Anxiety
disorder is among most common mental health condition which effect one’s life.
The major classes of anxiety disorders are panic disorder, social anxiety
disorder, genera anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and
obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anxiety also can be defined as a feeling of
tension, nervousness, apprehension, worry and phobia over things that are
unnecessary. It is important to manage anxiety disorder as it can be associated
with negative effect and lower down the quality of someone’s life. According to
The Global Burden of Disease study that was conducted in 2010 (GBD, 2010) there
are 28.6 million of disability that contributed to anxiety disorder.
Anxiety
disorder may be caused by stress from personal relationships, financial
problem, working situations, peer pressure. Apart from that, there are also
other factors such as genetics as well as medical factors that can contribute
to anxiety. However, it can only be diagnosed by medical check-ups.
Recently,
there are a lot of pharmaceutical methods being practised such as aromatherapy,
massage therapy, relaxation techniques and music therapy to reduce anxiety. The
music therapy is the oldest way of therapeutic approach being used in ancient
Egypt, Greece, China, India and Rome. Studies indicate that religious music may
also have a positive effect on mental health (Bradshaw, 2015). The Holy Quran
recitation is a form of mystical music that can release endorphin by
stimulating alpha brain waves (Almerud, 2003).
The
Holy Quran is very important as guidance of Muslims as it is always associated
with religiosity and spirituality. The language is basically in Arabic. The Holy
Quran recitation can be classified as natural music with calmness sounds which
can reduce the stimulation of the brain and comfort a person’s state of
mind. It means that, the Holy Quran
recitation is useful in various places such as hospitals where it can help to give
relaxion sensation to anxiety patient or any stressful working environment. With
the softest and lightest music in nature being recited by expertise, it can
sooth someone’s mind, and ease tense to improve brain’s health.
The
soothing effects of the Quran can increase levels of dopamine when it is being
played to an anxiety patient. The sporadic nature of a person’s mood can be
greatly influenced by taking other external stimuli into consideration. The Holy
Quran can be used as an optional method to give a relaxation sensation to
anxiety patients. Therefore, it has the highest effect to healthcare
intervention and not only people who suffer with anxiety can listen to the
recitation of the Holy Quran, it also can be used during any tense situation. However,
there is a lack of research and evidence that indicates listening to the Holy
Quran is useful to treat anxiety patients.
References
Bandelow B, Michaelis
S. Epidemiology of anxiety disorders in the 21st century. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17:327–35.
Carroll DL,
Malecki-Ketchell A, Astin F. Non-pharmacological interventions to reduce
psychological distress in patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac
catheterization: A rapid review. Eur J Cardiovasc
Nurs. 2017;16:92–10
Bradshaw M, Ellison CG,
Fang Q, Mueller C. Listening to religious music and mental health in later
life. Gerontologist. 2014;55:961–71
Almerud S, Petersson K.
Music therapy–a complementary treatment for mechanically ventilated intensive
care patients. Intensive Crit Care Nurs. 2003;19:21–30
The proliferation of technology has brought 1001
benefits to human’s life through incredible invention and innovation that will
change the future. However, there’s the bane behind the boon of these achievements
which turn out to be the global issue and the rise in suicide cases is one of
the costs that must be paid by the human. According to the World Health
Organization (WHO), 1 person dies every 40 seconds and almost 800,000 people
take their own life every year, which makes suicide as the second leading cause
of death among young people after road injury. By 2020, it is predicted that
the rate of death will increase to 1 person dies in every 20 seconds (Ritchie, Roser
& Ortiz-Ospina, 2019).
It might be unfair to pointing fingers solely to the
technology proliferate for an upward surge in the suicide cases. However, research
indicated that technology has contributed to the issues, especially through the
social media. According to The Lancet medical journal, low self-esteem, poor
body image, poor sleep and online harassment are contributed by social media (Balasegaram,
2019). As an example, in a few months, there are 2 suicide cases of Sulli and
Goo Hara, a K-Pop idol which take their own life after receiving hateful
comments and cyber bullying in social media(Hun & Lee, 2019). Earlier, in
Malaysia, a 16 years old girl has been reported to take her own life after
getting 69% votes on a poll asking if she could die or not via her Instagram
account (Balasegaram, 2019). All this is just few suicide cases that covered by
the media, while there’s could be numerous attempted depression cases out there
awaited and might be ended with a tragic ending.
Suicide is the serious global public health issues
which need the tremendous actions at world level due to its impact to the
public and our future generation. The preventive action must be taken from now
onwards and WHO has been prioritized the reduction of suicide mortality as a
global target (“Suicide in The World”, 2019). However, this
preventive initiative needs the comprehensive action by each country to ensure
that the tragedy that cost millions of lives can be overcome.
In Malaysia, the survey conducted by national mental health survey in
2017 indicated that 1 in 5 Malaysian’s teenagers have suffered from depression
with 10% from it have the thought to take their own life (Balasegaram,
2019). Suicides should be put as an uppermost
concern in drafting the 12th Malaysia Plan and Malaysian society
must come together in order to nurture a robust world for future generation (Abdul
Razak, 2019). Ministry of Health (MOH) has prepared for National Strategic
Action Plan on mental health 2019 – 2025 and as part of World Mental Health Day
2019 which initiated by WHO as world’s awareness programs, #Let’s Talk campaign
has been introduced by MOH to encourage people in need to seek help (Amirul Ihsan, 2019).
In conclusion, suicide is the serious global mental health issues and the preventive action to combat this threat in order to create a better world for our future generations is the entire world responsibilities. The awareness program or any initiative by the world organization or each country is supposed be discuss and share to the international level in order to give an idea and helps other countries in needs. This is because, day by day the challenges will be vary and towards the industrial revolutions 4.0 it will definitely get greater. Hence, our action’s today will command the world’s of tomorrow, where our future generation will heritage.
The term body shaming or also known as an appearance-related shame is coined quite recently and it is becoming the talk of the town as the social media is uprising. For as long as you have a body, the person is bound to be subjected to body shaming (‘This is…’, December 15,2018).). Body shaming refers to an action or practice of commenting, judging, criticizing, humiliating or teasing others for their physical appearance, especially their weight (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, n.d) This occurs when the person did not appear to fit the societal standards of beauty as there is a specific ‘perfect’ figure that the person need to attain to be deemed acceptable in a society (‘This is…’, December 15,2018).
The idea of this ‘perfect’ body is so messed up because you
could still be punished with harsh words if you are too skinny or too plump for
the standard. And what’s worse, not only the body dimensions were scrutinized,
it also can go to the length where people can be humiliated for their facial
features, skin colour, hairstyles, height as well as the way someone is
dressing up (Carpino, 2017). Thus, this has reflected in the way they are being
treated in their everyday life including less job opportunities, less payment
and others (Burnett, 2016). Therefore, it is crystal clear that body shaming is
a form of bullying which may lower down the esteem of the victims.
Due to the fact that the media has heavily portrayed certain
beauty standards to the audience, it does make sense that that is the criteria
they need to achieve to be socially accepted (Jarret, 2019). Human brains are
uniquely functioned, they are wired to like familiarities. Hence, with the
constant exposure of body ideals, it has molded the way people think and
whatever they captured in the media is what they believed in (Jarrett, 2019). Thus,
the acceptance of beauty standards. Consequently, this has made those without
the standard, especially the overweight ones to become a subject of jokes in
the media.
Little
did people know that the constant negative comments thrown to the victims has
beaten them up emotionally and physically. There is evidence from the National
Health and Morbidity Survey 2015 (Ministry of Health, 2019) that illustrated
one out of two Malaysian is obese which brings Malaysia to one of the
healthiest nation in Asia. Not only that, two thirds of adults in England were
classified overweight in 2017. Meanwhile, according to the National Center for
Health Statistics in United States, 70% of the adults is considered obese
(‘Does fat…’, September 17,2019).
Although the statistics look very worrying, that does not give the tickets to
others to simply body shame those with overweight body with such nasty words.
Many
people think that body shaming someone is a way of motivating the victims to
shed some fats off their body (‘Does fat…’, September
17,2019).
Interestingly, proof revealed that body shaming and weight discrimination made
things worse and it will only lead to self-destructive behaviour (Sullivan,
2019). He added, the victims might feel ashamed of themselves and lead them to
depression, anxiety and eating disorders. In addition, one of the body shaming
victims said in an article (‘Does fat…’, September
17,2019).
that the downgrading criticisms only made her eat more as that the only thing
that makes her feel better. It seems like body shaming someone only create more
problems.
There
are many instances whereby people condemning others due to their physical
appearances. For instance, Zaihani Zain, a well-known Malaysian fashion critic
once body shamed someone for making her feeling uncomfortable during a catwalk
shows she attended (Petter, 2018). She mentioned in her statement on Twitter
that whoever weighing more than 60kg should not attend any fashion show event
as their thighs are spilling over and disturbed the comfort of people sitting
next to them. However, she received a huge backlash from Malaysian as well as
other fashion critics for her insensitive comments.
Why
body shaming is a crime? According to Ministry of Health Malaysia, body shaming
is an act of bullying whereby it may marks a negative effect towards the
victims such as emotional stress, loss of self-confidence, loss of appetite,
depression and worse, may lead to suicidal thoughts (Yeap, 2019). Malaysia has
finally stepped up their game to increase mental health awareness through criminalizing
the offenders with fines up to RM50, 000 or imprisonment up to a year under
section 233 (1) (b) Communication and Multimedia Act 1998. Therefore, with this
initiative by the authorities, hope that people will be more sensitive to their
words and mental health issues can be curbed.
In conclusion, know that people come in different shapes and sizes. Everyone is uniquely beautiful in their own way regardless their appearance. Be wise in choosing your words as it has the biggest power to influence others. Rather than using it to degrading others, people should turn it over with positive and uplifting criticisms. Hence, people will be happier and healthier.
There has been a declining
viewership of western films in recent years as majority of American film
fanatics and international viewers have turned to alternative entertainment
programmes that are not from Hollywood (Fu, 2013).
The rise of the Asian film industry, such as K-drama or Hallyu, has driven Western
viewers to move away from Hollywood films. Film genres have remained stagnant
(Neale, 2005). But Hollywood today is reinstating its dominance in the world by
trying to promote a genre that highlights the Western lifestyle and maybe
slowly injecting its social living standards in non-Western countries. This is
shown on both traditional and new streaming platforms, such as television or at
the cinema, as well as Netflix, Hulu etc.
What is political correctness? Roberts (1997) described it as language, policies or measures that are intended to avoid offense or disadvantage to members of particular groups in society. The term refers to avoiding language or behaviour that can be seen as excluding, marginalising, or insulting groups of people considered disadvantaged or discriminated against, especially groups defined by sex or race. In public discourse and the media, it is generally used as a pejorative, implying that these policies are excessive or unwarranted. In laymen’s term, it is an act deemed by liberals in America as a righteous virtue in upholding the minority race and sexual preference (Spencer, 1994).
To
understand the current political correctness of today, one must look back at
the origin of the movement. The term was first coined in the late 19th and 20th
century under the leadership of Vladimir Lenin in Soviet Russia. Its function
was to implement a condition of a socially contrast way of thought in the
nation in the form of being socially and theoretically correct to give little
room to any opposition opinion with the rulers. The indoctrination is heavily
injected into factors that weigh heavily in a society, such as culture, social
norms and race.
By late 1980s, most Western
media and reporters criticised the term as a “usage that was deemed by the left
to place censorship in the language being used in the news”. They argue its
existence and usage is to “protect” ethnic minority culture and sexual
preference. This has led to the
undermining of its credibility and reliability as it intends to appease the
left wing of politics in the US and European countries. Certain phrases or
words are deemed “racist” or “intolerant” to minorities and the lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) group (Raehn, 1997).
Hollywood is the latest to
adopt the virtues of political correctness to appeal to the younger liberal
masses. By the end of the millennium, Hollywood and entertainment industries in
America face rigid competition from other entertainment businesses in producing
music or films that cater to a wider audience outside America. Unlike the 1970s
and1980s when Hollywood thrived globally, the viewers today are tuning less to Western
production and are giving their support to local industries. Given also the
fact that quarter of the US population is ethnically non-European ancestry,
this demographic has demanded more representation of their own kind to be
portrayed in TV shows and films.
As the US tries to uphold its
“righteous” values and force them other nations, this too has been considered
as another factor why the US entertainment industry is losing its fans. Viewers outside the US cannot
comply to or accept the virtues displayed by Hollywood. Recent Hollywood films
even displayed distorted historical facts. In late 2018, English director Christopher
Nolan released his historical World War II film Dunkirk. The film was about the Britain army stranded at the shores
of Dunkirk in France. They were trying to flee to England from the German army.
Keep in mind this is a World War II film based on a true story.
The distorted historical figures in the movie were the Britain army being
portrayed. A few of the army men were actors of the African-American
race. However, during the war, the Britain army did not consist of non-European
ethnic fighting at the front line in Europe. This bad portrayal falsified
history and gave a false view of the event to generations who watch the movie.
Another form of political correctness
culture in the media is the diversity image Hollywood is trying to uphold in
presenting a more diverse cast in today’s shows, compared with 20 years ago
when most of the cast were Caucasian actors and actresses. The diversity that
is being shown in TV shows and films from Hollywood often
depicts an interracial cast instead of a cast that is fully non-whites or
blacks. It is apparent that diversity reflected in Hollywood today only
highlights multiracial cast when the make-up of the world population consists
of different races with its own unique cultures, traditions, ways of living and
behaviours.
But what has taken Hollywood
by storm is a movement that is tied closely to politics in the US. The recent
Oscars was one of the platforms used for such a political movement. One of the
prominent women figures, Oprah Winfrey, used her airtime to preach women empowerment
to the masses as opposed to receiving the award. What’s intriguing in this
isn’t just how politics suddenly and explosively intersected with an
awards-season release, it’s how the studio failed to punch back. Universal
execs could have argued that the film is a celebration of an American hero; they
could even offer to screen the movie at the White House. They did neither,
partly because filmmakers refused to compromise their principles, and partly
because they knew that placating conservatives would backfire at the Oscars.
What is obvious from the observation
of political correctness is that Hollywood has a lot to study on the matter
before adopting it senselessly onto its production and causing an uproar among
the majority of audiences that can’t relate to the virtues of political
correctness. Also, the adaptation should be freed of any political agenda to
gain favours in the political American spectrum.
References
FAIRCLOUGH, N. (2003). `Political Correctness’: the Politics of Culture
and Language.
Mass media is a medium or platform to reach
large number of audiences. It can be divided into two categories namely
electronic media which involves film, television, radio as well as recorded music,
and print media which involves newspapers, books, pamphlets and comics. With
the advancement of technology, media can be categorized as digital media that
involves internet and mobile mass communication which provide services of mass
media, i.e. emails, websites, blogs, and internet-based radio and television. There
are several functions of media – it helps us interpret the past and encourages
us to change what is necessary rather than stick to the status quo. We can learn
technology by adopting new information from different sources of media as it
has the ability to explain things that human beings are not able to which
includes Halal certification towards basic needs of human being.
Halal certification in Malaysia is issued by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia and Islamic religious council of each state. Competent authority is the best tool in determining a product is genuine. Moreover, Malaysia has received several awards as the implication of Halal certification on food products. Although some suppliers do not provide the logo but most of the products are certified by JAKIM. The food products with Halal logo is produced to meet the Halal dietary requirements, standards, procedures and guidelines to be followed. This is also supported by (Sheikh Abdul Aziz, 2015) stated that, in order to ensure the halalness of each product, it is important to educate the industries on the concept of the “halalan thoyyiban” aspects which are related to the safety, nutritional content and aesthetic appeal of halal products. As Muslim, consumers need to seek for a product that is produce in compliance to Syariah which is based on the Quran and Sunnah as well as the Malaysian law.
Although, there are platforms with the information of Halal certification given but people are still confuse and questioning the importance of Halal. The major reasons that people should know about the Halal certification is that the cleanliness and purity of the process to produce the products and the existence of the logo is not just for Muslim but it is applicable for everyone because we need to consume product that is wholesome and healthy as well as free cruelty to animals and no harm to the environment. Previously, there were few cases involve with exploiting the Halal logo which form a huge confusion among Malaysians. One of the issue is that, both Vivian – Lee May Ling, 29 and Alvin – Tan Jye Yee, 30 have been arrested and fined due to the ‘Bak Kut Teh” posting on Facebook – July 3, 2013. They were charged with posting religiously insensitive pictures, inciteful content and pornographic pictures. The photo shows them eating ‘Bak Kut Teh’, a non-halal delicacy, with the greeting “Selamat Berbuka Puasa” and a halal logo. The picture went viral and sparked anger among Malaysians especially the Muslim society as they realized that ‘Bak Kut Teh’ is forbidden in Islam. Thus, they were charged under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948, fined RM5,000.00 or imprisonment up to 3 years or both. The confusion will not be developed if the knowledge of Halal being implemented by human. This is because the Halal certification provide countless benefits and it is guarantee that the products are safe and clean for consumers.
Nevertheless,
people today are aware with the usage of Halal logo and they have strong demand
on the products because they claimed that the product with the certification is
much more healthier and safer compare to product without the Halal certification.
It is also supported by (R, M., Nasir &
Chiew, 2010)where
they stated that, Non-Muslim
Russians made purchases from Muslim stores because they believe the products
are fresh, safe and infection- free, and had confidence that Muslims would adhere. It is also
supported by (Othman, Shaarani
& Bahron, 2017) that.the emphasis on quality as well as hygiene and food safety
is not necessarily something that really halal. Although the products are
certified with Halal logo but it does not ensure that the product is safe to be
consumed. Based on Surah Al-Baqarah in
verse 168: O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good
and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy. The
statement above is supported by (Abd Rahim, Mohd Mansor, Yakob, & Ismail, September
2018) mentioned that, it is clear
that places great emphasis on Allah SWT viewed about the cleanliness in
everything including the quality of handling food from raw material until it is
ready to be consumed.
Halal logo can be associated with hygiene and food safety and it is clear that “Bak Kut Teh” is not suitable and forbidden for Muslims because of the procedure of slaughtering the animal which does not follow the Quran and Sunnah. The statement above is supported by (Ahadith, n.d.) from chapter 5, Surah Al-Mai’idah (The Table Spread with Food) mentioned in verse 3. Forbidden to you(for food) are: Al-Maytatah(the dead animals-cattle-beast not slaughtered), the blood, the flesh of swine and the meat of that which has been slaughtered as sacrifice for others than Allah, or has been slaughtered for idols, etc., or on which Allah Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering and that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by the goring of horns – and that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal – unless you are able to slaughter it(before its death) – and that which is sacrificied (slaughtered) on An-Nusub(stone altars).
Source: Sample of Halal Verified Engine by Department of Islamic Development Malaysia
Retrieved from https://www.halalverified.com/Halnet/Details/1
Source: Halal Logo by Halal Malaysia Official Portal.
Retrieved from http://www.halal.gov.my/v4/index.php?data=bW9kdWxlcy9uZXdzOzs7Ow==&utama=panduan&ids=gp1
Moreover, according to (Amran, 2018), JAKIM has identified and recognized Halal bodies worldwide – namely Austria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia, Brunei, Kanada, Chile, Egypt, Perancis, Jerman, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Maldives, Maghribi, Poland, Singapura, Korea Selatan, Sepanyol, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Arab Emiriah Bersatu (UAE) and Vietnam. Based on the above locations, it can be explained that Halal food or products have significant impact on Halal food entrepreneur and contributes to the country’s economy. This shows that people are more interested to purchase products with Halal recognition. According to Ustaz Amin from Masjid Tunku Mizan, UiTM Shah Alam, Malaysia based on his islamic perspective – Respecting each other is an advised attitude in Islam. Each and every Muslim in the world who have faith towards Allah SWT should have respect to Muslims and non-Muslims as well. The differences between cultures becomes a challenge but it has its own silver lining. We should take the benefit from the differences that we have to become more mature. The statement above was taken from Surah Al-Hujurat verse 13 which states, “O mankind! We have indeed created you from male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that you may know one another. The noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Allah is Knower, Aware.”
Source: Halal Certification Procedures.
Retrieved from http://www.halalanquality.com/index.php/halal/halal-certification-procedures
The power of media is that people are able to provide and
influence others with fake information through advertisement,
pictures and messages. Nowadays, the content can be associated with implicit
elements which does not affect the audience’s perception and behaviour
immediately but if the medium is being used to encourage and provide genuine information
especially towards Halal certification, people would be able to live a healthy
life style without feeling doubtful. The government agency also plays an important role to
ensure the product is verified so that we can educate and produce more Halal
products worldwide.
References
Abd Rahim, S. A., Mohd Mansor, S. K., Yakob, M. A., & Ismail, N. (2018). FOOD SAFETY, SANITATION AND PERSONAL HYGIENE IN FOOD HANDLING: AN OVERVIEW FROM ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE. International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), Volume 9, Issue 9, pp. 1524–1530. Retrieved from http://www.iaeme.com/MasterAdmin/UploadFolder/IJCIET_09_09_148/IJCIET_09_09_148.pdf
Advances in technology have given the
youth more ways in access an increasing amount of information. Local and
international news can be read in the newspaper, listened to on radio, watched
on television and found on smartphones or online. For those with access to
these options, a wealth of information and entertainment is always readily
available. In areas where access to technology is expensive, radio continues to
play an important role in information sharing.
Radio broadcasts can provide information
and entertainment broadcasted 24 hours a day to provide the most recent updates
about news or something entertainment related to listeners. Essentially, radio
is virtually everywhere at any time of the day. It is very handy, easily
accessible, cheap and it is a perfect portable information that is accessible
at home, in the office or in the car.
However, there are loads of grumble
regarding radio station in Malaysia such as “why radio stations keep playing
the same song over and over again?”, “why does most radio stations have a
morning show?”, “why radio stations need a feedback from caller about the
topic?” (Khasim, 2019). Those questions
have answered by one of the former radio announcer named Nadia Nazir at her
Twitter account.
Radio stations in Malaysia have pattern
program which means radio station contain morning show, afternoon show, evening
show and night show. This program is using music with a wide audience appeal
and with an emphasis on the presentation of the announcers (Francois, Douglas , & Guillaume , 2009). Besides that, Astro
radio introduced format radio into stations. The idea of having format radio is
to cater the age of groups. Mature content and 90’s music with entertaining
announcers, listeners would tune to Sinar and Mix. On the other hand, radio
station such as Era, Hitz and FlyFM are suitable for younger generation.
Since people are enjoying with
familiarity, this is the reason why radio format was introduced. It is easier
for radio listeners to choose as all radio stations fall under different
categories. All radio stations have
their own ways of targeting to private niche populations with niche content. Radio
format refers to the overall content of a radio station and therefore it will
prevent confused or mixed with programming. For instance, while a radio which
plays fresh popular music for teens another which on air more news and talk
content. The format gives an identity to the radio station and it is use as a
marketing tool for the radio company through its audience and advertising
market.
However, people may see complain on social
media about the high repetition of songs, announcers keep on talking for
minutes and they stated tuning to other radio. The truth is, every radio
station has their own formula and already have their own target audience.
Whenever you feel uncomfortable, do not like the music, do not like the
repetition, that means you are tuning to wrong radio. The slogan “customer is
always right” can apply to the radio as well because listener is king to your
own ear. Whichever your choice is, you may tune to other radio station to suit
your feeling. Radio stations do not just put anything on air because they feel
like it. They do it because people want it.
The repetition of songs may give you feel
bored, then again, this group of people are niche. The format of radio stations
has large listenership as the formula works. In Malaysia, there were radio
stations that play indie songs or random songs nevertheless, those radio
stations did not last very long. It shows that some people may like indie and
random genre, but the mass do not enjoy it. Malaysia is a small country as well
as the entertainment industry itself, having 100000 listeners on radio will not
bring in the advertisers which is the main way radio generates revenue.
Moreover, the most complain radio stations
get from social media user is about announcers’ ramble to talk for two to three
minutes. According to (Setiowati, 2018), the announcers play an important role
as to reached wide listeners and to ensure content of the program present fresh
ideas and not predictable. In fact, the announcers able in creating a
consistent style which means they regulates the tone of the program by his/her
individual approach to the listener.
Radio is a medium to reaching the public
and it is immediate reaction. It is the modern equivalent to the village
story-teller. Through words, sounds and human voice, radio talks to the
listeners directly. Although it sounds like easy to reach the audience, need to
have skills and strategies to make sure listeners not tuning to other station.
One of the ways practiced by the radio stations to give freshness and newness
to listeners and keep them tuned into their stations by hiring famous
celebrities to handle the program. For example, Era.je hiring Johan, Sinar
radio hiring Jep Sepahtu, Hot FM hiring Shuib Sepahtu and all of them are
famous comedian in Malaysia. The question here, whether radio stations use
celebrities for morning shows to ensure listeners become loyal to the radio
station.
From the research held by (Setiowati, 2018), it is proved that
the use of famous celebrities as radio announcer able to reach listeners. The
celebrities have their own fans and followers thus, the listeners tune to the
radio station is because of they want to listen and support their favourite
celebrity. Other than that, radio listening habits of most people are when they
leave or return to work or other activities. They used to listen to the radio
in the car as of traffic density that makes them need more time in vehicle. Morning
drive or morning show usually provide some chats and jokes to cheer up their
listeners that is still sleepy while they have to go to their schools,
campuses, or works. Theoretically, whether a station using celebrities to host
the morning show, they must plan a consistent content of the program. A
consistency in programming will form a positioning about the station in the
minds of listeners.
References
Francois,
M., Douglas , E., & Guillaume , D. (2009). Streerable Playlist Generation
By Learning Song Similarity From Radio Station Playlist. 10th
International Society for Music Information Retrieval Conference.
Khasim,
R. (2019, March). Radio Market Structure and Music Diversity. (N. A. Effendi,
Interviewer)
Setiowati,
E. (2018). The Pattern Program of The Morning Radio Sequence: Study of Four
Major Stations in Jakarta. KnE Social Sciences.
Ah, it’s hot outside! This could be the
hottest day of the heat wave, so how do you keep yourself cool? Grumbling about
the climate appears to be common nowadays. However, in areas where the
mercury’s taking off, these are not mere complaints. Most parts of Malaysia have
been experiencing exceptionally hot weather for the past few weeks. High
temperatures have been recorded in some areas, while others recorded only
moderate readings. So, in the event that you truly can’t stand the heat,
consider to play it safe and think of your safety! Higher temperatures can
affect our bodily system and mental capacity – and our pockets due to electric
bills surges (Merill, 2019). Avoid being exposed to the hot spells.
For some people, hot nights are far more
terrible than hot days. Lack of rest and fatigue can influence our adaptability
to the warm climate, therefore, precaution measures should be taken seriously (Williams,
2010). Keep your shades and windows shut throughout the day until about 6 pm to
reduce the impact of the sun on the air indoors. At night, open every window so
you that may get a draft which can help cool the air once more. By doing so,
you can reduce the heat, and obviously you don’t want your home to get
excessively hot in the daytime, right?
Hydration is also important. Drink up
and make bottle of water as your closest companion. Drink lots of water anytime
and anywhere you can. If you sweat more than you usually do, it may be due to
the climate change, make sure you drink a lot of water to stay hydrated (Gunnars,
2018; Iftikhar, 2018). A test to ensure he or she is well-hydrated is by
checking the color of the person’s urine. When you are well-hydrated, the color
of your urine should be between clear and light yellow. If it is the other way
around, you know what to do, right? Hydrate, hydrate and hydrate by drinking more
water.
Even though it is hot outside, it does
not mean that you need to quit working out. You can become accustomed to exercising
in the hot weather by taking these steps – opt for water sports instead,
include short breaks in your exercise routines and keep away from the sun
whenever you can. Precooling strategies can keep you from overheating when you
workout in the sweltering climate (Vorvick, 2018). Be careful. Heat-related
illnesses, including heat weariness, heat cramps or even worse, heat stroke,
can always attack you, so beware!
You must also protect your skin. To do
so, always remember to stay under the shade or apply sunscreen on your skin.
Most people do not apply enough sunscreen to protect their skin. Always
remember to “generous” when applying sunscreen as you surely don’t have the
intention to be hospitalized for heat-induced skin problems, right? Be smart. Spending
too much time under the sun too can increase the risk of you getting a heat
stroke or sunburn (Mead, 2008). When you get
sunburnt, it can cause severe pain and extreme discomfort. Limit your time
outdoors, especially during the pinnacle hours of the hot days and make it a
point to use sunscreen as well.
Indeed, even young and fit individuals can
be affected by the sweltering climate. You need to ensure that you are well-hydrated.
You must also avoid doing too many activities outdoors so that you can prevent
from putting yourself in danger. If you don’t do this, you might suffer from
heat exhaustion. When this occurs, you will start to feel dizzy. You could also
suffer from heat stroke, which is a condition
caused by your body overheating, usually as a result of prolonged exposure to
or physical exertion in high temperatures (Stoppler, 2018). When you get
heat stroke, it is like as if the proteins in your body are being “cooked”, causing
serious harm to your body. When you’ve cooked an egg, you can’t uncooked it. Haha!
Apart from that, another way to beat the
heat is by wearing loose garments and spending your daily activities in the
shade. If you ever feel that you are suffering from symptoms of heat exhaustion
or heat stroke, you must immediately take necessary steps to address the
problem. Heat-related illnesses can be avoided as long as you take precaution
during this hot and dry spell (Felson, 2017). Remember to avoid
heavy work or activities, especially during the hottest hours of the day. If
you need to mow the lawn or attend to your garden, for example, do it when it
is not so hot outside. Always look out for cool spots to carry out your
activities. Avoiding the heat can have great benefits not just to your body,
but also your emotional and mental wellbeing.
The hot weather may be little by little upsetting,
especially in a country like Malaysia. People need to take precaution to beat
the heat. Heat and humidity can affect us in many ways so don’t take them for
granted and always remember to play it safe. May every one of you remain cool,
safe and have a decent day!
REFERENCES
Felson,
S. (2017, July 20). Understanding Heat-Related Illness — the Basics.
Retrieved from WebMD:
https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/understanding-heat-related-illness-basics
Gunnars, K. (2018,
June 20). How Much Water Should You Drink Per Day? Retrieved from
Healthline Media: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-much-water-should-you-drink-per-day
Iftikhar, N. (2018,
September 28). Healthline Media. Retrieved from How Can You Tell If
You’re Dehydrated?:
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-tell-if-youre-dehydrated
Mead, M. N. (2008).
Benefits of Sunlight: A Bright Spot for Human Health. Environmental Health
Perspectives, 116(4), A160-A167.
Merrill, C. (2019,
July 14). Summer Heat Can Take Its Toll. Retrieved from WeatherBug:
https://www.weatherbug.com/news/Summer-Heat-Can-Take-Its-Toll
Stoppler, M. C.
(2018, May 23). Heat Stroke Symptoms, Signs, First Aid, and Recovery.
Retrieved from MedicineNet:
https://www.medicinenet.com/heat_stroke/article.htm#heat_stroke_definition_and_facts
Vorvick, L. J. (2018,
March 8). How to avoid overheating during exercise. Retrieved from
MedlinePlus: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000865.htm
Williams, C. (2010).
The Effects of Heat Acclimation Followed by Sleep Deprivation on Perceived
Exertion, Thirst, and Thermal Sensations in Exercising Males. Honors
Scholar Theses, 145.
According
to www.urbandictionary.com; “Off the Grid” is an adj. unrecorded, untraceable
through normal means (Jesus, 2004).
This means that one does not want to be found via phone, email, social media
etc. and basically just turn off our mobile phones. But is it even possible
these days now that everyone has a mobile phone and everyone has at least one
social media account? Having them is a necessity by today’s standards. Probably
one of the negative effects that we will experience after deactivating all our
social media accounts is that we could be forgotten. To some people, if you
don’t have Facebook or Twitter, you don’t exist. Maybe we will end up not
talking to a lot of people simply because we no longer have WhatsApp on our
phones.
Maybe
going totally of the grid forever is kind of extreme. Let’s take a few steps
back. What we should do is go off the grid for a few days. Luckily Malaysia has
a combination of rainforests, biodiversity and a more rural way of life within
our reach from the big cities. Let’s forget about our phones and emails for a
moment. Here are some tips to get off the grid in Malaysia.
Heading deep into the best of Malaysia’s national parks
Mulu Marriott Resort and Spa, It sits next to the Gunung Mulu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Sarawak Borneo. It’s the only five-star luxury resort in the Mulu region.
Picture by Mulu Marriott Resort and Spa (Marriot Hotel, 2019)
The
easiest way to get off the grid in Malaysia involves taking a trip into the
rainforest. Phone signals, Wi-Fi connections and social media updates are
virtually non-existent when you’re surrounded by the dense jungle. Due to its
significant topographic variations, Malaysia’s rainforests are also diverse in
nature, including lowland and highland rainforests, peat swamp forests and
mangrove forests amongst others. Don’t
expect a phone signal when you’re this far from civilisation. Experiences range
from jungle treks and canopy walks to heading deep underground through
limestone passageways.
We’re
not suggesting wandering out into the dense foliage alone in the hope of
escaping the modern world. Instead, book a night or two at Malaysia’s Taman
Negara or National Park and be enthralled by the stunning range of biodiversity
thriving there. And you don’t have to rough it either. The on-site
accommodation ranges from camping facilities and hostel beds to more luxurious
eco-lodges.
Banjaran
Titiwangsa or the Main Range, runs along the backbone of Peninsular Malaysia
and stretches 500km southwards from the Thai border. It plays a vital role in
serving as water catchment areas to supply fresh water for almost 90% of the
Peninsula’s water needs. Over in East Malaysia, the famed GunungMulu National
Park in Sarawak and Kinabalu National Park in Sabah have been declared as
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (David, 2018).
Have your own desert island experience
You can the beach all to yourself!
Picture by Lukas Uher (ShutterStock.com, 2019)
Funny,
most Malaysian learned about Pulau Tiga Island in a foreign TV game show called
“Survivor” in year 2000. In this reality game series produced by CBS network,
16 Americans were competing with one another on Pulau Tiga and the sole
survivor took home $1 million. The Survivor TV series was so famous that it gave
Pulau Tiga a new nickname “Survivor Island“ (My Sabah, 2012).
Pulau
Tiga means “Island of Three” in Malay language. In 1978, Pulau Tiga is gazetted
as a Marine Park, which covers an area of 158 square KM (96% is sea rich with
coral reefs). The Park consists of 3 islands, namely, Pulau Tiga (Survivor
Island) being the main island, Pulau Kalampunian Besar (Sands Spit Island) and
Pulau Kalampunian Damit (Snake Island). Of the 3 islands, only Pulau Tiga
Island has accommodation, the other two islands are uninhabited To visit Pulau
Tiga, just drive 2.5 hours, about 114 KM from Kota Kinabalu city to Kuala Penyu
town, then take a 20-minute boat ride to reach the island 15 KM away.
The
game is long over, hosting the first season of the popular TV series, the
island has since transformed into a major tourist attraction. Most visitors
spend the day and return to Kota Kinabalu in the evening. Others prefer to stay
the night at the island’s mini-resort. Nothing beats standing on an empty beach
watching the boat sail away towards the horizon. Don’t
expect a phone signal when you’re this far from civilisation. Instead, grasp
the chance to get off the grid and leave the modern world behind for a few
hours or maybe for a few days.
Spend the Night in a Kampong
Walking through the rice paddy fields was a great way to unwind
Picture by adventureswithfamily (Rosie, 2016)
A
Malaysian Homestay in a traditional village, called ‘Kampong’, is the best way
to get to know the real Malaysia. Kampung Sungai Haji Dorani, in Sungai Besar,
Selangor is one of the several villages that has been selected by the Ministry
of Tourism to provide a Malaysian homestay experience. ‘Kampong’ stay is very
popular amongst visitors from Singapore, Europe and Japan.
The
idyllic image of Kampung Sungai Haji Dorani surrounded by rice fields and palm
trees features on souvenirs and paintings in the touristy areas. As part of the
homestay, the host can arrange for several activities for guests. This includes
kite flying and fishing by the river. Walking through the rice paddy fields and
the surrounding kampong area is a great way to unwind and enjoy the peaceful
and quiet rural area. But experiencing this setting for yourself combines a
picturesque retreat with an opportunity to get off the grid in Malaysia.
Kampongs, or villages, fill the countryside in West Malaysia and Malaysian
Borneo. Some villagers rent their space as guesthouses or an Airbnb.
Embrace
the rural lifestyle, hospitality and lack of connectivity. There are many more villages that offer a
Malaysian homestay, and each one is different.
Some villages have rice paddy fields, while others have durian and other
fruit orchards. Some focus on traditional crafts like basket weaving or
kite-making. Activities available at
each homestay are also different.
References
David, H. J. (2018, May). 10
magical Malaysian rainforest retreats. Retrieved from CNN: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/malaysia-rainforest-resorts/index.html
Jesus, K.-f. (2004, May). off
the grid. Retrieved from UrbanDictionary.com:
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=off+the+grid
Marriot Hotel. (2019, May). Main
Page. Retrieved from Mulu Marriot Resort and Spa:
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/myymu-mulu-marriott-resort-and-spa/
My Sabah. (2012, Aug). Pulau
Tiga, the Survivor Island of Borneo. Retrieved from My Sabah:
http://www.mysabah.com/wordpress/pulau-tiga-the-survivor-island/
Rosie. (2016, Apr). Kampung
Dorani Malaysian Homestay. Retrieved from Adventures With Family:
https://www.adventureswithfamily.com/kampung-dorani-malaysian-homestay/
ShutterStock.com. (2019, May). Borneo.
Retrieved from ShutterStock.com: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/borneo-573586030
If your Instagram, Twitter or Facebook feed was a constant stream of images and video from the recent 2019 Women’s March, you were not alone. Social movements reflect dissatisfaction with socio-political environments and are a platform for communicating dissent. In other words, by mobilising large numbers of people, collective action can be taken to address discontent. Social media pages and online platforms allow us to connect and communicate with the world. We can share what is going on within the global community and take part in emerging conversations. Women have constantly been undermined in the eyes of our society, causing them to have to fight for the equality they know they deserve. This fight is known as the feminist movement and has been in the works for centuries. Although women have gained a lot since the start of the feminist movement, the fight for equality is still nowhere near over –from fighting for the right to vote years ago to the over pricing of feminine products now.
Photo taken from the Malay Mail on 09 March 2019 by Ida Nadirah Ibrahim “In Women’s Day march, hundreds gather to demand end to patriarchy”
Thousands march for women’s rights, gender equality in KL by Yimie Yong by The Star Online mentioned that, More than 100 women gathered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to take part in the #WomensMarchMy on March 9. The event aimed to call for greater women’s rights. This is usually an open platform for women to put forth what they are fighting for. Several groups, including Women’s Aid Organisation, Sisters in Islam, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender activists, joined the rally. The near 1km walk spread over from Sogo Shopping Mall. During the walk, social activists and individuals of various foundations conveyed notices, banners, and standards. Nonetheless, it is dismal to realize that the open did not so much handle the targets of the walk as the general population were for the most part centered around the LGBT people group who joined the occasion. The gathering, as a feature of its #PelangiCampaign, accepted the open door to advocate for LGBT equivalent rights for all LGBT individuals during the walk.
Pic taken from @KuasaSiswa (Fahmi Reza)
https://twitter.com/kuasasiswa/status/1105367379800813568?s=20
It must be noted that issues that are important to one group may not affect another or may not even be important to observers outside the sphere of concern in the Women’s March, yet it does not take away the fact that these are the issues that have to be tackled.
According to Arveent Kathirtchelcan in MalaysiaKini Understanding the Women’s March article, Many felt that specific requests in the Women’s March were unpalatable. One such picture from the occasion that has since turned into a web sensation demonstrates a lady conveying a notice expressing ‘Let My Nips Be Free’ close by an illustration of naked bosoms. The objection was centered around pictures, for example, these, censuring women’s activists for not discussing appropriate issues during the walk
Photo taken from Blogspot
http://khairulryezal.blogspot.com/2019/03/malaysia-baru-lgbt-berleluasa.html
If you’re
one of those who ask, “what else do women want?”, bear in mind that a number of
issues were raised during the march. Here’s a list of things that women are —
the elimination of gender discrimination, an end to violence against women, the
strengthening of women’s rights, and a push for equal opportunities and wages.
The policing of women’s bodies, from what they wear to whether or not they wish to have a child, is up for discussion and everyone seems to have an opinion about these matters. The narrative that women should wear certain clothes and act in ways that’ll keep men from sexually harassing or raping them is problematic in so many ways. Not only does it put the responsibility and blame on women, but is also an insult to men who are perfectly capable of respecting women. The issue of child marriages is not new in Malaysia. Every time a story of a much older man marrying a child is covered in the news, outraged comments and calls for the ban of child marriages can be heard only for the noise to gradually disappear after a while. Not this time. Advocates for the ban of child marriages are taking it to streets to call for the ban, without exceptions.
It’s a new year: a chance to move beyond the mistakes of the past and build a new beginning. Women’s rights include rights that establish the same social, economic, and political status for women as for men. Women’s rights ensure that ladies won’t stand up to isolation dependent on their sex. Women’s rights is thought little of these days, yet when one looks at the clash of women, it goes out to that there is far to go to achieve real equalization. It wasn’t until the twentieth century that laws constrained by the organization regarding ladies rights made indisputably the most basic obstructions checking Women’s rights. Since most women missed the mark on the informational and fiscal resources that would enable them to challenge the social requests, women, all around, have recognized their inferior status as their singular decision. Women drove various administrative undertakings to ensure their throwing a poll, work and conceptive rights.
Women have had numerous incredible achievements with their challenge, yet many still choose to disregard the way that there is sexual separation. Men are still more regarded than Women. In addition to the fact that they receive more significant salary, however the items that are advertised towards them are less expensive than those showcased for women. In any case, new ages are overwhelming the development with even guys supporting women in their battle. The issue of women rights close by isn’t leaving at any point in the near future, however its developing fame offers would like to each one of those battling for correspondence.
REFERENCES
A.T.M Shahjahan, K.Chisty. (2014). “Social Media research and its effect on our society” . International journal of Information 7 communication Engineering , 2014.
Clark, Eric. .
(2012). “Social Media & Social Movements: A qualitative study of Occupy
Wall Street.”.
Yong, Y. (9
March, 2019). Thousands march for women’s rights, gender equality in KL.
Retrieved from The Star Online :
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/03/09/thousands-march-for-womens-rights-gender-equality-in-kl/
Kathirtchelvan,
A. (11 March, 2019). Understanding the Women’s March . Retrieved from
MalaysiaKini : https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/467450
The
moment you imagine Istanbul, one thing that will cross your mind would be hot
air balloons. A hot air balloon is a lighter than aircraft. It consists of a bag which
contains heated air. Suspended beneath is a gondola or wicker basket, which
carries passengers. Its source of heat helps float it above the blue sky
that reveals myriad hues of scenic landscapes. Undoubtedly, it’s a bucket list
activity for tourists in Turkey.
Don’t worry! If you don’t have enough money to travel to Istanbul, you can still experience a hot air balloon ride in Putrajaya with the International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. The #MyBalloonFiesta is a homegrown festival initiated by AKA Balloon Sdn Bhd and supported by Putrajaya Corporation. The 10th Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2019 took place in Presint 2. The four-day event on March 28. The best part is the event entry is free of charge for everyone. The uniqueness of the fiesta attracted both Malaysians visitors from over 70 countries (MyBalloonFiesta, 2019).
Photo by #MyBaloonFiesta (MyBalloonFiesta, 2019)
The event hosted various hot air balloonists from across the world. The free event previewed a collection of more than 20 hot air balloons of various designs and colors from different international participants of the world, such as Thailand, Japan, Brazil, Belgium, Spain, and United Kingdom. Hot air balloons in shapes of Robot Woozi, Pink Gnome, Bruno the Clown, Pink Elephant, Tako the Octopus, Happy Chan and Black Bear were showcased during the event (Nair, 2019). Plus, the attraction made available at the fiesta was an igloo-shaped balloon which formed by using recyclable material such as used hot air balloon (Sulaiman, 2019)
Photo by #MyBalloonFiesta (MyBalloonFiesta, 2019)
Even though the event was open to public, people could still opt for a more intimate experience with balloons. As for the hot air balloon activities, visitors got to enjoy different packages and experiences, such as riding in a hot air balloon and getting up close and personal with the balloons and pilots. If you registered with My Balloon Club by Gamuda Land members, you will get an exclusive membership where visitors get special privileges to enjoy a gourmet breakfast buffet spread in a Tropical-themed Glamping Tent. While enjoying a live jazz performance and other picnic activities and an exclusive tethered balloon ride, some could even enjoy you a free night glow access ticket. It’s limited to 100 members per day only and some were even entitled to #myballoonfiesta official merchandise! It’s in the Blue Zone, which was where all the balloons took off and Pink Zone where the picnic area was. In order to register, adults had to pay RM300 each while children above 4 were charged RM250 each (MyBalloonFiesta, 2019).
Photo by #MyBalloonFiesta (MyBalloonFiesta, 2019)
The 10th Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2019 is one of the main iconic events listed in Putrajaya Corporation calendar of events. This fiesta can encourage family togetherness, couples and friends by having fun with a variety of activities for all ages. Held during school holidays, it is the perfect time for a quick family getaway. If you couldn’t make it this year, don’t missed out the exciting Hot Air Balloon Fiesta for the next year!
REFERENCES
MyBalloonFiesta. (2019). Retrieved on 12th April 2019 from
https://www.myballoonfiesta.com/
Nair, V. (2019, March 29). Hot air balloon fiesta takes
off in Putrajaya. Retrieved on 12th April 2019 from The Star
Online: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/03/29/hot-air-balloon-fiesta-takes-off-in-putrajaya/.
Sulaiman, N. A. (2019, February 25). Hot air balloon
fiesta returns to Putrajaya [NSTTV]. Retrieved on 12th April
2019 from New Straits Times: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/02/463530/hot-air-balloon-fiesta-returns-putrajaya-nsttv
