Malaysia's Ikim strides into new decade

Rosliwaty Ramly, The Star, Asia News Network, Selangor, Malaysia

Today the Malaysian Institute of Islamic Understanding (Ikim), a think tank that enhances Islamic understanding among Muslims and non-Muslims, enters the second decade of its establishment -- well aware of what it has to focus on from now.

Everyone who serves at Ikim will undoubtedly usher in the historic day with gratefulness because what was conceived by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mahathir Mohamad 10 years ago has borne fruit.

The evidence is in the success that Ikim has conducted intellectual programs in the form of seminars, conferences and roundtable discussions at state, national and international levels.

Countless visits by foreign dignitaries serve as testament to the important role Ikim has to play in correcting misinformation about Islam.

Ikim chairman Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid said that since its inception, Ikim had worked hard to draw up comprehensive and fitting work programs all year long to enhance its standard and achievements.

He believed that well-organized programs covering various aspects and current affairs of the country were most necessary to foster a positive work culture and system as a complement of life.

It is the expectation of Ikim that all its activities will be able to spread the true understanding of Islam while dispelling negative images often associated with Islam.

Images of terrorism, poverty, anti-development, extremism, famine, civil war and the likes are often conjured up in the media as images of Islam.

This, in truth, is a distortion of true Islamic teachings that encourage peace, harmony, understanding, co-operation, moderation and tolerance.

Ahmad Sarji said more than 100 conferences and seminars had been organized and each of these meetings of intellectuals was able to analyze the important issues, in accordance with Ikims aims and objectives.

In an effort to expand the scope of Ikim's activities, particularly at the international level, the strategy of smart partnership was employed.

In this connection, several memoranda of understanding were signed with think tanks and academic centers around the world, including the International Institute of Islamic Thought of the United States, the Jamia Millia Islamia of India, the Islamic Foundation of the United Kingdom and Indonesian Confederation of Muslim Intellectuals.

Ahmad Sarji said the essence of the memoranda was on fostering co-operation in the convening of meetings of intellectuals such as conferences or seminars and the exchange of publications.

Evidently, Ikim never runs out of ideas in discharging the responsibility entrusted to it.

More than 1,000 articles contributed by its researchers and carried in major newspapers such as Utusan Malaysia (Current Islamic Issues), The Star (Ikim's View) and the New Straits Times (Saturday Forum) have been compiled for publication as books.

Since 1992, Ikim has published 63 books -- 19 related to syariah and law and the remaining 44 on economics and management.

Ahmad Sarji said Ikim had also taken the initiative to translate books on Islamic tradition that were regarded as classic sources of reference.

Among the titles picked for translation from Arabic into Bahasa Melayu are Pelayaran Ibn Batutah (The Voyages of Ibn Batutah) and Adab Qadi menurut AlMawardi (Conduct of Judges according to AlMawardi).

Ikim has also used radio and television as vital channels to disseminate knowledge and information to enhance understanding of Islam.

Ikim often makes guest appearances on television. This is in addition to the monthly forum on TV1 that has had 56 programs broadcast so far.

Regular contributions are also made to Radio Kuala Lumpur, Radio Selangor and Radio Kuantan.

Ikim made history on June 12, 2001 when it launched its official 24-hour radio broadcast, Radio ikim.fm, which offers various programs for people of all ages and communities.

These programs include Current Issues, World of Economics, The Law and You, Ikim Dot Com, Vision of Islam, Youth, Commentary, Women of Today and the Global Challenge.

Ikim.fm, the first Islamic-based radio station to use the latest digital broadcasting equipment, provides yet another platform for Ikim to play a significant role.

And of course, the main thrust of Ikim are its centers which conduct research on issues of concern to Muslims. Research findings are made known through seminars, publications and reports.

Up to 30 research projects have been and are being carried out, including on Political Science and International Relations, Islam and the Industrial Community, Islamic Family Laws and the Islamic Judicial System.

Also, Ikim formed a training and consultancy center in early 2000 to cater to demands from organizations and institutions, both public and private, to conduct team-building courses, motivational talks and other activities in the perspective of Islam.

The practice of openness and willingness to assist those wanting to delve into or introduce a new dimension in the study of Islam has benefited Ikim.

For example, Singapore's Community Development and Sports Minister Abdullah Tarmugi, during a visit on Jan 30, 2001, expressed his country's interest to forge co-operation between Ikim and the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) to help improve the image of the Muslim community in the republic.

MUIS also intended to make Ikim as the model institution for the Muslim community of Singapore in facing the challenges of globalization, the era of information technology and the challenges of the Muslim community of Singapore in the modern world.

Ikim obviously has much experience to share with MUIS in facing life's challenges in a modern Islamic world.

Looking far ahead as it enters its second decade, Ahmad Sarji said Ikim was considering two important aspects to strengthen efforts to fulfill the terms of reference it has been entrusted with.

First is the planning and provision of more effective techniques in the dissemination of understanding of Islam.

One of the methods being considered is the use of Information Technology (IT) and communications and multimedia facilities that combine sound, illustration and graphics to explain concepts, principles and practices concerning Islamic teachings so that they can be better understood and appreciated by society.

Second is the implementation of several programs this year to resolve several unsettled issues that continue to afflict the Islamic community.

These programs include three international conferences -- Living Together In A Cosmopolition Community, The Islamic Dinar Towards Unification of the Economies of Islamic Nations and Towards A New Islamic World Order.

Other items on the agenda for this year include a discussion among experts, training courses for target groups, workshops and camps.

Ahmad Sarji is confident that after having existed for 10 years now, Ikim is ready to enter its second decade with a clear picture of the issues it has to focus on.

Nevertheless, he said, Ikim was aware that a more effective new approach should be used to improve the quality and productivity of its programs.

He agreed that the contents and presentation of the programs should be modified to provide diversity to the audience.

If such an approach is well received, it is not impossible that one day Ikim will stride further and able to launch and run its own Islamic Television.