by Christine Godinez Ortega
MSU-IIT Chancellor Sukarno D. Tanggol will deliver two keynote lectures at the Borneo International Islamic Conference VII (KAIB VII) in Sabah, Malaysia on September 10, 2014 and during the ICER 2014 conference in Khon Kaen University in Thailand on September 13-14, 2014.
In the invitation to the Chancellor from Datuk Dr. Haji Abdul Kadir Bin Haji Rosline, Rector of the Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Sabah, the KAIB VII is an annual program for the discussion of ideas and issues about Islam. It aims to provide “a meaningful coverage on current trends in the dynamic Islamic teaching in Borneo” and within the region. The theme of the conference is “The Islamic Sustainability in Borneo” which seeks to highlight Borneo’s potential for growth in the development of Islam and in future challenges.
The invitation was extended to the Chancellor for his “invaluable experience and insights” as a former Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait, as a prominent Muslim scholar in the region and as Chancellor of the MSU-IIT. His insights, according to the Rector could help enlighten and strengthen relationships between the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia.
Chancellor Tanggol proceeds to Thailand to deliver the keynote address for the ICER 2014 Conference to be held at the Khon Kaen University with the theme “Challenging Education for Future Change”.
The two keynote addresses by the Chancellor focus on the challenges confronting the Ummah today such as poverty, disease, homelessness, political disunities and extremism as well as in education, and how Malaysia and Thailand are able to cooperate with each other in order to strengthen the BIMP-EAGA network and the ASEAN region through respect and tolerance.
In his keynote address for Malaysia entitled “Borneo, EAGA, and the Crisis in the Muslim World: Challenge to Islamic Education” Tanggol says in part “the multiculturalism of Malaysia is part of the country’s success and Borneo can be a good example of cultural tolerance, respect and collaboration. This can be a challenge to the Muslim majority, especially to those Muslims who have more conservative views or those with narrow or compartmentalized interpretations of Islam. …There is no compulsion in religion, we are told. And the best Dawah is for Muslims to live as Muslims.” …
“The development of Borneo depends on bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation among Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. National, state, and provincial plans and policies call for synchronization on all levels of governance. While allowing each state or province to grow autonomously or independently, each component must be cognizant of its role and contribution to the overall development of the island.”
For his ICER 2014 address in Thailand which has for its theme, “Challenging Education for Future Change”, Tanggol echoes his sentiments on respect and tolerance but shifts the geographic range from the BIMP-EAGA to the ASEAN in that “the center of the ASEAN 2015’s goals is, and should be the improvement of the quality of life of its citizens of each member nation upon the theory that education is the true key to economic growth and stability”.
“Amid such atmosphere for the educated masses the free flow of ideas and the willingness to work together will result in lasting respect and peaceful co-existence within the region”. –for OC-OPI
Topics : international conference