VISIT TO PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA 27th March 2010 -   The city is 1,100 kilometres form Kuala Lumpur and takes one and a half hours flight.   The Secretary General of RISEAP and his officer visited the city and   was able to meet some of the local Muslim leaders.  On arrival, Senator Ahmad Marawan was kind enough to receive them at the airport provide transport and other facilities while their stay in the country.  Ustaz Salleh Musa acted as the local liaison officer and he is also acts as RISEAP’s volunteer to do dakwah in Cambodia.

There are about 500,000 Muslim Champs residing in Cambodia.  Most of the Muslims are Sunni (shafies).   The Secretary General have the opportunity to meet the mufti   Hj. Kamarudin Yusof on Sunday, 28^th March 2010, at his residence.   The mufti of Cambodia is appointed by the King and he is (mufti) responsible of the Muslim affairs and welfare of the country.  

In the whole of Cambodia there is only one Islamic kindergarten with 90 children with five full-time teachers with a monthly salary US$60-65 each.  The main emphases were Arabic language, Iqraq, Mathematics and Khmer language.  Each student needs to pay US$5 per month with breakfast included.  In order to ease the financial burden of the school, the students are encouraged to fast two days for each month.  This means that the children would not have their breakfasts that saves some expense for the kintergarten.  This also mean that the students need no pay the cost of the breakasft for two days each month. 

Ustaz Salleh helped to run the centre together with wife (Ust. Asmah) and children.  He was a graduate from University Al-Azhar with a degree in Arabic literature.  He obtained his Diploma in Arabic Language from University Imam Mohamad Bin Saud, Riyahd.  The physical conditions of the classrooms were quite decent and indeed much more could be done to improve the learning environments of the children.  Incidentally, there are about 20 Cambodian Muslim students studying at the International Islamic University, Kuala Lumpur.   Of course, there are also Cambodian Muslim students studying in the Middle-East’s universities and colleges as well.  God willing, when they come back to Cambodia, they can contribute to the well-being of the umah.

 RISEAP with the cooperation of  Senator Ahmad Marawan will organised a Youth and Leadership camp In Phnom Penh this year.  RISEAP will send its officers to conduct the program.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MUSLIMS IN MULTICULTURAL SOCIETIES

  SINGAPORE – 14^th – 15^th July 2010 – The Senior Minister of Singapore, Mr. Goh Chok Tong was the guest of honour at the International Conference on Muslims in multicultural societies at Grand Hyatt Hotel, Singapore.   In his keynote address, he expressed his view that religious pluralism will increasingly be the norm of the modern world.  This diversity in beliefs presents societies with new challenges.  He commended MUIS (Majlis Ugama Islam Singapore) for organising the conference with the Oxford University, the Department of Malay Studies in NUS  and the National Centre for Excellence for Islamic Studies in the University of Melbourne.   

Among the speakers were Ust. Fatris Bakaram, Deputy Mufti of Singapore, Imam Feisel Abdul Rauf, Imam, and Chairman of Cordoba Initiative, New York, USA, Prof. Tariq Ramadan, Professor of  Contemporary Studies, University of Oxford, UK, Prof. Sherman A. Jakson of University of Michigan, USA, Prof. Reuven Firestone of Jewish institute of Religion, USA and other speakers of various disciplines.  

There were about 200 delegates coming from various countries like USA, UK, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, China, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Mynamar, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.  RISEAP’s members, associates and friends were also present namely Australian Federation of Islamic council, Japan Muslim Federation, Korea Muslim Federation, Islamic Religious Affairs Council, Myanmar. 

The two-day conference was made up of five sessions   -   1.  Past, Present and future of multiculturalism, 2.  Challenges and vision for contemporary Muslims, 3.  Islam thoughts and reform, 4.  Institutions and practises 5.  Contributions of Muslims to societies.  There were also country papers on Canada, Taiwan, The Philippines, Italy and Thailand and Australia. 

Prof. Tarik Ramadan who was the conference convenor closed the conference by summarizing the various presentations by the speakers of different backgrounds.  While it was difficult to single out one primary outcome from the conference, nonetheless, the challenges of each country where Muslims are residents somewhat differ (say Singapore, Switzerland, France, Canada, Norway, etc) and must be resolved with wisdom and care.

NEW ZEALAND – BAITULMAL IN THE OFFING

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – 6^THJUNE 2010:  The Federation of Islamic Associations of  New Zealand (FIANZ) organized a one-day Baitulmal workshop  at a local hotel.  Hj. Abang Mohd. Shibli  Abg. Naili, the General Manager of Baitulmal Sarawak, Malaysia was the key speaker of the day assisted by his Deputy, Mr. Bolhassan Taibi.  Hj. Abg. Shibli spoke key areas and challenges in setting up Baitulmal.  The setting up of Baitulmal Australia and New Zealand was inspired and proposed by YAB Pehin Dr. Taib Mahmud, the President of  RISEAP during its biennial General Assembly  in Auckland in December 2009.  It was unanimously adopted by the assembly.

In his opening note, he briefed the audience the history of Baitulmal Sarawak before and after the state’s  independence through Malaysia.  He took reference the collection and distribution system of zakat, sadaqatul jariah and wakaf of Baitulmal Sarawak.  He also shared his views on the service delivery and technology system and processes of Baitulmal Sarawak.   Abg. Hj. Shibli articulated about property development, fund management and the strategy of continuous wealth creation to ensure that Baitulmal will not just survive but thrives under any environment and circumstance.  He reiterated that the success of Baitulmal hinges on quality manangement, system and personnel. 

He recognized the fact that local legal, social, political and ethnic factors need to be stringently observed and extra care need to be exercised to ensure that  Baitulmal New Zealand will be implemented successfully in tandem with New Zealand  local requirements, values and norms.  Corollary to the technical briefing, FIANZ would do the follow-up briefing  sessions with the local Muslims community.  Baring any unforeseen circumstances, FIANZ will be instrumental and acts as the key vehicle in setting and launching Baitulmal New Zealand in December 2010.