By Muhammad Abdul Aziz
GOMBAK, 22 April 2017: A senior lecturer from Universitas Islam Sultan Agung (UNISSULA) Semarang, Indonesia, Dr. Kurdi Amin, expressed his happiness that the Islamic milieu in IIUM is not as complex as that in Indonesia.
He told a seminar here on the topic ‘Islam in Southeast Asia’ last Thursday (20 April) that contemporary Indonesia was now facing a number of challenges some of which were liberalism, pluralism, hedonism, gender equality, promiscuity, and the like. Hence, in response to these circumstances, he said, UNISSULA had established its objective to safeguard its students from such evil influence.
The seminar was a result of the 20-day (5-23 April) collaborative research between the Department of Usuluddin and Comparative Religion, IIUM, and UNISSULA.
Later on Dr. Kurdi also delineated the ‘calamities’ inflicting Muslims in the Philippines (Moros), Thailand (Pattani Muslims), and Myanmar (Rohingya) while implicitly suggested that other Muslims take the lesson thereof.
The delegation, comprising two representatives, was visiting IIUM in response to a visit by IIUM members to Semarang in August 2015. “The cooperation between UNISSULA and IIUM started since 2013, and the current visit to IIUM is our second,” said Argo Victoria, a member of the delegation who is a student.
At the end of the seminar, Argo said he was very impressed. “Of course, so far, I am very happy to meet you all. I hope we can forever be friends whatever happens,” he said.
Dr. Kurdi said, “During my first few days here, I felt very strange, hence I wanted to go back. But later when I met some interesting students and lecturers, now, even in this day, I feel the days are going so fast.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Muntaha Artalim Zaim, who was representing IIUM replied, “Forgive us for every shortcoming, but for sure, we are very happy to continue to broaden our existing bond and cooperation.” ***