RESEARCH GRANT: ETNO-FALAK IN MARITIME ACTIVITIES

ISDEV Director, Dr Shahir (2nd from tright) presenting a token to the representative from the
fisheries department in Kota Kuala Muda.

One of the research grants awarded to the members of the Centre for Islamic Development Management Studies (ISDEV), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) is on Etno-Falak in Maritime Activities. 

A view of the Kota Kuala Muda.

The Director of ISDEV, Dr Shahir Akram and ISDEV lecturer, Dr Mohd. Shukri Hanapi are among the group members of the grant. The grant covers data to be collected throughout Malaysia including Sabah and Sarawak. 

Interview in session with Ms Aida, the Research Officer taking down notes of the session.

The team has divided their data collection stage into several zones. The members of this research team went about to collect data in Kedah Darul Aman in May as well as in Terengganu Darul Iman in June this year. 

Attending to filling up the questions for the structured interview.

The empirical stage of this grant for North Zone in this phase started in the district of Kuala Muda, Kedah Darul Aman on a Sunday, 5th May 2019. During this phase data were collected by means of interview as well as a visit to the  Kota Kuala Muda Museum. Here the team also learnt about the heritage of Kota Kualan Kedah.

A group photo for the data collection in the East Zone.

For the East Zone, the research team,  went to Terengganu for three days and two nights. On 11 June, 2019 they first paid a courtesy visit to the Akademi Perikanan Malaysia (Malaysia Fisheries Academy) and the Institut Marin Asia Tenggara (ISMAT) (Southeast Asia Marine Institute). Both these institutions work closely with the fishermen as well as on fisheries activities. 

The interview session in Marang, Terengganu.

The next day, on 12 June 2019 the research team went to the district of Marang, Terengganu to interview the fishermen there before they proceeded to interview the fishermen and officers related to the fisheries department in Tok Bali on Thursday. 

Interviewing one of the fisheries personnel.