PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the opportunity to deliver the keynote address at the Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference (IIDC) said it is a recognition of Malaysia's prominent role on the global Islamic stage.
As the only Head of Government invited to speak at the conference before Grand Imam of Al Azhar Al Sharif, Prof Dr Ahmed El-Tayyeb, and more than 400 Islamic scholars and intellectuals from around the world, Anwar viewed the honour as a testament to the MADANI government's efforts in advancing the status of Islam worldwide.
"The King of Bahrain (Sheikh Hamad Isa Al Khalifa) and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif (Professor Dr Ahmad Muhammad Ahmad At-Tayyeb) gave me the opportunity to attend and deliver the keynote address at the IIDC.
"This conference brings together all the key Islamic figures from around the world and from all schools of thought, to unite and avoid disputes and tensions, accepting the reality that there are differences of opinion, whether in theology or practices," Bernama reported him saying.
He said this at a press conference concluding his official visit to Bahrain at the invitation of Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman Hamad Al Khalifa. Anwar is scheduled to depart for Kuala Lumpur at 5pm local time (10pm Malaysian time).
In his speech, Anwar highlighted, among other things, the vital role of Islamic scholars and intellectuals in providing advice to the government and the Muslim community as a whole.
Anwar conveyed the same message when he met with the Grand Imam of Al Azhar and King Hamad Isa Al Khalifa.
"I informed the Grand Imam of Al Azhar that I will continue to support the role of scholars and conveyed this intention to King Hamad to support this noble aspiration.
"This is because when scholars boldly and firmly advise the ummah, challenge extremist scholars, and criticise governments and leaders who do not adhere to this spirit, it demonstrates the capabilities of scholars and Islamic elites that we can be proud of," he said.
The two-day conference, which concluded today and was held under the patronage of the King of Bahrain, was jointly organised by Al Azhar Al Sharif, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) in Bahrain, and the Muslim Council of Elders, continued the efforts initiated during the Bahrain Dialogue Forum in November 2022.
According to the Bahrain News Agency, the initiative spearheaded by the Grand Imam aims to strengthen Islamic unity and deepen dialogue among Islamic scholars.
Anwar said Malaysia will continue to champion the plight of the Palestinian people and their nation, which faces oppression and brutality.
Responding to an international media report claiming he had been advised not to be too firm on the Hamas-Israel issue to avoid retaliation from the United States, Anwar stressed that Malaysia is a free and sovereign nation.
“We have our own stance and have expressed it firmly on various platforms. We are not choosing to oppose anyone, but wherever there is oppression and cruelty, we must stand in defence of the oppressed,” he said at a press conference after concluding his official visit to Bahrain at the invitation of Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman Hamad Al Khalifa.
Anwar departed for Malaysia at 5 pm local time (10 pm Malaysian time).
The Prime Minister also highlighted that Malaysia’s efforts to assist those affected by oppression are not new and have been undertaken for a long time, including support during the Bosnian war and the apartheid era in South Africa.
“On the issue of Palestine, the scale of destruction they have suffered is far greater than any of these past struggles. That is why we have conveyed to our friends in the Gulf countries, the Arab world and the Islamic world that we must provide assistance. In fact, what we have contributed so far, in my view, is too little.
“Perhaps in the coming days, when there are events for Palestine, I want the people to come together and share their views,” he said.
On a separate matter, Anwar dismissed claims by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the government had prevented several foreign leaders from meeting him.
“Which foreign leader wants to meet him? If they want to meet him, what’s the issue? If his old friends wish to meet him, there is no problem.
“Recently, leaders from Thailand, Japan, Indonesia and Türkiye visited Malaysia, but none requested to meet him. And if they did, I wouldn’t say no. They are free to meet him, there is nothing wrong with that,” he said.
Anwar stressed that Dr Mahathir’s allegations should not be entertained.
“He makes accusations every day. He claims he has no money, yet his children have over RM1 billion. That is not an allegation, it’s a confession,” he said.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki previously said that two of Dr Mahathir’s children were found to have assets worth over RM1.2 billion. – February 21, 2025
