The 15th Borneo Islamic International Conference (KAIB XV) continued yesterday in its second session with keynote address presentations at the International Convention Centre, Berakas.
Three academics from local and foreign institutions delivered the presentations, including Ra’es of Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) Associate Professor Dr Abdul Nasir bin Haji Abdul Rani; Professor Dr H Rahmat Soe’oed of Universitas Mulawarman Samarinda, East Kalimantan in Indonesia; and Institut Agama Islam Negeri Pontianak (IAIN) in Indonesia Rector Dr H Syarif S Ag.
Associate Professor Dr Abdul Nasir delivered a presentation on ‘Manhaj Rabbani Membangun Ummah di Ranah Faba Menuju Alam Baqa’, while Professor Dr H Rahmat delivered his keynote on ‘Between Idealism and Reality: the Role of Campuses as Inititiators and Guardians of Islamic Community Development in Indonesia’, and the IAIN rector delivered a keynote on ‘Concept of Religious Moderation in Islamic Higher Education Institutions’.
The keynote addresses discussed Muslim communities around the world facing challenges such as poverty, social inequality, environmental pollution, and limited access to education and healthcare services.
Meanwhile, a welcoming dinner was organised by Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) on Wednesday in conjunction with KAIB XV at Tarindak D’Polo Restaurant of the Royal Brunei Polo and Riding Club in Kampong Jerudong.
KAIB XV Chairman Associate Professor Dr Siti Sara binti Haji Ahmad, in her welcoming remarks, said the conference serves as a platform to collect scientific works on the empowerment of ummah, adding that some 246 papers were delivered for this year’s edition.
The event saw Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad present prizes and certificates to the best papers.
Associate Professor Dr Muhammad al-Baqir Hajj Yaqub and Maywlyta Wardi won the gold award for best paper in the Arabic language, while the silver award went to Muhammad al-Sayyid Muhammad and the bronze award went to Muhammad Adib and Associate Professor Dr Fath al-Din al-Bayuni.
For Malay language papers, the gold award went to Dr Mohd Rilizam bin Rosli, Dr Mohd Ali bin Muhammad Don, Dr Mohd Shukri bin Mohd Senin and Mohd Farhan bin Ahmad of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Johor in Malaysia; silver award to Muhammad Darussalam and Professor Muhamadul Bakir bin Haji Yaakub of UNISSA; and bronze award to Suhaeilla Suhaili and Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Zahiri bin Awang Mat of KUPU SB.
For English language papers, Nabilah Ulfah Mujib and Professor Dr Hamzah Mohd Salleh of UNISSA received the gold award, while the silver award went to Ahmad Wahidi of Kediri State Islamic Institute in Indonesia, and the bronze award to Nazatul Nina Shakilla Aminuddin and Nor Surilawana Sulaiman of UNISSA.
The dinner saw a number of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and memoranda of agreement (MoAs) inked.
Signing on behalf of UNISSA was Dr Haji Norarfan, while foreign institutions – Universitas Mulawarman Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Badan Amil Zakat Nasional and Institusi Agama Islam Negeri Sorong in Papua, Indonesia – were represented by their respective delegation heads.
Meanwhile, an MoA was signed between UNISSA Faculty of Agriculture’s Dean Associate Professor Dr Hajah Rose binti Abdullah and Universitas Mulawarman Samarinda Faculty of Agriculture Dean Professor Dr Ir Rusdiansyah.
The signings serve as a platform for future collaborations, specifically to strengthen UNISSA’s position as a global hub for Islamic higher education. – Rokiah Mahmud
