DR. SHAHIR EMBARKS FURTHER ON HIS RESEARCH

ISDEV researchers, Dr.Shahir (2nd from right) and Dr. Shukri (3rd from right) in front of the UniSZA observatory.

Dr. Shahir Akram Hassan Al-Hafiz who obtained his inaugural grant of University Research Individual (RUI) on "Pengaplikasian Rukyah dan Hisab di Asia Tenggara" (The Application of Rukyah (Moon Sighting) and Calculations in Southeast Asia) has begun conducting the second stage in the first phase of his empirical research with his co-researcher Dr. Mohd Shukri Hanapi. They were at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) Terengganu, from 19 until 22 April 2015 to collect some data.

A look at the interior of the observatory and reading some of the information displayed there.

According to Dr. Shahir Akram, this is the second leg of the empirical research that has been conducted after they went to Brunei Darussalam to collect the data under the same research grant. In UniSZA, they met up with Malaysia's astronomy expert Associate Professor Dr. Baharuddin Zainal to discuss details of their plans to collaborate the conduct of the research in the very near future.

Having a discussion with a representative of ESERI.

They also made some collaborations with the East Cost Environmental Research Institute (ESERI), UnisZA where they are looking into avenues to combine astronomy with environmental science in conducting the second phase of the research. Meanwhile the two ISDEV researches also paid a visit to the Balai Cerap UniSZA (Observatory) situated at Bukit Merang, Merang, Setiu. They had the opportunity to observe planet Venus through a special telescope as well as collected data for their research.

Observing Venus

As part of the effort to collect data in the research, the third leg of the first phase research will see these researchers scheduled to fly to West Java (Jawa Barat), Indonesia this coming August. They intend to observe moon sighting at the Pelabuhan Ratu, Sukabumi as it is said that the place is very special where one can sight the moon with the naked eyes. Dr. Shahir also added that as soon as his team finish collecting data in Indonesia, the research team will then proceed with their research by visiting other observatories such as in Singapura as well as the southern countries of Malaysia including Johor, Negeri Sembilan, and Melaka.