Opening Ceremony of 10th ICON-IMAD

This year the 10th International Conference on Islam in Malay World, ICON-IMAD is held as part of the Brunei Mid-Year Conference and Exhibition, MYCE. The ICON-IMAD aims to discuss and share issues and challenges faced by the Malay world in maintaining the identity of Malay Muslims and highlight the study of Malay Muslims in various Islamic studies in order to benefit the ummah and the country. Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Awang Haji Salim bin Haji Besar, Chief Syarie Judge in his keynote address during the opening ceremony of the ICON-IMAD Conference this morning stressed that the conference’s theme “Melestari Islam di Alam Melayu di Era Kontemporari” or Perpetuating Islam in Malay World in the Contemporary Era is significant to be brought forward because so many current challenges can be seen trying to undermine the strength of society’s beliefs in the Malay archipelago against Islam.

Yang Berhormat Pehin said that he is optimistic that the meeting of prominent figures, experts and researchers as well as relevant agencies from the 10th ICON-IMAD participating countries can refresh society’s understanding on the purity and transparency of Islamic teachings. Islam has clearly not only produced good citizens but has created a more competent ummah intellectual. As the society in the Malay World, we should be grateful for such huge blessings as a region that selected Islam as a life belief.

Meanwhile, Professor Dato’ Doctor Mohd. Fakhrudin Abdul Mukti, Professor at the Faculty of Usuluddin, Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University, UNISSA, in his keynote address titled ‘Melestarikan Islam Di Dunia Melayu’ expressed appreciation for the country’s approach which places the faith of the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah school of thought in the country’s constitution. He added that it was also recorded in the Declaration of Independence that the country supports Islamic unified democracy according to the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah.

This year’s ICON-IMAD conference was held in a different setting from the previous. This time around, the event’s presentations were combined between a physical presentations and also virtually. The two-day conference is organised in collaboration with UNISSA and the Academy of Islamic Studies, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia; Postgraduate of UIN Sunan Gunung Djati, Bandung, Indonesia and Prince of Songkla University College of Islamic Studies. Among those present was Doctor Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal, Rector of UNISSA.

Source: Radio Television Brunei