Sabtu, 30 Maret 2013

Differences Between Islamic Banks & Conventional

    One must refrain from making a direct comparison between Islamic banking and conventional banking (apple to apple comparison). This is because they are extremely different in many ways. The key difference is that Islamic Banking is based on Shariah foundation. Thus, all dealing, transaction, business approach, product feature, investment focus, responsibility are derived from the Shariah law, which lead to the significant difference in many part of the operations with as of the conventional

   The foundation of Islamic bank is based on the Islamic faith and must stay within the limits of Islamic Law or the Shariah in all of its actions and deeds. The original meaning of the Arabic word Shariah is 'the way to the source of life' and is now used to refer to legal system in keeping with the code of behaviour called for by the Holly Qur'an (Koran). Amongst the governing principles of an Islamic bank are :

*The absence of interest-based (riba) transactions;

*The avoidance of economic activities involving oppression (zulm)

*The avoidance of economic activities involving speculation (gharar);

*The introduction of an Islamic tax, zakat;

*The discouragement of the production of goods and services which contradict the Islamic value (haram)

   On the other hand, conventional banking is essentially based on the debtor-creditor relationship between the depositors and the bank on one hand, and between the borrowers and the bank on the other. Interest is considered to be the price of credit, reflecting the opportunity cost of money.

   Islamic law considers a loan to be given or taken, free of charge, to meet any contingency. Thus in Islamic Banking, the creditor should not take advantage of the borrower. When money is lent out on the basis of interest, more often that it leads to some kind of injustice. The first Islamic principle underlying for such kind of transactions is "deal not unjustly, and ye shall not be dealt with unjustly" [2:279] which explain why commercial banking in an Islamic framework is not based on the debtor-creditor relationship.

  The other principle pertaining to financial transactions in Islam is that there should not be any reward without taking a risk. This principle is applicable to both labor and capital. As no payment is allowed for labor, unless it is applied to work, there is no reward for capital unless it is exposed to business risk.

  Thus, financial intermediation in an Islamic framework has been developed on the basis of the above-mentioned principles. Consequently financial relationships in Islam have been participatory in nature.

  Lastly, for the interest of the readers, the unique features of the conventional banking and Islamic banking are shown in terms of a box diagram as shown below:




SOURCE:
http://zaharuddin.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=297&Itemid=72


How To Be a Good Writer


Being a Good Writer
  1. Write a lot every day. You may prefer to write in long or short sessions. Write a short paragraph or an entire page. See which works better for you.
  2. Read all sorts of things, but really take the time to enjoy an old-fashioned book. Regular reading will influence your style, taste, background, and ideas. It will also helpexpand your vocabulary and improve your grammar.Determine what is good writing and what is not. Find your literary heroes. Read both historical and contemporary authors.Read a variety of topics and styles, with a focus on styles or genres on which you wish to write.Make good use of your local library, both as a source of a variety of reading materials and as a resource.
  3. Expand your vocabulary. Read the daily newspaper. Purchase a nice dictionary and thesaurus. Your short story will not be nearly as exciting if every character walkseverywhere and says every line of dialogue. A comprehensive vocabulary can help bring your stories and poems to life, enabling you to better describe the world around you. Be sure that you are using words correctly. Some of the alternatives listed in your thesaurus may not have the right shade of meaning or be appropriate for the level of formality. Look up the word in your dictionary to be sure, and if in doubt, use a word that you already know.
  4. Meet a Writer! A writer could give you tips as well as help. Meet authors at Book launches or Community Book festivals and forums. Perhaps there is a writer living locally that you could meet through a public event, or even write/email them and ask if they are willing to meet you or offer any support.
  5. Use good grammar. Good grammar can mean the difference between a sentence that is graceful and translucent and a sentence that is awkward and ambiguous. When you first put your ideas on paper, you should try to write quickly so that you do not forget any of them. Be sure to focus on proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation in the revision process, though. Dangling modifiers and faulty parallelism can reduce clarity as well as the overall quality of your writing. If you have a question about grammar, consult a good grammar book, such as The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E. B. White or The American Heritage® Book of English Usage.
  6. Buy two notebooks. One is a "Vocabulary Notebook", and the other is an "Inspirational Notebook".In your "Vocabulary Notebook", write down new words and their meanings as well asmnemonic devices (memory aids) to help you learn them. You may also want to write down some example sentences.In the "Inspirational Notebook", write down bits and pieces from your daily life, such as a fun conversation that you overheard in the mall, or a joke that you were told by a friend. This can also be a diary or a journal. When you read something that makes you laugh or think, or tempts you to read aloud, look at what makes it effective. Jot down all the ideas that occur to you, including the ones that will probably never work.
  7. Join online or neighborhood writing groups. You can even practice writing at wikis, such as wikiHow and Wikipedia. You will become a more proficient writer as you help people.
  8. Brainstorm before starting to write. In order to focus your writing, begin with the main idea. While thinking about what to write, put down any idea that comes to you, even if it seems far-fetched or unlikely to be successful. One not-so-good idea may lead to a better one.
  9. Plan your writing, especially if you are producing an informative piece. Use whatever technique works best for you. You can make an outline, put a collection of notes on cards and arrange them until they are in order, or draw a tree or map. It is possible to rapidly organize a broad topic with a tree or map structure. Try writing nonstop for ten minutes and see how many ideas you can think of.
  10. Write as quickly as you can for the first draft. Try typing without looking at the keyboard. Do not stop to correct grammar, spelling, or punctuation. Write at least a few paragraphs before going back and correcting or editing.
  11. Be well-informed about your subject. Your research will make your fictional or nonfictional writing seem that much more real. You can use reading materials such as books, magazines, and online articles and also interview knowledgeable people. You may even be inspired by something that you see on television.Remember that fictional writing will usually require less research than nonfictional writing. Make sure that you have a strong framework for your story before you start researching and filling in details. Try to first develop the main points of the plot. If you are having trouble finishing your story, however, research may give you some ideas for a satisfying conclusion.
  12. Be specific. Avoid implying or over-generalizing; vagueness and generalizations are less likely to grab your readers’ attention. Which sentence is more interesting to read: "In this town, the crime rate has significantly increased in the last year" or "In this town, the crime rate has increased more than twenty percent in the last year"? At the same time, try to include only the relevant details; say all that you need to say without wasting space.
  13. Tailor your writing to your purpose and your audience. Just as you change your clothing for the weather and the occasion, you should also change your writing for your audience and your message. Flowery writing, for example, might fit better in a poem than in a status report. Make sure that your writing is not too difficult (or too simplistic) for your audience. Adjust your word choice and sentence length for the given audience and level of formality. Limit jargon, and be sure to give your readers all the background information that they will need to understand your composition.
  14. Edit Your Writing Once you have a first draft, reread it and rewrite it. You are looking for errors in grammar and spelling as well as style, content, organization, and coherence.Editing is an iterative process. You may edit a piece many times. Just remember, no writing is perfect.Give yourself time between writing and editing, if at all possible. Longer is better, but even a short break can give you some of the necessary distance and detachment to edit well.
  15. Ask someone else to read your writing. If at all possible, have a second person read your writing. Choose someone whom you trust to be forthright and frank.
  16. Make sure that people understand and interpret your writing the way you intend. Try it on a test audience and see how they react. Also try taking suggestions from peers and family to help you refine your idea.
  17. Perhaps some day you will become a famous writer, teacher, storyteller, or whatever your dream may be, but the important thing is that you love what you do.

5 Vitamins for Healthy Skin

  Some vitamins – in pill form – have been shown to have antioxidant qualities. Several skin care companies have incorporated these vitamins into their product lines in hope of slowing the aging process – or at least the appearance of it.

  Buyer beware: The FDA doesn't regulate supplements in skin care products, and dermatologists are only beginning to study the effects of vitamins applied topically. While antioxidants applied to the skin seem like they should reduce free radicals, we’re a long way from knowing for sure.

  With that caveat in mind, here are 5 of the most frequently used vitamins for healthy skin.


Vitamin E
Image 
provided by The Body Shop


 Using Vitamin E in skin care is thought to have multiple benefits to your skin. It is a potent antioxidant that is thought to fight off free radicals that cause the signs of aging. Some examples of free radicals are smoke, pollutants and excess sun.

 Vitamin E is also a great moisturizing ingredient that is found naturally in our bodies. It is found in many skin care lines, which makes it easy to find, but it is also available as a supplement at any drugstore. It's easy to poke a hole in the capsule and squeeze out the Vitamin E gel and apply right to your skin.

 The Body Shop has an entire line of Vitamin E skin care products. Pictured here is their Vitamin E Facial Oil.


Vitamin A
Image courtesy PriceGrabber


  Are you familiar with the anti-aging (and anti-acne) superstar "retinol"? If so, then you're familiar with Vitamin A and the great things it can do for your skin.

  Vitamin A forces your skin cells to turn over faster, bringing new fresh skin cells to the surface. It can cause some irritation to your skin, and many people using prescription-strength have to start slow, applying only every couple of days.

  Using Vitamin A increases your skin's sensitivity to the sun, so use ample amounts of sunscreen. Results will take time to achieve.

  Your best bet is to get your Vitamin A from your dermatologist who can educate you and give you a personalized dose. But a potent (yet expensive) over-the-counter line of products using Vit A is ZO Skin Health.


Vitamin K
Image provided by Sephora


  If you've been searching for an eye cream that will get rid of the dark circles under your eyes, you've likely come across one with Vitamin K inside.

  While dark circles under the eyes can be caused by numerous reasons, they are typically visible because of leaking capillaries under your skin. The skin under your eyes is thin, which makes the leaking capillaries visible as dark circles.

  It is often recommended to look at your stress level, sleep schedule and smoking habits when trying to get rid of the circles. And concealers work wonders, but if you still can't banish those dark circles, try an eye cream with Vitamin K, like MD Skincare: Lift and Lighten Eye Cream which is believed to actually constrict the capillaries under your skin.



Vitamin C
Image provided by EmerginC


  Vitamin C is another super-star antioxidant found in citrus fruit. This is another ingredient that you'll have no problems finding in many skin care products, especially those meant for anti-aging. Vitamin C is thought to fight off free radicals, slow down the aging process and even reverse the signs of aging.

  It's a great ingredient to look for in skin care lines, because the benefits to your skin are great, but know that Vitamin C has a hard time staying stable in skin care products, especially when introduced to the air. Try looking for serums and moisturizers that come in an airless chamber pumps to keep the air out of the bottle.

  EmerginC's Vitamin C Serum pictured here is a good example of a stable Vitamin C serum on the market.


Vitamin B
Image courtesy Pricegrabber


  Vitamin B is thought to be a great addition to your skin care product, especially if you have dry skin or are looking to decrease age spots. Using products with Vitamin B may also help your skin's appearance by evening out the overall tone as well. In fact, it's showing great acne-fighting properties as well.

  You'll may notice the label will read B-3, B-5, B-6 B-12, etc...all which are forms of Vitamin B. And you'll definitely have your choice of product lines and price points with Vitamin B in them.

  A good drugstore line with Vitamin B is Olay Total Effects, which contain 7 vitamins, including Vitamin B. They have an entire line from cleansers to serums to moisturizers with Vitamin B in them.


SOURCE:






























How To Apply BB Cream?


 
   BB cream, also known as Blemish Balm Cream is the hottest new thing in makeup and skin care. It started popping up in the US recently, but has been a smash hit in Asia for years. (Decades, even!) (What is BB Cream?)

  BB cream can be used as a highlighter, primer, moisturizer, foundation, concealer and facial sunscreen. With many BB creams having a great SPF level and the ability to conceal and cover-up imperfections, we recommend trying one. Think of it as a tinted moisturizer on drugs. So much more than a tinted moisturizer!

  If you’re new to BB cream, you might be wondering just how to use it, so we put together 7 tips for BB cream to help you apply properly and get the most out of your BB cream. Know that no BB cream is exactly like the next one. Some are matte; some are illuminating. Some are colorless; some add color. Some give full coverage; some give just a hint of coverage.

*No matter what it says on the bottle, use a moisturizer first.
 A lot of the BB creams say that it can be your moisturizer + foundation, but we suggest you put on an initial base of moisturizer first, especially if you have dry skin. When we skipped moisturizer, our skin felt dry and flaky. You might be able to get away with just this if you have oily skin, but normal to dry should use a moisturizer.

*Sponges or brushes aren’t necessary.
 Go with your fingers when you apply BB cream. We found it the easiest way to get an even and natural look. Dot on your skin and then blend in.

*Start by using it as a concealer.
 Where on your skin do you need to cover-up? Blemishes or scars visible? BB cream does a great job at concealing under eye circles, too! Dot on a little BB cream and blend in. After making sure it’s set, apply BB cream to the rest of your face for great coverage.

*Set with powder. 
Once your BB cream is applied and dry (it can take a minute or two to lose the tackiness feeling) set with powder for best results. Note that some brands have been reported to not last all day. Setting with powder and keeping your hands off of your face (a habit so many people have) will help if you find this problem.

*If you have darker skin tone, mix with foundation.
 In Asia, we found that many of the BB creams come in one color: light. This is because unlike in the US and its love of tan skin, light, almost white skin, is considered beautiful. Skin lightening products are in high demand. Thankfully, the US has many more options for those with darker skin color, but if you just can’t find one that doesn’t lighten your skin too much, mix a few drops of your foundation in. You’ll still get the benefits of the BB cream with a shade to better suite your skin.

*Don’t overpay!
 When we were in Seoul, we picked up one of the higher priced BB creams and it was only just under $25 and came highly recommended. In the US, we’re finding many priced high simply because of demand. (3Lab’s is $95 for 1.5 ounces!) Consider finding a site that ships international and using an Asian BB cream if you don’t find one you love with a price you love.

*If you don’t like your first one, keep trying.
Samples are always a great way to try out a product if you can find them, but do your research and check online reviews. Make sure you think ahead how much coverage you want, if you want the BB cream to illuminate your skin or leave it matte, etc… After falling in love with BB cream, we’re certain that if you find the right one for your skin, you’ll love it, too!

Basic qualitative objectives


  In order for accounting information to be useful, it must have certain qualities or characteristic. Seven qualities are identified by the APB in statement No.4 as being basic if financial accounting is to fulfill its service objectives. These qualities are: 

1. Relevance 

  The accounting principles board identifies relevance as the primary qualitative objective. Information must be relevant to its intended use. If it is not relevant, it is useless regardless of how well it meets the other objectives. The objective of relevance is to select methods of measuring and reporting that will aid those individuals who rely upon financial statements to make decisions. Many critics of financial statements have argued that traditionally prepared statements are irrelevant to many desicions that must be made. An increasing amount of research is being conducted to evaluate this criticism. 


2. Understandability 

  In order for financial informationto be useful in a desicion process, it must be expressed in terminology that is understandable to the user. Business transactions and activities have become increasingly complex. It is not always possible to describe complex transactions in simple terms; therefore, the user of the statements must attain a minimum level of competence in understanding the terminology used in accounting statements. However, the accountant has a basic responsibility to describe business transactions clearly and concisely 


3. Verifiability 

  Accountants seek to base their findings on facts that are determined objectively and that can be verified by other trained accountants. The APB in listing verifiability as an objectives states, “ verifiable financial accounting information provides results that would be substantially duplicated by independent measures using the same measurement methods”. 


4. Neutrality 

  Financial statements should not be biased in favor of one group to the detriment of another. This objective may conflict with the basic objective of relevance ; however, the presumption of the accounting principles board is that external financial reports are general purpose statements that meet the common needs of a wide variety of users. Specialized needs must be met in other ways. The qualitative objective of neutrality is similar in concept to the American Accounting Association Standard “ freedom from bias” and to the all-encompassing principle of “ fairness” advocated by a national CPA firm. 


5. Timeliness 

The meaning of the qualitative objective of timeliness is almost self-evident. However, it is so vital to the concept of usefulness that it must be explicitly included. Information furnished after a desicion has been made is of no value. All accounting systems should be established to provide information to all users in a timely manner. In meeting this objective, financial statements must be prepared prior to the time an accountant can be absolutely certain as to the results of an entity’s operations. 


Source: 

Harry simons,MA,CPA.1972. Intermediate accounting. South-western publishing CO: United States Of America

INTERNAL AUDITING


    Internal auditing is an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve an organization's operations. It helps an organization accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve theeffectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes. Internal auditing is a catalyst for improving an organization's governance, risk management and management controls by providing insight and recommendations based on analyses and assessments of data and business processes. With commitment to integrity andaccountability, internal auditing provides value to governing bodies and senior managementas an objective source of independent advice. Professionals called internal auditors are employed by organizations to perform the internal auditing activity.


    The scope of internal auditing within an organization is broad and may involve topics such as an organization's governance, risk management and management controls over: efficiency/effectiveness of operations (including safeguarding of assets), the reliability of financial and management reporting, and compliance with laws and regulations. Internal auditing may also involve conducting proactive fraud audits to identify potentially fraudulent acts; participating in fraud investigations under the direction of fraud investigation professionals, and conducting post investigation fraud audits to identify control breakdowns and establish financial loss.


    Internal auditors are not responsible for the execution of company activities; they advisemanagement and the Board of Directors (or similar oversight body) regarding how to better execute their responsibilities. As a result of their broad scope of involvement, internal auditors may have a variety of higher educational and professional backgrounds.


    The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) is the recognized international standard setting body for the internal audit profession and awards the Certified Internal Auditor designation internationally through rigorous written examination. Other designations are available in certain countries. In the United States the professional standards of the Institute of Internal Auditors have been codified in several states' statutes pertaining to the practice of internal auditing in government (New York State, Texas, and Florida being three examples). There are also a number of other international standard setting bodies.


    Internal auditors work for government agencies (federal, state and local); for publicly traded companies; and for non-profit companies across all industries. Internal auditing departments are led by a Chief Audit Executive ("CAE") who generally reports to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, with administrative reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (In the United States this reporting relationship is required by law for publicly traded companies).


History of internal auditing

    The Internal Auditing profession evolved steadily with the progress of management science after World War II. It is conceptually similar in many ways to financial auditing by public accounting firms, quality assurance and banking compliance activities. While some of the audit technique underlying internal auditing is derived from management consulting and public accounting professions, the theory of internal auditing was conceived primarily by Lawrence Sawyer (1911-2002), often referred to as "the father of modern internal auditing"; and the current philosophy, theory and practice of modern internal auditing as defined by the International Professional Practices Framework (IPPF) of the Institute of Internal Auditors owes much to Sawyer's vision.


    With the implementation in the United States of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the profession's exposure and value was enhanced, as many internal auditors possessed the skills required to help companies meet the requirements of the law. However, the focus by internal audit departments of publicly traded companies on SOX related financial policy and procedures derailed progress made by the profession in the late 20th century toward Larry Sawyer's vision for internal audit. Beginning in about 2010, the IIA once again began advocating for the broader role internal auditing should play in the corporate arena, in keeping with the IPPF's philosophy.


Organizational independence

    While internal auditors are not independent of the companies that employ them, independence and objectivity are a cornerstone of the IIA professional standards; and are discussed at length in the standards and the supporting practice guides and practice advisories. Professional internal auditors are mandated by the IIA standards to be independent of the business activities they audit. This independence and objectivity are achieved through the organizational placement and reporting lines of the internal audit department. Internal auditors of publicly traded companies in the United States are required to report functionally to the board of directors directly, or a sub-committee of the board of directors (typically the audit committee), and not to management except for administrative purposes.


   The required organizational independence from management enables unrestricted evaluation of management activities and personnel and allows internal auditors to perform their role effectively. Although internal auditors are part of company management and paid by the company, the primary customer of internal audit activity is the entity charged with oversight of management's activities. This is typically the Audit Committee, a sub-committee of the Board of Directors. To provide independence, most Chief Audit Executives report to the Chairperson of the Audit Committee and can only be replaced with the concurrence of that individual.


Role in internal control

   Internal auditing activity is primarily directed at evaluating internal control. Under the COSO Framework, internal control is broadly defined as a process, effected by an entity's board of directors, management, and other personnel, designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of the following core objectives for which all businesses strive:


· Effectiveness and efficiency of operations.

· Reliability of financial and management reporting.

· Compliance with laws and regulations.

· Safeguarding of Assets

   Management is responsible for internal control, which comprises five critical components: the control environment; risk assessment; risk focused control activities; information and communication; and monitoring activities. Managers establish policies, processes, and practices in these five components of management control to help the organization achieve the four specific objectives listed above. Internal auditors perform audits to evaluate whether the five components of management control are present and operating effectively, and if not, provide recommendations for improvement.In the United States, internal auditors may assist management with compliance with the 
Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX).


Role in risk management

   Internal auditing professional standards require the function to evaluate the effectiveness of the organization's Risk managementactivities. Risk management is the process by which an organization identifies, analyzes, responds, gathers information about, and monitors strategic risks that could actually or potentially impact the organization's ability to achieve its mission and objectives.


   Under the COSO enterprise risk management (ERM) Framework, an organization's strategy, operations, reporting, and compliance objectives all have associated strategic business risks - the negative outcomes resulting from internal and external events that inhibit the organization's ability to achieve its objectives. Management assesses risk as part of the ordinary course of business activities such as strategic planning, marketing planning, capital planning, budgeting, hedging, incentive payout structure, credit/lending practices, mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships, legislative changes, conducting business abroad, etc. Sarbanes-Oxley regulations require extensive risk assessment of financial reporting processes. Corporate legal counsel often prepares comprehensive assessments of the current and potential litigation a company faces. Internal auditors may evaluate each of these activities, or focus on the overarching process used to manage risks entity-wide. For example, internal auditors can advise management regarding the reporting of forward-looking operating measures to the Board, to help identify emerging risks; or internal auditors can evaluate and report on whether the board and other stakeholders can have reasonable assurance the organization's management team has implemented an effective enterprise risk management program.


   In larger organizations, major strategic initiatives are implemented to achieve objectives and drive changes. As a member of senior management, the Chief Audit Executive (CAE) may participate in status updates on these major initiatives. This places the CAE in the position to report on many of the major risks the organization faces to the Audit Committee, or ensure management's reporting is effective for that purpose.


   Internal auditors may help companies establish and maintain Enterprise Risk Management processes. Internal auditors also play an important role in helping companies execute a SOX 404 top-down risk assessment. In these latter two areas, internal auditors typically are part of the risk assessment team in an advisory role.


Role in corporate governance

   Internal auditing activity as it relates to corporate governance has in the past been generally informal, accomplished primarily through participation in meetings and discussions with members of the Board of Directors. According to COSO's ERM framework, governance is the policies, processes and structures used by the organization’s leadership to direct activities, achieve objectives, and protect the interests of diverse stakeholder groups in a manner consistent with ethical standards. The internal auditor is often considered one of the "four pillars" of corporate governance, the other pillars being the Board of Directors, management, and the external auditor. 


   A primary focus area of internal auditing as it relates to corporate governance is helping the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (or equivalent) perform its responsibilities effectively. This may include reporting critical management control issues, suggesting questions or topics for the Audit Committee's meeting agendas, and coordinating with the external auditor and management to ensure the Committee receives effective information. In recent years, the IIA has advocated more formal evaluation of Corporate governance, particularly in the areas of board oversight of enterprise risk, corporate ethics, and fraud.


Audit project selection or "annual planning"

   Based on a risk assessment of the organization, internal auditors, management and oversight Boards determine where to focus internal auditing efforts. This focus or prioritization is part of the annual/multi-year audit planning. The audit plan is typically proposed by the CAE (sometimes with several options or alternatives) for the review and approval of the Audit Committee or Board of Directors. Internal auditing activity is generally conducted as one or more discrete assignments. A typical internal audit assignment involves the following steps:


1. Establish and communicate the scope and objectives for the audit to appropriate management.

2. Develop an understanding of the business area under review. This includes objectives, measurements, and key transaction types. This involves review of documents and interviews. Flowcharts and narratives may be created if necessary.

3. Describe the key risks facing the business activities within the scope of the audit.

4. Identify management practices in the five components of control used to ensure each key risk is properly controlled and monitored.

5. Develop and execute a risk-based sampling and testing approach to determine whether the most important management controls are operating as intended.

6. Report issues and challenges identified and negotiate action plans with management to address the problems.

7. Follow-up on reported findings at appropriate intervals. Internal audit departments maintain a follow-up database for this purpose.


   Audit assignment length varies based on the complexity of the activity being audited and Internal Audit resources available. Many of the above steps are iterative and may not all occur in the sequence indicated.


  In addition to assessing business processes, specialists called Information Technology (IT) Auditors review information technology controls.


Internal audit reports


   Internal auditors typically issue reports at the end of each audit that summarize their findings, recommendations, and any responses or action plans from management. An audit report may have an executive summary; a body that includes the specific issues or findings identified and related recommendations or action plans; and appendix information such as detailed graphs and charts or process information. Each audit finding within the body of the report may contain five elements, sometimes called the "5 C's":


1. Condition: What is the particular problem identified?

2. Criteria: What is the standard that was not met? The standard may be a company policy or other benchmark.

3. Cause: Why did the problem occur?

4. Consequence: What is the risk/negative outcome (or opportunity foregone) because of the finding?

5. Corrective action: What should management do about the finding? What have they agreed to do and by when?


   The recommendations in an internal audit report are designed to help the organization achieve effective and efficient governance, risk and control processes associated with operations objectives, financial and management reporting objectives; and legal/regulatory compliance objectives.


  Audit findings and recommendations may also relate to particular assertions about transactions, such as whether the transactions audited were valid or authorized, completely processed, accurately valued, processed in the correct time period, and properly disclosed in financial or operational reporting, among other elements.


   Under the IIA standards, a critical component of the the audit process is the preparation of a balanced report that provides executives and the board with the opportunity to evaluate and weigh the issues being reported in the proper context and perspective. In providing perspective, analysis and workable recommendations for business improvements in critical areas, auditors help the organization meet its objectives.


Measuring the internal audit function

   The measurement of the internal audit function can involve a balanced scorecard approach. Internal audit functions are primarily evaluated based on the quality of counsel and information provided to the Audit Committee and top management. However, this is primarily qualitative and therefore difficult to measure. "Customer surveys" sent to key managers after each audit engagement or report can be used to measure performance, with an annual survey to the Audit Committee. Scoring on dimensions such as professionalism, quality of counsel, timeliness of work product, utility of meetings, and quality of status updates are typical with such surveys. Understanding the expectations of senior management and the audit committee represent important steps in developing a performance measurement process, as well as how such measures help align the audit function with organizational priorities. 


Reporting of critical findings

   The Chief Audit Executive (CAE) typically reports the most critical issues to the Audit Committee quarterly, along with management's progress towards resolving them. Critical issues typically have a reasonable likelihood of causing substantial financial or reputational damage to the company. For particularly complex issues, the responsible manager may participate in the discussion. Such reporting is critical to ensure the function is respected, that the proper "tone at the top" exists in the organization, and to expedite resolution of such issues. It is a matter of considerable judgment to select appropriate issues for the Audit Committee's attention and to describe them in the proper context.


Audit philosophy
 
   Some of the philosophy and approach of internal auditing is derived from the work of Lawrence Sawyer. His philosophy and guidance on the role of internal audit was a forerunner of the current definition of internal auditing. It emphasized assisting management and the Board in achieving the organization’s objectives through well-reasoned audits, evaluations, and analyses of operational areas. He encouraged the modern internal auditor to act as a counselor to management rather than as an adversary. Sawyer saw auditors as active players influencing events in the business rather than criticizing all degrees of errors and mistakes. He also foresaw a more desirable auditor future involving a stronger relationship with members of Audit Committee and the Board and a divorce from direct reporting to the Chief Financial Officer.


   Sawyer often talked about “catching a manager doing something right” and providing recognition and positive reinforcement. Writing about positive observations in audit reports was rarely done until Sawyer started talking about the idea. He understood and forecast the benefits of providing more balanced reporting while simultaneously building better relationships. Sawyer understood the psychology of interpersonal dynamics and the need for all people to receive acknowledgment and validation for relationships to prosper.


   Sawyer helped make internal auditing more relevant and more interesting through a sharp focus on operational or performance auditing. He strongly encouraged looking beyond financial statements and financial-related auditing into areas such as purchasing, warehousing and distribution, human resources, information technology, facilities management, customer service, field operations, and program management. This approach helped catapult the chief audit executive into the role of a respected and knowledgeable adviser who was thought to be reasonable, objective, and concerned about helping the organization achieve the stated goals.




Don’t be Scared of The Dogs


Do you panic when a dog comes to you? Are you afraid that the dog may harm you? Don;t be scared!. Sometimes it is not entirely the dog’s mistake when it attacks people. The dog might be scared too and try to defend itself. To avoid dog attacks, read the points below :

1.       Keep Calm
If you meet a dog with no owner on the street, don’t scream and run

2.       Speak to the Dog
With your loud and firm voice, tell the dog to go home. If it doesn’t leave and is just looking at you with its tail wagging, walk away calmly. Again do not run!

3.       Don’t make any sudden move
The dog will think that you are going to do harm on it. This can make the dog attack you.

4.       Make your body down into a turtle position
Do this if the dog gets closer to you and seems to attack. This time, you can cry for help. Running away will make the dog chase you.

5.       Don’t bother the dog
Never approach dog when it is eating. It might think that you are going to take its food. And never try to get the puppies from their mother. The mother always protects its puppies.

6.       Go to the doctor immediately
If you get injured beacause of the dog attacks, ask your parents to take you to the hospital.


SOURCE:
C'nSjunior edition 51 vol.V desember 2007

CORRUPTION IN INDONESIA


      
   There are two key areas in the public sector in which corruption in Indonesia can be found. These are the justice and civil service sectors. While hard data on corruption is difficult to collect, corruption in Indonesia is clearly seen through public opinion, collated through surveys as well as observation of how each system runs. Corruption within the justice sector is seen by its ineffectiveness to enforce laws, failure to uphold justice, hence undermining the rule of law. The areas of corruption within this sector include the police and the courts. In the 2008 Public Sector Integrity Survey, the Supreme Court ranked the lowest in integrity in comparison to the other public services in Indonesia.The courts were viewed to make decisions unfairly and have high unofficial costs. 

      Evidence of corruption within the civil service comes from surveys conducted within the sector. Some surveys found out that almost half were found to have received bribes. Civil servants themselves admit to corruption. 

       In January 2012, it was reported that Indonesia has lost as much as Rp 2.13 trillion (US$238.6 million) to corruption in 2011. A study conducted by Indonesia Corruption Watch, a non-profit organization co-ordinated by Danang Widoyoko, said that embezzlement accounted for most of the money lost and that “government investment was the sector most prone to graft.” 

Economic and social costs 

     Corruption is an important development challenge that poses economic and social costs in Indonesia. Interference in public laws and policies for the sake of personal or private gain has weakened the competitiveness of Indonesia. 

    About one-quarter of ministries suffer from budgetary diversions in Indonesia. Households spent approximately 1% while enterprises spent at least 5% of monthly company revenue on unofficial payments. Social costs due to corruption in Indonesia include the weakening of government institutions and the rule of law. Increases in crime due to smuggling and extortion involve the institutions that are supposed to be protecting citizens. The people who suffer most are the poor as they are pressured to finance payments through their already tight budgets and the effectiveness of social services are less accessible indirectly. These concerns were voiced by the poor urban communities of Indonesia themselves in a joint World Bank-Partnership for Governance Reform research project, entitled “Corruption and the Poor”. 

Efforts to curb corruption 

    There have been some efforts to battle corruption with the creation of the ombudsman and the Assets Auditing Commission (KPKPN).It has been an important agenda and part of Indonesia's official reform program since May 1998. However, the efforts made are questionable as there has been limited success to reduce corruption. Some obstacles that impeded the improvement of corruption included political and economic constraints, and the complex nature of the corruption itself. 

   Most recently, these efforts have taken the shape of ordering corruption convicts to pay back all the money they have stolen. On 06 March 2012, the Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced Ridwan Sanjaya, an official from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, to six years in prison for rigging a tender bid for a home solar energy system project in 2009 worth IDR526 billion (US$57.86 million). 

    Ridwan was found guilty of accepting IDR14.6 billion in kickbacks, resulting in IDR131 billion in state losses. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) stated that it will use Ridwan’s verdict as material to develop the investigation on the graft scandal involving the Solar Home System project. 


B. Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) 

   "KPK" redirects here. For the Pakistani province, see Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. For the Slovenian government commission, seeCommission for the Prevention of Corruption of the Republic of Slovenia. 

   Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (Indonesian: Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi) (abbreviated KPK) is a government agency established to fight corruption. As of 2012, its chairman is Abraham Samad, and its deputy chairman is Bambang Widjojanto.






Background 

    Anti-corruption efforts began in Indonesia in the 1950s. Following strong criticism of corruption at the beginning of the New Order regime in the late 1960s a Commission of Four was appointed by president Suharto in 1970. The report of the commission noted that corruption was "rampant" but none of the cases it said were in need of urgent action were followed up. Laws were passed in 1999 giving the Police and prosecution service the authority to investigate corruption cases. 

     Law No.30/2002 on the Corruption Eradication Commission was passed in 2002 providing a legal basis for the establishment of the KPK. 

Duties 

    The KPK vision is to free Indonesian from corruption. Its duties include investigating and prosecuting corruption cases and monitoring the governance of the state. It has the authority to request meetings and reports in the course of its investigations. It can also authorize wiretaps, impose travel bans, request financial information about suspects, freeze financial transactions and request the assistance of other law enforcement agencies. It also has the authority to detain suspects, including well-known figures, and frequently does so. 

Achievements 

   The work of the KPK is a source of continuing controversy in Indonesia. The commission is careful, but sometimes quite aggressive, in pursuing high profile cases. For example, in reporting on the activities of the KPK, one foreign observer noted that the commission has "confronted head-on the endemic corruption that remains as a legacy of President Suharto’s 32-year-long kleptocracy. Since it started operating in late 2003, the commission has investigated, prosecuted and achieved a 100-percent conviction rate in 86 cases of bribery and graft related to government procurements and budgets. To display once more its resolve to crack down on graft suspects, the KPK named on December 7, 2012, both brothers of Indonesian socialite Rizal Mallarangeng, Indonesia's Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng and Fox News consultant Choel Mallarangeng suspects in a multi-million-dollar corruption case, in the latest scandal to hit the President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's ruling party ahead of Indonesia's 2014 Presidential election. Mallarangeng is the first minister to resign on graft allegations since the KPK began operating in 2003. 

    KPK public education division official Budiono Prakoso said in December 2008 that because of its limited manpower and resources, of some 16,200 cases reported to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), only a small number had been dealt with. A large number of the solid reports informed the KPK of alleged cases of corruption and misuse of budget funds by government agencies at national and regional levels. "The main problem is the political will of the government at regional and national levels. Political will remains low. Everything is still at a lip-service level," he said. 

     NGO activitists often urge the KPK to be more aggressive in its work. For example, Bali Corruption Watch (BCW) head Putu Wirata Dwikora asked the KPK to investigate corruption cases in Bali. He lamented the commission's practice of handing over corruption cases in Bali to the local prosecutors office for further investigation. "The KPK should be directly involved in investigations to create a deterrent effect," Putu said. 

    On the other hand, the success of the KPK in using controversial tools like warrantless wiretaps, and its focus on high-level targets like "businessmen, bureaucrats, bankers, governors, diplomats, lawmakers, prosecutors, police officials and other previously untouchable members of Indonesian society," has led to something of a backlash. There have been reported attempts to undermine the Commission in Parliament. 


The "gecko vs crocodile" dispute 

    In April 2009, angry that the KPK had tapped his phone while investigating a corruption case, Indonesian Police chief detective Susno Duadji compared the KPK to a gecko (Indonesian: cicak) fighting a crocodile (Indonesian: buaya) meaning the police. Susno's comment, as it turned out, quickly backfired because the image of a cicak standing up to abuaya (similar to David and Goliath imagery) immediately had wide appeal in Indonesia. A noisy popular movement in support of the cicak quickly emerged. Students staged pro-cicakdemonstrations, many newspapers ran cartoons with cicaks lining up against an uglybuaya, and numerous TV talk shows took up the cicak versus buaya topic with enthusiasm. As a result, references to cicaks fighting a buaya have become a well-known part of the political imagery of Indonesia.

    In September two KPK deputy chairmen Chandra Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto, who had been suspended in July, were arrested on charges of extortion and bribery. The two men denied the charges, saying they were being framed to weaken the KPK. There were demonstrations in several cities in support of the men and a support campaign on the Facebook social networking site gathered one million members. On 2 November 2009 presidentSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono established a team to look into the allegations. The following day, during a hearing at the Indonesian Constitutional Court, dramatic tapes were played of bugged phone conversations apparently revealing a conspiracy to undermine the KPK. The names of businessman Susno Duadji as well as Deputy Attorney General Abdul Hakim Ritonga and a businessman, Anggodo Widjojo, were mentioned in the tapes. Bibit and Chandra were released later the same day. 

    On 10 November, at the trial of KPK chairman Antasari Azhar, who had been arrested in May for allegedly organizing the murder of a businessman, former South Jakarta police chief Williardi Wizard testified that senior police officers had asked him to help them frame Azhari. 

    The team established by the president, the "Team of Eight", presented its recommendations on 17 November 2009. These included a halt to the prosecution of Bibit and Chandra, punishment for officials guilty of wrongdoing and the establishment of a state commission to implement institutional reforms of law enforcement agencies. The president said he would respond in a week. 

    On 23 November 2009 the president made a speech responding to the Team of Eight's findings. He said that it would be better if the Bibit-Chandra case were settled out of court but did not call for the case to be dropped. He also said there was a need for reforms within the Indonesian National Police, the Attorney General's office and the KPK. His speech caused confusion among Team of Eight members and provoked a protest from activists who symbolically threw in their towels as a way of criticizing what they judged to be the president's unconvincing response. On 3 December 2009, the president was officially informed that charges against Bibit and Chandra had been dropped. 

KPK and Police 

    In the view of many Indonesian observers, the "gecko vs crocodile" dispute illustrated the tensions said to exist between the KPK and the National Police Force. Some high-profile investigations carried out by the KPK have focused on allegations of corruption at senior levels of the police force. This approach is reported to have led to widespread resentment within the police force towards the work of the KPK. Sharp tensions surfaced in early December 2012 when the KPK took the highly unusual step of detaining Inspector General Djoko Susilo, a senior and active police general, on charges of corruption. A few days later, president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed public concern about the tensions between the KPK and the national police. 

Resources 

    Resources provided to the KPK have expanded in recent years. However, the work of the commission is still restricted by limited budgets and a small number of total staff.





Commission chairmen

· 2003 to 2007 Taufiequrachman Ruki

· 2007 to 2009 Antasari Azhar

· 2009 to 2010 Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean

· 2010 to 2011 Busyro Muqoddas

· 2011 to present Abraham Samad



SOURCE:









Senin, 11 Maret 2013

NOUN CLAUSE


 
1. Definition of “ Noun Clause” 

Noun Clause are subject and predicate (finite verb) structures carrying out the grammatical functions attributed to a noun.Or A noun clause is an entire clause which takes the place of a noun in another clause or phrase. Like a noun, a noun clause acts as thesubject or object of a verb or the object of a preposition, answering the questions "who(m)?" or "what?".. They parallel noun words and noun phrases by form. The conjunction of a noun clause has a single grammatical function within the clause and that is so introduce it. There are two types of noun clause functions we need to know:


a. Noun Clause as a Subject 

Usually use a whether, what. 

For example: 

· It is strange 

· What I dreamed last night is strange. 

Of the first sentence above, it serves as a subject. We get replace “it” with clause (what I dreamed last night) as a Noun Clause that functions as a subject. 

Other Example: 

· Whether you like it or not does not influence our decision . 

· How Johny acts makes everybody confused. 


b. Noun Clause as an Object 

Usually appears after verb, there are some verbs such as: 





For example: 

· Mr. Khairil Chandra agrees that he will go to Jogjakarta tomorrow. 

· That he will go to Jogjakarta tomorrow, appears after verbs agrees, so functions as a Object 

Keep in mind, the noun clause sentences should be affirmative. 

Example: 

· Where do you live? 

I know where you live 

· What is your name? 

Wiwin forgets what your name is


c. Noun Clause Which Begin with If or whether 


  • If yes/no question has changed to be noun clause, caluse introduced with If 
  • Note: I wonder = I want to Know 
  • Note : or not can not be put right behind if


Source :
1. Sofyan Fahmi, Ir, MHum.2009.Kiat Sukses Lulus Ujian Bahasa Inggris.Jakarta:Pustaka Tarbiyah Baru.
2. Surayin,drs. 1999.Perfect English Grammar.Bandung: Yrama Widya