By Murniati Abu Karim
Photo Shahiddan Saidi

BANGI, 26 October 2021 – Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Antasari Banjarmasin Indonesia and Princess of Naradhiwas University, Thailand inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to mark their strategic partnership in academic and research collaboration.

UKM Vice Chancellor Prof. Dato’ Ts. Dr. Mohd Ekhwan Hj. Toriman stated that there are many research potentials that can be explored by the three universities, particularly in the field of contemporary Islamic studies.

“Consider the issue of global peace, in which we as Muslims and the global community continue to face various forms of security threats both within and outside our own countries.

“UKM and our partners UIN Antasari and Princess of Naradhiwas University, have been very committed in promoting the idea of moderation as means to combat extremism and terrorism in the realisation of global peace.

“This can be accomplished by studying the causes of violence in human society today from a variety of perspectives, including ideology, thought, psychology, culture, media, history, and many others,” he said.

He added that the MoU is also a great move to pool the universities’ resources and expertise to foster collaboration in order to push for the implementation of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The SDGs plan should serve as a roadmap for the prosperous Southeast Asian region’s development agenda.

“Academics must collaborate closely to develop an integrated human resource in order to realise this noble mission of sustainable human development in Southeast Asia.

“This can be accomplished by raising a generation of students who share the ASEAN Community’s spirit of cooperation, which is the soul and spirit of mutual love and respect for one another, in order to build a prosperous Southeast Asian society in the economic, political, and social spheres,” he explained.

The MoU was held in full virtual mode and was attended by Chairman of Princess of Naradhiwas University Assistant Prof. Dr. Chongrat Palasai, Rector of UIN Antasari Banjarmasin Profesor Dr. H. Mujiburrahman M.A, and  Dean of UKM Faculty of Islamic Studies Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmad Sunawari Long.