RISEAP’s EXCO VISITS ISLAMIC INFORMATION CENTRE

KUCHING, 4th AUGUST 2010-  The Deputy President and Secretary General of RISEAP, Mr. Redzuan Wu and Mr. Marzuki Omar made a courtesy call  to ISLAMIC INFORMATION CENTER (IIC), Kuching on 4th August 2010.  Puan Zabariah Hj. Matali, the CEO of the center and her staff gave the visitors a warm reception.  Puan Zabariah in her brief, highlighted that the center is tasked with a ” misson to foster an understanding and appreciation of Islam through interaction and communication with and among the community.”

A number of  public speakers and scholars have been invited to share their thoughts with the locals.  Among them were Imam Feizel of New York, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Al-Solah of Texas and Malaysian intellectuals and scholars as well.  Through the mind and faculties of these intellectuals, it is hoped that the audience mindset could be induced with greater understanding and respect of  other  faiths and culture.  The target audience are governments servants, students, professionals, youths, Muslims and non Muslims.  The centre organizes regular programs on Arabic classes and Al-Quran and Hadith.  Recently, a joint Public Lecture was organized with RISEAP in Kuching.  During the discussion, it was amicably agreed that RISEAP and IIC would organise joint programs on Youth, Muslimah courses, Public lectures as and when the needs arise.

As one grazes through the centre’s publication  entitled “ISLAMIC INFORMATION CENTRE” one can’t escape the words of  wisdom of Sarawak’s  Chief Minister who is also the President of RISEAP :  “UNITY is a fragile yet priceless entity and as such efforts must be put together towards protecting and preserving it.  UNITY strengthen  us hence strengthens our country.  JUSTICE means having a proper understanding and deep appreciation of each other’s rights.  INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE form the cornerstone of development . . . .”

The facilities at the IIC include public auditorium, classrooms, hostels, library and authentic Quran collection museum.  The Qurans are the personal gifts from YAB Pehin Dr. Taib Mahmud.  One of the Quran collections dated five hundred yeras old.

The architecture of the building is an aggregate presentation of Malay, Iban, Melanau, Bedayuh, Chinese and other ethnics designs and sculptures.   Its stands majestic along the Ong Tiang Swee road and  creates  an ambiance of harmony and peace and conveys a message of unity through colours and symbols.  Varieties of  fruits, palms, flowers  are beautifully  planted thus enhance the lanscape of the centre.

RISEAP Conducts Islamic Training Course in Cambodia

RISEAP launched an intensive Islamic course for religious teachers in Kampong Phuk Phau, District of Ponhea Krek, Kompong Cham, from 26 June to 2 July 2010. Twenty participants comprising young teachers cum imam from various mosques in the area attended this one-week course. 

In March 2010, RISEAP had conducted a similar course for Imam in Ho Chi Mihn City, Vietnam, where 30 Imam from different mosques around Ho Chi Minh City attended the  course which was lasted for 10 days.. 

The course is a part of RISEAP da’wah activities in Cambodia. RISEAP is concerned about the future of Muslims in Cambodia especially the roles of religious teachers who play a significant part in inculcating Islamic knowledge and values into  Muslim youth in the country. In so doing, RISEAP plans to launch more courses targeting both male and female with the aim to improve and enhance Islamic knowledge and da’wah activity among Muslim youths in Cambodia. RISEAP will also try its best to help improve and enhance Islamic knowledge for Islamic teachers in various areas by conducting more course in the near future, Insha Allah.   

The course, held at Masjid Al Anwar, was a joint effort between RISEAP and the Cambodia Islamic Association (CIA), a RISEAP member organization in the country. All participants were housed at the mosque where classes conducted. Masjid Anwar is located about 200 km away from Phnom Pehn, the capital city of Cambodia. The main objectives of the course was to enhance Islamic knowledge and understanding among young religious teachers in Cambodia, to encourage better understanding and cooperation  between young Islamic teachers in the country. The course was also to improve teaching skills for young teacher/imam in order to become more dedicated and efficient teachers and or da’wah workers in their community. Muslims in Cambodia send their children to attend Islamic schools either in Egypt, Saudi Arabia or in Patani, southern Thailand. As a result, some of them have good command of both Arabic and Malay languages. 

The class was conducted daily by Ustaz Nik Syahriman Nik Mat, RISEAP Da’wah and Education Officer and was assisted by Ustaz Saleh Musa, a RISEAP volunteer in Cambodia. Ustaz Nik was accompanied by Major (Rtd) Md Yusuf Abdullah, RISEAP Training Officer. The participants were very interested in acquiring Islamic knowledge and enjoyed class activities. They were active students and always raised questions during the class especially on issues of haram and halal and the different views of various schools of Islamic thought (mazhab).   

 The class was divided into two sessions, morning and evening classes. The morning class started from 7.30 am till 15.30 pm. It started again after Magreb prayer till 20.30 (after Isyak prayer).  The evening class, however, focused on Qur’an reading (Tajwid and Tafsir). In addition, the participants were required to attend a brief lecture held daily after the morning prayer.

 The subjects taught were Janazah Preparation, Haj/Umrah, Friday Khutbah, Animal Slaughtering (Qurban), Aqiqah, Qur’an/Hadith, Aqidah, Solat, Zakat, Fasting and Sirat  Malay language is the medium of instruction since most of the Cham Muslims in the area are able to understand and communicate in Malay language. However, certain subjects like Tasir, Hadith and Sirat were conducted by Ustaz Saleh Musa in local Cham language.

 The opening ceremony, held on 26 June 2010, was presided over by YB Senator Ahmad Marwan, President of Cambodia Islamic Association. In his speech, YB Senator Ahmad expressed his gratitude to RISEAP for organizing this course which is very beneficial for Muslims in Cambodia especially the young teachers who will be community leaders in the future. He thanked RISEAP Secretary General, Tuan Hj Mohd Marzuki Mod Omar who took the initiative to launch such a course in Cambodia and requested RISEAP to conduct more courses especially for Muslimah.    

 The participants are Kamel Bin Mu’az, Musa Bin Ahmad, Abd Kodir Zahri, Nasiruddin Abubakr, Gofron B Ibrahim, Mohd Zen B Isa, Muslim B Musa, Hanafi Yusof, Yusof Ibrahim, Idris Mohd Daud, Zakariya Mohd Noh, Mustafa Sulaiman, Safi’I Mohmad, As’ari Abdul Rahman, Abd Gani Osman, Nasir Ibnuhajar, Abd Rahman Hamid, Abubakar Soleh and Yusof Adam. All of them are residents of Kompong Cham.

 In 1992, RISEAP trained around 700 imam from all over Cambodia and in 2003, it conducted a training for Cham Muslimah. In 2002, RISEAP in cooperation with the Cambodia Islamic Association (CIA) and the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (JAKIM) conducted a series of Muslim leadership courses in Phnom Phehn. In addition, Cambodian Muslim youths both male and female have been invited to attend RISEAP courses held in Malaysia since 1999. 

RISEAP would like to thank those who helped organizing this course especially President of Cambodia Islamic Association, YB Senator Ahmad Marwan, Ustaz Saleh Musa, Imam Hj Yusof Saleh, Imam of Masjid Al Anwar, Hj Yusof Adam, Imam/Hakim of Kampong Phuk Phau and Muslims in the area who provided kind help and hospitality to RISEAP staff during the course. 

JAPANESE MUSLIM ASSOCIATION

TOKYO, JAPAN 24^th May 2010: Vice President  (Northern Zone) and Secretary General  of RISEAP, Prof. Bashir Kim Dae Yong and Marzuki Omar, had a brief visit to TAKUSHOKU UNIVERSITY 3-4-14, Kohinata, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo.  The majestic imperial gateway to the university stood impressively dominance, reminiscent of Japan glorious history awaited the visitors.  Prof. Tayeb Muto, Dr. Yahya, Prof. Nobuo Molri (Nou Deen) and a few others were at the compound and gave the visitors a warm reception.

While having Japanese tea and nibbling Japanese’s tidbits, exchange of opinions and ideas took place at the office of Prof. Tayeb Muto.  Among the points discussed and agreed upon were:

• RISEAP and JMA agreed to work closely in organizing the JMA’s annual camp at KANNONZAKI YOUTH CAMP, Tokyo or at any site to be decided by JMA.
• Mr. Salih who is actively involved with JAM will make an educational trip to Malaysia and will attach to RISEAP office a period to be determined at later stage.  RISEAP will arrange his program while his stay in Malaysia.  Among other things, RISEAP will acquaint him with JAKIM, National mosque at Putrajaya, and other relevant places.  He is going to help JMA full time organizing dakwah programs
• Miss Ota who embraced Islam during the Youth camp has being chosen by JMA to participate during the Muslimah course at U.I.A Kuala Lumpur either this year or next year.
• JMA has agreed to send Mr. Aamir T. Arai, the Secretary General of JMA to MUIS’s Islamic convention in Singapore in July 2010.
• Prof. Tayeb Muto briefed  the visitors that his team is assisting the Muslims in Japan in issuing and handling Halal certificates