KUALA LUMPUR, December 7 – The Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM) and the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change have jointly organized the International Madani Symposium on the theme “Sustainability: What Can The Civilisation of Islam Offer?” The event took place at the Seri Pacific Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. The symposium’s primary objectives include redefining the issues related to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the lens of Islam, identifying root causes and shortcomings in the SDGs approach, and proposing solutions based on Islamic perspectives.
During the symposium’s launch, Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad quoted environmentalist Gustave Speth, emphasizing that addressing the top environmental problems requires cultural and spiritual transformation, beyond the reach of lawyers and scientists. The Symposium advocates a ‘whole-of-civilization approach,’ drawing from Islamic wisdom and worldview to address sustainability concerns. Nik Nazmi emphasized Malaysia Madani’s vision, which seeks to expand the meaning of sustainability by connecting it to concepts in Malay, emphasizing ongoing collective efforts and balance as integral components of the sustainability agenda.
The panelists at the event included Datuk Seri Dr. Zaini Ujang, the Health Ministry’s secretary-general and former energy, green technology, and water minister; Dr. Muhammad Syafiq Borhanuddin, a fellow at IKIM; Datuk Dr. Syed Ali Tawfik Al-Attas, visiting scholar at the Raja Zarith Sofiah Centre for Advanced Studies on Islam, Science, and Civilization; and Danial Rahman, the chief executive officer of the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute.
