KUIM 1.0 Empasises Important Role Of Religious Scholars, Intellectuals To Strengthen Unity - Mohd Na'im

KUALA NERUS, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian-Terengganu Ulama and Intellectuals Congress 1.0 (KUIM) stressed the important role of religious scholars (ulama) and intellectuals in encouraging society to strengthen unity despite having political differences.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar said politics should be a platform to unite society and not a cause for division.

“We may differ from a political standpoint, but what is important is that politics should not lead us to division. The etiquette of divergence (adab-adab ikhtilaf), the difference in opinion, is very important.

“It is fine if there are many parties, but how the party members manage their respective parties is what matters. So political parties should be used to unite the society and the people, especially in this country,” he told reporters after officially opening the Malaysian-Terengganu Ulama and Intellectuals Congress 1.0 (KUIM) at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) here today.

In addition, Mohd Na’im said emphasis was also given to developmental politics, which cannot be separated from Islamic values.

“This is because Islam is a religion whose foundation is very important and does not negate economic development, but the most important thing is to build a society that possesses noble values, morals, and good character,” he said.

Elaborating further, Mohd Na’im said that religious agencies under his purview such as the Malaysian Islamic Propagation Foundation (YADIM) and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) will cooperate with the organizers and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, especially the Religious Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Dr Khairuddin Aman Razali, to ensure that the resolutions achieved in the congress can be implemented.

“We want this resolution not just to be on paper but to be implemented, especially in striving towards a MADANI nation and society,” he said.

Earlier, Mohd Na’im in his speech said that all presentations and discourses delivered by prominent figures throughout the congress will enrich the worldview (tasawur) and provide new input to all parties.

“What is more important is to ensure that all these inputs are conveyed to the society. I am confident that this congress has formulated a resolution to strengthen the role of ulama and intellectuals as catalysts for unity, promoters of compassion, and upholders of justice,” he said, adding that he, along with JAKIM and YADIM, will examine all the resolutions that have been achieved.

--BERNAMA