This is a qualitative study examining the utilisation pattern of traditional medicine among young Malay women breast cancer patients. The study has shown that there is an increasing number of breast cancer patients to opt for traditional medicine in searching for a cure. To address the issue, an ethnographic fieldwork was carried out in Klang Valley and several selected areas of Selangor. Thirteen (13) young Malay breast cancer patients were selected as informants for this study by employing purposive snowballing technique. Guided by semi-structured interview schedule, a series of in-depth interviews, phone and online interviews and participant observation were conducted at various settings to capture informants’ health seeking behaviour. It is evident that traditional medicine is still prevalent as one of the treatment options among breast cancer patients. They strongly believed that relying on a single treatment for chronic illness like breast cancer is insufficient. In relation to this, traditional healers and health practitioners such as bomoh and ustaz were consulted by Malay informants either as an alternative or complementary for a cure. Several treatment methods such as herbal remedies for oral consumption, air penawar (healing water) for drinking and bathing and specific item such as an egg for surgery-like procedure were prescribed to treat the cancer-related symptoms suffered. In most instances, majority of the patients were guided by family and friends’ suggestions towards the utilisation of traditional medicine.

Spirituality, religion and family play pivotal roles in addressing issues related to one’s illness experiences. The illness experiences were perceived as a moral-religious experience rather than a mere suffering due to bodily dysfunctions. Thus, this qualitative study aimed at exploring the concept of spirituality in the lives of young Malay breast cancer patients. An ethnographic fieldwork was carried out among 13 young Malay breast cancer patients in Klang Valley and several selected areas of Selangor, Malaysia. A purposive snowballing technique was employed to select the informants for the study. A series of in-depth interviews, phone and online interviews guided by semi-structured interview schedule and participant observation were carried out among the informants. It is evident from the study that the manifestation of spiritual experiences in relation to their breast cancer is attributed to the spiritual meaning of breast cancer illness, roles of family in providing spiritual support and medical pluralisation. The informants attributed their breast cancer illness as qada’ and qadar of Allah. They accented it as ujian (test) or balasan (divine punishment) for a good cause from Allah S.W.T. On this account, spiritual healing was sought as complementary to hospital treatment in searching a cure for breast cancer.

The purpose of this paper is to prove that undergraduates have the capacity to be engaged in conducting empirical research and generating knowledge. It discusses the outcomes of a recent research training programme offered to undergraduates at the International Islamic University Malaysia. The training programme was organized and conducted by the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. As of early 2020, about 700 undergraduates, including those studying at different departments at the Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences (KIRKHS) have been trained. Working in teams, the undergraduates produced remarkable research projects presented in the form of written reports, oral presentations, and open discussions. To document these papers, the first social research collection book titled “Khalduniyyat” was submitted to the respective faculty, KIRKHS, for review and publication. This paper is based on a qualitative research approach, employing semi-structured interviews with fifteen academics who supervised or attended the training activities. Further, the paper reflects on the feedback provided by the trainees. The originality of this research paper is presented by showing how the programme explored and enhanced the intellectual capabilities of IIUM undergraduates, that resulted in the enhancement of their research skills equivalent to postgraduate level