1. Daily Express (http://www.dailyexpress.com.my)
Borneo Islamic Centre launches first book, 5 March 2009
Kota Kinabalu: The Borneo Islamic Research and Propagation Centre based at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sarawak is expected to bring together Muslims in Borneo through the academic works of Muslim scholars.
The centre's Chairman, Che Bakar Che Mat, said the centre, set up in February last year, had come out with it first book which was launched Wednesday.
The book is a compilation of working papers presented at a seminar on the "Growth of Islam in Borneo", held for the first time in Sarawak last year.
"We hope to produce a second book from a similar seminar which begins here today, where 64 working papers will be presented compared to 52 last year," he told reporters after the opening of the seminar, Wednesday.
"We set up the centre as we found that in Borneo, there was no such centre, especially at a tertiary educational institution.
"We focus on two aspects, namely through the sharing of research experience at seminars and documentation of the research work, and the needs of local Muslims in the context of Islamic propagation.
"In future, we hope to organise such seminars right across Borneo including Brunei and Kalimantan, Indonesia," he said.
According to him, 10 research works had been carried out while the researchers at the centre were also collecting materials with their counterparts in Kalimantan.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, in his speech read out by state Assistant Finance Minister Datuk Taufiq Abu Bakar Titingan, said focus should not just be on documentation of research and the discourses held but also on the socio-economic aspects of Muslims in Borneo.
He said although Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and the four provinces of Kalimantan made up Borneo, they appeared to "exist separately" for more than 400 years since the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824.
"Nevertheless, Islam has united the various ethnic groups here. Although we are of different races, we (Borneo Muslims) are brought together by one faith, that is, Islam," he said. - Bernama
2. The Star Online(http://thestar.com.my)
‘Islamic centres should be open to all Malaysians’, 5 March 2009
by ROSLINA MOHAMAD
KUANTAN: Islamic learning centres should open their programmes to all Malaysians regardless of their race or religion to allow non-Muslims to gain a better understanding and interpretation of Islam as a way of life.
Tengku Mahkota of Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, in making the suggestion, said people of multiple races and religions having a more favourable perspective of each other would lead to greater unity.
“It is better if we practise some form of openness and try to close ranks with them.
“We can provide them with the right explanations so they will have a good understanding of Muslims and Islam,” he said in his speech before officially closing a three-day meeting on the development of “tahfiz” institutes at the Pahang Foundation here Thursday.
Tahfiz institutes are learning centres devoted to memorising and learning the Quran, as well as to other subjects.
Also present were Tengku Puan of Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Sultan Iskandar, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, the foundation’s general manager Datuk Sa’ariah Saad, state exco members and other state dignitaries.
Tengku Abdullah said that one could not deny or isolate non-Muslims as they were very much a part of Malaysian life and society; as such, efforts must be taken to ensure good ties prevailed.
He also urged students who were pursuing their studies in Islamic and Quran studies to make certain that they had strong command of the Arabic language before leaving for Middle East countries.
He said he was dismayed upon hearing that many of them did not do well due to poor command of the language.
Meanwhile Adnan, in his speech, said a “hafiz” (a person who memorises the Quran and its meanings by heart) should not necessarily limit his talent to the Quran and Islam but should extend his knowledge into other fields such as politics, economics, society, the corporate sector and even non-governmental organisation activities.
Speaking to reporters later, Tengku Abdullah said a group of Arab teachers were brought into the state to teach the language and it would be a waste if their expertise was not fully made use of.
He also said one of the resolutions made in the forum was to upgrade the status of tahfiz learning centres to colleges, adding that it was a timely suggestion so as to ensure a more systematic operation as well as greater recognition.
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