GOVT TO UTILISE SYED MUHAMMAD NAQUIB AL-ATTAS' WORKS TO DRIVE PEOPLE'S INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT - ANWAR

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- The MADANI Government is committed to utilising the ideas and works of Royal Professor Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas for the intellectual development of the people and the nation through scholarly activities, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar said that Syed Muhammad Naquib's instrumental role as the founder of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC) has attracted renowned scholars from around the world to pursue studies, teach, and conduct research in Malaysia.

He said that ISTAC is renowned for having one of the best libraries, with a remarkable collection of scholarly and Islamic cultural materials for higher-level studies.

"After the Special Congress of KEADILAN, I took the opportunity over the weekend to visit the nation's philosopher, also a prominent scholar of our country, Royal Professor Tan Sri Dr Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas.

"Meeting our teacher in this family-like atmosphere brings back memories of my student days, when I was close to him, studying the texts of his major works, especially 'Islam dalam Sejarah dan Kebudayaan Melayu' and 'Islam and Secularism'," he said in a post on Facebook today.

Anwar also shared a photo of him with his daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, and Higher Education Minister  Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, also present during the visit.

Anwar said he was fortunate to have often been involved in witnessing the captivating intellectual discourses and debates between Syed Muhammad Naquib and his older brother, Prof Dr Syed Hussein Al-Attas, also the country's esteemed scholar.

The Prime Minister said that he had the opportunity to attend his lectures on topics such as Aqā´id al-Nasafī, Historical Fact and Fiction, Risalah untuk Kaum Muslimin, as well as on Western thinkers such as Voltaire, Henry Pirenne, Rene Guenon, and Oleg Grabar.

"He (Syed Muhammad Naquib) also imparted advice on the importance of having true faith and understanding of Islam, based on the guidance and teachings of the Holy Quran," he added.

-- BERNAMA