PERHAPS there is no term or word most misunderstood and misused at this point in time than the term jihad. After the tragedy in the United States on Sept 11, jihad has cropped up more often than before. Unfortunately, the term has been overused by various quarters, both Muslim and non-Muslim, so much so that…
FOOD security is an area of discussion that covers food production, food distribution and food consumption. The Rome Declaration on World Food Security gives the definition: “physical and economic access by all, at all times, to sufficiently, nutritionally adequate and safe food.” Therefore the issue of food security is a very wide subject matter that…
TECHNOLOGY today advances at an unbelievable rate. What is new today can become obsolete tomorrow. The progress made in research and development (R&D) has enabled mankind to advance and move into the third millennium with new technologies that once were regarded as science fiction. Most of the technological advancements are made possible by improvement n…
FRIDAY, July 6, 2001, marked another milestone in the history of the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim) when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad officially launched Ikim.fm, the institute’s own radio station. This important landmark in the nine years since the establishment of Ikim signals yet another achievement for the institute.Ikim was established…
NO ONE will dispute that butterflies are beautiful creatures. As we all know, this insect goes through a number of metamorphic changes before becoming a butterfly. It starts off life as an egg before hatching into a larva. Interestingly enough, during this stage, it is not the beautiful insect we see flying around in gardens…
Labour Day, celebrated annually the world over on 1st May, is a recognition of workers’ contribution towards nation-building and economic development. No doubt, the significant role played by workers in all industries cannot be measured in terms of ringgit and sen. The public holiday on the first day of May is only a small expression…
RECENTLY, it was announced that the age of retirement for public servants had been raised to 56. With this increase, it is hoped that experienced public servants would continue to give their services to the public. Looking at Malaysia’s demographic data, we see that Malaysians now live longer than they did a few decades before.…
ECONOMISTS are of the view that capital today is embodied less in land, factories, tools and machines. Instead it is increasingly relying on the knowledge and skills of workers. Many argue that in addition to skills and knowledge, a great portion of human capital has to do with people’s ability to co-operate with each other.…
TWO important events took place last week. The first was the publication of the initial analysis of the human genes, the mapping of which was completed in the middle of last year. It is revealed that the total number of the human genes is approximately 30,000, only a third of the previously established estimate. This…
DURING a discussion with the writer, a diplomat friend raised some very interesting issues pertaining to the so-called “third wave of human civilisation.” The third wave is also referred to as the Biotechnology Age. Whether we realise it or not, we are currently in the Age of Information. Doubtless, some parts of the world are…
