficult as Islam has since been perceived in a negative light. The first couple of years of the 21st…
WE are now in the month of August which has been designated as Independence Month (Bulan Kemerdekaan). As a gesture of patriotism, Malaysians are, therefore, encouraged to put up the Jalur Gemilang or national flag at their homes, offices and vehicles. This is a simple symbolic act to show one’s love for the country of…
THE first revelation to the Prophet Muhammad some 1,400 years ago begins with the word iqra’. This Arabic word can be translated as “read”, thus signifying the importance of knowledge in Islam. As has been mentioned time and again, reading is the key to knowledge. Islam has indeed highlighted the simple fact that to live…
ONCE again, the United States has been rocked by a corporatequake. Less than a year after the Enron scandal, the country – and the rest of the world – is feeling the effects of the WorldCom scandal. Much like Enron, the WorldCom debacle has sparked countless analyses and debates on the issue of business ethics…
CRITICS are usually people who have not done the things that they criticise. This generalisation may seem simplistic, but it is safe to say that this generalisation is accurate. Critics seem to be everywhere, to the extent that it has been said that everyone is a critic. It is quite easy for us to notice…
EVENTS in Malaysia beginning last weekend have received widespread attention globally. When the Prime Minister announced his retirement, shock waves were felt throughout the nation and the region. Questions as to who will succeed Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad were posed and pondered upon by many. Fortunately, all the doubts, questions and uncertainty were cleared…
EVER since the Earth Summit in Rio de Jan-eiro in 1992, Malaysia has been in the forefront of calls for bio-safety. In tackling the question of bio-safety, including food safety, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment established The Genetic Modification Advi-sory Committee or GMAC several years ago. One of the roles played by GMAC…
