International Relations Students Attended Seminar on The Muslim World

A total of 18 students and 5 lecturers from the International Relations programme attended a seminar titled ‘The Muslim World, Present and Future: Regional Powers, Terrorism and Religious Extremism,' co-organised by University Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Asia West East Institute (AsiaWE) earlier this month at UTM Campus, Jalan Semarak in Kuala Lumpur. This field trip was organised by Mr. Kennimrod Saribuja James Pasaribu and Mr.  Muhammad Ammar Hisyam under the School of Marketing and Media to expose students from International Relations programme to some real political issues in the world and its impact on the regional and world’s social, economic and political situations.       

The seminar featured many well-known Islamic scholars such as Professor Dr. Kamaruzaman Yusoff from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Professor Dr. Syed Farid Alatas from National University of Singapore and Associate Professor Dr.  Mohd Roslan Mohd Nor from University of Malaya. The speakers addressed issues related to the current political and security situation in the Middle East especially on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Among the topics discussed were the concepts of Islamic Jerusalem, Zionism, Christian Zionism, the superpowers involvement in the Middle East, the future of two-state solution for Israel and Palestine and the threat of religious extremism in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.  

The seminar was indeed very informative and well-structured to include the historical aspects as well as the practical concept in promoting peace and security in the Middle East.  As a result, the students were able to analyse the current dispute initiated among several fractions in the Middle East from historical, political and security perspectives, examine how the political turmoil affected the Muslim world and understand the importance of resolutions to cultivate peace and harmony in the Muslim world. 

Finally borrowing one of the quotes from Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.  We appreciate this opportunity created for the students by the lecturers and look forward to seeing the students become successful leaders and hopefully be part of the peacekeeping solutions in the Middle East in future.