Speech by the delegation of Malaysia

 HIS MAJESTY KING ABDULLAH BIN ABDULAZIZ AL-SAUD,
CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES,

THEIR ROYAL LHIGHNESSES,
HONOURABLE KPRESIDENTS AND KPRIME MINISTERS
HONOURABLE MINISTERS,
EXCELLENCIES, BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
ASSALAMUALAIKUM,

“MUSLIM UKKNITY THROUGH JOINT ACTIONS’

All praise be to Allah Subha Nahu Wata’ala, his Grace and Meercy, for enabling us to be here in this sacred city of Makkah Al-Mukarramah, the Holiest of places and the spiritual centre of Islam. We are grateful to be the guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Majesty King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. May Allah subhanahu Wata’ala bless His Majesty and the people of the beloved Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with all that is the best in this world and in the hereafter, to continue serving the cause of Islam and the whole of the Ummah.

2. I would also like to take this opportunity to convey my deepest condolences to the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the demise of Al-Mahrum King Fahd, whose immense contributions to the Ummah will be forever remembered. I would like to place on record as well my personal congratulations to His Majesty King Abdullah for his elevation to the Throne. Indeed, the convening of this timely Summit is testament to His Majesty’s commitment to the betterment of Muslims as a whole.

3. It is indeed a great pleasure for me, as Chairman of the Organization of Islamic Conference (O.I.C), to welcome you who have traveled great distances to gather in conference with us here in this Holy City of Makkah – to deliberate, contemplate and celebrate the future legacy of this important organization relative to the destiny of the Muslim world.

4. I am thankful and truly blessed to be standing in all humility before Allah in this Holy City of Makkah for the umpteenth time. On a personal note, this City holds a special significance for me not only because it was the birthplace of my grandfather; it was also where he was educated, and where he finally received his degree. I am profoundly grateful for the many blessing afforded me and the Muslim Ummah. I am fully conscious of the fact that it was in this city that our beloved Prophet Muhammad was born. In addition, I am fully cognizant of the fact that it was also here in Makkah that, by Allah’s command, the Prophet accepted the summons and began his noble mission of prophecy.

5. Years after the Prophet began to preach publicly, and endured so much pain and suffering, he was forced to flee Makkah in search of a more suitable base for his prophetic mission. This he found in Yathrib, later renamed Madinah by the Prophet. A new community was founded, and referred to by the Prophet as an Ummah. The governing principles of the new Ummah were to be marked by a pervasive new worldview that would determine and give rise to culture, and consequently civilization. It was this combination that would reveal the true essence of Islam.

6. Conceivably such a worldview could not, however, survive or even achieve practical maturity without the inclusion of Makkah. To that end, the Prophet returned to Makkah, to the Ka’abah, the signle most holy site in all Islam, the site synonymous with unity. Here in Makkah, the Prophet performed the most important of all rituals, prostrating himself before God in submission at the Ka’abah. This is the venue we have chosen to assemble today in conference. This is the Holy City which epitomizes the unity of Islam. This is the place where millions of Muslims come to face the Ka’abah in ritual prayer, standing side by side in unity as equals. Humility and tolerance overcome pride and prejudice; peace and brotherhood prevail over violence and hatred; trust and truth conquer envy and suspicion. I believe this to be no coincidence, that at a time when Muslims the world over are in a state of disunity and discord, we have chosen to assemble here in conference. We desire unity. Unity is demanded by Islam. Unity is strength. God willing, our efforts here today will be the galvanizing element in our noble attempts to once again unite the Muslim world.

7. Sadly ours is a time of great religious and intellectual, upheaval, one which is more serious than at any other time throughout our glorious history. Contrary to Islam, the Muslims of the present age appear hopelessly divided. Sectarian conflict and division resulting from an immature, conflicting grasps of the meaning of Islam is at the heart of untold horror and violence. We can no longer afford to be in a state of denial. We can no longer choose to address these problems in a casual manner. The causes for the miserable condition we find ourselves in today must be confronted and conquered. This, I believe, is what Islam demands. Therefore, we raise our hands in supplication and ask God to reveal to us truth as it really is, and to expose falsehood.

Brothers and sisters,

8. Now as we sit in conference, thousands of our brothers and sisters in many parts of the world in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran and Sudan and other smaller places are living in fear under threats of war and violence. Many more are living under threats of poverty and backwardness.

9. Almost one third of the total Muslim population lives in deplorable conditions. Nearly half a billion people still lack life’s basic necessities. Compared to the rest of the world which has an average per capita income of $5,133, the average per capita income of those living in Muslim countries is roughly $1,100. The people in almost half of the O.I.C. member countries live on less than $2 a day, an amount barely enough to sustain a subsistence living. In sub-Saharan Africa the figures are even more alarming. More than half of the total population lives on less than $1 a day. The same is true for South Asia, where more than one third of the population lives on less than $1 a day. With regard to income distribution, these Muslim countries fare no better. Illiteracy rates remain alarming. Almost 30 percent of the Muslim countries have adult literacy rates which are well below 50 percent. As a result, we are rendered incapable of confronting the more serious problems plaguing us, and appear impotent to do anything about it. This condition has resulted in poverty, a feature common to the Muslim world. I am reminded of the saying of the Prophet; “when man is reduced to poverty, not only does he lose his dignity but he approaches unbelief.” Clearly therefore, when we speak of poverty we mean being poor in terms of knowledge, poor in terms of maturity and poor in terms of material possession. And yet the Muslim world is rich in natural resources, for example fossil fuel, palm oil, bio-fuel and minerals.

10. I believe the present economic conditions suffered by the Muslim countries are merely a symptom of something more sinister, that is the lack of quality human capital due to poverty, and lack of education. They must be eradicated, but in order to do so the Muslims must once again emulate the dynamism and intellectual splendor synonymous with Islam itself. My dear brothers and sisters, if we choose to ignore these concerns, and if we choose to look upon the problems of poverty with apathy and disdain, we are surely in danger of becoming insignificant.

11. We must work out the best strategy in terms of education if we are to eradicate poverty from our midst, otherwise we may unwittingly become detached from our historical roots which are adorned with the glorious dynamism that is Islam. We must remain mindful of the fact that development in Islam refers to the development of man. I have always subscribed to the notion that if problems are to be solved, we must confront them head-on. We must not be in a state of denial. Our problem and dilemma are the powerful forces of secularism and conflict caused by sectarianism. These forces have threatened our sense of identity and our unity.

12. Throughout my tenure as Prime Minister of Malaysia, and concurrently as Chairman of the OIC, I have sought to address the problems facing the Muslim world in a holistic manner. To this end, I have introduced the Hadhari approach in Malaysia. I call it Islam Hadhari, or in English, “Civilization Islam”. It is not a new religion or mazhab. It is not a new ideology. It is a guide for our development and ………

13. The Islam Hadhari approach is an attempt to understand the predicaments of the modern global era and to seek for their solutions within the framework of Islam. It is a progressive approach which emphasizes the development of man at its core. I believe that while socio-economic change is desired, it along is insufficient to fulfill the ultimate objectives of any society, the Muslim world in particular. It is of paramount importance that a change for the better must be premised on the correct dissemination of knowledge, which is the cornerstone to human progress. This then conforms to the principle of Islam.

14. I have also explained that the Islam Hadhari approach aims to enhance the quality of life through the mastery of knowledge and the development of the individual and the nation. It is intended as an integrated and balanced development that creates a knowledgeable and pious people who hold noble values. They should also be people who are honest, trustworthy and prepared to take on global issues. I believe that mastery of knowledge to be of primary significance. Only then can the individual and the nation develop. It is my firm conviction that the glorious heritage of the Islamic Civilization in all its aspects must be used as a reference and become the source of inspiration for Muslims to prosper. What is needed is change. By ’change’ I do not mean a haphazard nor capricious change. The change I speak of derives inspiration from the Holy Qur’an, parts of which were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in this Holy city itself. What is meant is ‘a change for the better’ or Ikhtiar. The only way to achieve this is to once again emulate the rich dynamic intellectual tradition of Islamic thought. Now we find ourselves in a condition whereby we suffer the consequences of our apathy and disregard towards knowledge and development. We must accept responsibility for this condition. If a change for the better is desired, it is incumbent that we once again attempt to restore an intellectual tradition steeped in understanding the present age and conforming to the correct understanding of the tenets of faith.

15. Islam Hadhari is not an approach to pacify the west. Neither is it an approach to apologize for the perceive ‘Islamic threat’, nor is it an approach to seek approval from the non-Muslims for a more friendly and gentle image of Islam. It is an approach that seeks to make Muslims understand that progress is enjoined by Islam. It is an approach that is compatible with modernization and yet firmly rooted in the noble values and injunctions of Islam. It is an approach that emphasizes substance over form. I have enumerated 10 fundamental principles which result from my understanding of the aforementioned approach. These ten principles are:

I. Faith and piety in Allah;
II. A just and trustworthy government;
III. A free land independent people;
IV. A vigorous pursuit and mastery of knowledge;
V. A balanced and comprehensive economic development;
VI. A good quality of life for the people;
VII. The protection of the rights of minority groups and women;
VIII. Cultural and moral integrity;
IX. The safeguarding of natural resources and the environment;
X. Strong Defense capabilities

16. The first of these principles, namely faith and piety in Allah, will manifest itself if the Muslims are capable of arming themselves with correct knowledge and understanding of their religion. This after all is the very premise upon which Islam stands, because in order to have faith one must have trust; and in order to have trust, one must have correct knowledge. If we succeed, then all other principles fall into place automatically.

17. Armed with true knowledge and with the principles of Islam to guide us, along with our consistent and continuing record of improving governance for the people, and by practicing and observing a high commitment to public accountability, Malaysia offers a modest working Model of renewal, reform and, perhaps a revivalism in the Muslim World. I do not assume that Malaysia has all the answers to the many problems of the Muslim world because I am acutely aware that different countries need different solutions to their problems. However, it is our wish that Malaysia be a showcase of what it is to be a successful, modern Muslim country.

Your Majesty, Excellencies,

18. As an Organization which has been in existence for more than 36 years, the O.I.C. must now change in order to be relevant for the cause of uplifting the Muslim Ummah. This Summit should provide us the opportunity to look into ourselves and decide on what needs to be done for the future. I believe it is imperative for us, among other necessary actions to undertake the following:

One. We must conscientiously promote and foster unity amongst ourselves by emphasizing matters which unite us, not those which divide us;

Two. We must be more adept in harnessing the resources which we have at our disposal through concrete action and innovative measures;

Three. We must undertake capacity building measures to enable all our peoples, particularly women, to realize their full potential;

Four. We must seriously strengthen trade and economic linkages among ourselves as a means of benefiting more from the Globalization process and moving into the mainstream of the global economy;

Five. We must put our houses in better order by combating corruption, promoting good governance, increasing transparency and accountability. Malaysia is making preparations to organize, next year, a Forum on anti corruption and enhancing integrity initiatives for O.I.C. countries. I take this opportunity now to invite O.I.C. Member Countries to participate in that Forum.

Six. We must be more articulate and convince the wider world that Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance, and moderation which promotes progress.

Seven. We must urgently establish a mechanism to enable O.I.C. Countries during natural disasters, to quickly respond with financial and other forms of assistance in a coordinated manner. Towards this end, Malaysia is prepared to host a meeting of interested O.I.C. Countries to discuss this matter.

Eight. We must never let up on our support for the Palestinian cause. We must now seize upon the latest developments and build upon the momentum created in Gaza to help our Palestinian brothers and sisters establish for themselves a viable, independent, sovereign and secure state of Palestine.

Nine. We must do our part to fight international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, irrespective of race or religion. We need to take steps to erase the profiling of Muslims and Islam in this matter. Islamophobia must be eradicated.

Your Majesty, Excellencies,

19. I am pleased to note that considerable and concrete steps have been taken to address some of our common concerns. On our part, as a means of building capacities, deepening economic relations and realizing the economic potential of the less developed and low income members of the Organization, Malaysia has launched the capacity building programme for O.I.C. Countries.

20. The main objective of this capacity building programme is to assist the less developed O.I.C. Countries eradicate poverty by enhancing their management capabilities, expertise and other necessary skills to achieve economic development. Capacity building in Muslim countries should also include the development of entrepreneurs.

21. I am pleased to inform my fellow brothers and sisters that the implementation of the four projects under Phase I of the programme, respectively Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mauritania and Sierra Leone are on track and progressing well. The Second Phase of the programme covering seven other O.I.C. member countries, Insyaallah, will be finalized and implemented beginning next year. The implementation of the projects will help to create jobs, provide the people with income and, at the same time, generate revenue to the governments concerned.

22. The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) is playing the lead role in the formulation, financing and implementation of the projects. The capacity building programme will not attain full success unless given the necessary support by O.I.C. Countries.

23. I would like to suggest further that we consider instituting a special fund based on Zakat collection, as a means of disbursing development aid to the less developed O.I.C. Countries. The Zakat system can make an impact if it is properly harnessed for development purposes. There are also countries where more Zakat is collected than distributed. We should put in place a scheme or we must strengthen existing mechanisms, such as the Islamic Solidarity Fund, to manage the transfer of funds from Zakat-surplus to Zakat-deficit countries of the O.I.C.

24. We need to be more creative and innovative in using Zakat surpluses and Waqf funds, especially for purposes of micro-financing of small enterprises or for self-employment.

25. Islamic Banks can also participate in such programmes. Governments should consider giving special incentives for this purpose. This can include the waiver of taxes on profits derived from such schemes.

Your Majesty, Excellencies,

26. In order for the Ummah to achieve prosperity and stand tall in the international community of nations, it is necessary that we make serious efforts to collectively strengthen our economic, trade and investment linkages.

27. There is no doubt that increased trading between and among O.I.C. Members will assist to promote greater integration of the economies of O.I.C. Countries. We need to be innovative and creative in removing barriers to trade and among ourselves. It is not impossible for us to think in terms of a free trade arrangement specially catering for O.I.C. Countries. If it is difficult to create an O.I.C. – wide arrangement, we can think in terms of creating smaller groupings perhaps on a regional basis.

28. On a more ambitious plane, we can even think in terms of putting in place more comprehensive partnership arrangements which include not only cooperation in trade but also investment, science and technology, research and development.

29. I would like to take this opportunity to inform this august gathering that Malaysia has embarked on a programme to make our country a Halal-hub for the production and distribution of Halal products and services. The potential in the production and international distribution of Halal products and services is tremendous. To establish international confidence and acceptability of Halal products, we need to establish an internationally recognized standard. Malaysia has established the standard MS 1500:2004 as an international benchmark for the certification of Halal products. We invite O.I.C. Countries to adopt this standard.

Your Majesty, Excellencies,

30. It is our responsibility as O.I.C. leaders to effect positive changes for the unity and betterment of the Ummah. Our decision to collectively support and endorse a new vision and mission for the O.I.C. will present us with the opportunity and a way forward for the Muslim Countries and the Ummah. Let us beseech to the Almighty on this auspicious occasion to help us in this noble mission of ours. We cannot escape the fact that we must be better united and equipped to meet the grave challenges of the current world situation and in the coming decades of the third millennia.

31. Before I conclude my remarks, I wish to take the opportunity to reiterate our most profound gratitude and thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this timely initiative and for making this Extraordinary Summit a success. We also wish to reiterate our appreciation for the generous hospitality that we receive during our stay in the Holy Land, and we wish to express our great admiration for the efficient organization of this Extraordinary Summit.

32. We extend, as well, our sincere appreciation to the Secretary-General of the O.I.C., Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, for his efforts and the leadership he has provided to the Secretariat and the O.I.C. in preparing for this Extraordinary Summit. The need to reform the O.I.C. as an Organization is our common aim and obligation. Malaysia has contributed USD 1 Million for this special purpose.

Your Majesty, Your Royal Highnesses, Excellencies,

33. I thank you for your indulgence. May Allay continue to shower His abundant blessings upon us all. O Allah! Show us truth and reality as it really is. Reveal that which is false. Provide us the best of both this world and the next. Praise Be to Allah the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds. Salutations and Peace be upon the Prophet Muhammad, the Master of the Messengers, his Family and all his Companions. Al-Fatihah!

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