A Special Invitation to JAKIM's Muzakarah

I wish to thank the management of JAKIM for a personal invitation given to me and ARI's two Phd researchers to attend a special Muzakarah session on Shariah Advisory Council for Islamic Institutions in Malaysia on 31 May 2010. We hope to make full use of the invitation to network with members of the Shariah Advisory Council. This is especially useful for us to learn more about the Islamic Finance framework in our forthcoming research in Islamic Financial Criminology.

Visit to CCM

Prof Dr Rozainun and her team from the Asia-Pacific Forensic Accounting Research Centre (AFARe) will be organizing their international annual conference on 14-15 December 2010. This year's conference will have a special track on Islamic Financial Criminology. Some national and international speakers have indicated their commitment to participate in the event. The Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) through its CEO Dato' Azmi Ariffin has offered AFARe the CCM auditorium as possible venue for the forthcoming conference. The venue is indeed strategically located. Today, the team went to visit the said location and they were indeed very impressed...

Thank You Nigel

I wish to thank Mr Nigel Iyer for sending me a complimentary copy of his recent book titled: A Short Guide to Fraud Risk - Fraud Resistance and Detection. He co-authored the book with Martin Samociuk. This just recently released book is one of "the must have" items. I met Nigel at a Fraud and Corruption Summit in London - he was one of the speakers at the summit. Nigel has agreed to be one of the speakers at our forthcoming Financial Criminology Conference this December in Kuala Lumpur.

Celebrating Winners.

Congratulations to all ARI members who received their scrolls at the convocation ceremony today. It was a great feeling to see how our graduates grew and developed over the years.
Our Master in Forensic Accounting and Financial Criminology graduates did us proud as this was the largest number we have produced in a cohort since the program was introduced in 2006. Ain, Suhani, Rosdi, Putri, Yazid, Marini, Nisha, Yazid, Syah, Nurahim, Shahrul, Azura, Huda, Ismayanti, Ezadee, Fazlysham, Salihuddin, Amirudin, Khairul, Juhana. I am so proud of you all....

Congratulations New Docs...

ARI wishes to congratulate two of our researchers who have been recently awarded their PhD degree. Dr Siti Noor Hayati Mohamed Zawawi completed a thesis in forensic accounting entitled "Antecedent of Behavioural Intention for Fraudulent Financial Reporting: Malaysian Evidence" from Universiti Teknologi MARA. Dr Norli Ali wrote a thesis in Financial Economics titled "Stock Overreaction & Stock Price Bubbles: Evidence From Malaysia" from Universiti Putra Malaysia. Congratulations

Renewed Vision for ARI

There certainly is a need to focus on developing preventive and deterrence strategies on fraud, particularly on financial criminology in Malaysia. There is currently a vacuum in this area of expertise. After attending the Fraud & Corruption Summit 2010, I really see how ARI can play a significant role in promoting expertise and training on financial criminology. There is a need for an inbtegrated approach where ARI can work closely with MACC, PDRM, Malaysian Institute of Integrity, Securities Commission, JAKIM, Bank Negara Malaysia, Auditor/Accountant General Office etc.

Meeting Andrew Jennings the Reporter

Andrew Jennings is an investigative reporter, writer and documentary filmmaker. He is best known for his work concerning corruption in sports organizations and the politics of international sports, particularly within FIFA and the International Olympic Committee.
The chance to meet him at the Fraud and Corruption Summit 2010 was a real priviledge for me. A very brave no-nonsense person. He was one of the speakers at the Summit - deliberating details of his investigation about corruption at FIFA. He has written several books which include: Scotland Yard's Cocaine Connection (1989), The Lords of the Rings (1992, 1996), The Great Olympic Swindle,(2000) and FOUL! The Secret World of FIFA: Bribes, Vote-Rigging and Ticket Scandals, (2006). Combatting fraud is not easy, one lesson I learned from him is the need to be brave and persistence; know and get your fact and ask lots of questions. Andrew Jennings is the one on the right...