The newly revised Poverty Line Income (PLI) is a bold and mature action taken by Malaysia. Previously, Malaysia was proud to claim that poverty had been eradicated to 0.4% in 2016. This rate was low compared to other countries including developed countries such as the United States. After the PLI was revised, the absolute poverty…
In less than a week, Muslims around the world will be celebrating Eid al-Adha or Hari Raya Korban (the Feast of the Sacrifice). It is celebrated to commemorate Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah’s command – which is a trial from Allah to test his piety to…
There seems to be no clear end to the COVID-19 pandemic as yet. In fact, the world over, including in Malaysia, we are only beginning to experience its effects and aftermaths in various forms, economy included. It was reported recently that from January to mid July this year, 64,495 Malaysians have become jobless. Unemployment as…
“Finally, I managed to overcome the uncontrollable lust through prayers. Allah the Almighty tests us with trials and desires to let us endure and win the fight.” An honest confession was made in a recent local television programme by Jefferi Mohd Nor, a teacher who once became a transgender. Jeffrey admitted that the fight against…
About 100 years ago, a movement formed by scientists, mathematicians and philosophers collectively known as the Vienna Circle and Berlin Circle, propagated the philosophical idea called “logical positivism.” In essence, this idea puts the emphasis on the importance of empirical evidence as the central criterion in verifying knowledge. This has led, intentionally or otherwise,…
Recorded in the Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi collection of the Prophetic Traditionsis a hadith wherein the Prophet Muhammad foretold the future emergence of “Black Standards (rayat al-sud)” from the region of Khurasan, presumably a Muslim contingent so superior in many ways that nothing would be able to stop them “until they are planted in Jerusalem (hatta tunsaba…
Starting July 15, 2020, schools will be re-opened and students will be returning to school in batches. The schools are making all the preparations to ensure that students can continue their schooling smoothly, in compliance with all the standard operating procedures (SOPs) provided. At the same time, parents are …
During the implementation of the MCO, the government has encouraged and urged firms and employers to address the challenges of child care due to the temporary shutdown of schools and child care centres. Among of them are allowing employees to work from home if possible as well as to take turns accordingly with their spouses…
COVID19 pandemic could have been the thing of the past, but the psychological and mental health effects of it may linger over time. Constant monitoring and continuous surveillance of public emotional and psychosocial health status would therefore be urgent from now on. The mental health effect that it poses may emerge in the form of…
In a well-known fairy tale, a princess reluctantly kissed a frog in exchange for its help to retrieve a ball that she dropped into a pond. However, kissing the frog in that particular story is considered lucky because the slimy-skinned and webbed feet-creature ultimately transformed into a charming prince which …
