KUALA LUMPUR, 26 Jan —The Royal Conference on Islam and Humanity, held at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), truly embodied the university’s dedication to intellectual discourse and global relevance. The conference, themed “Justice in Islam: Its Concept, History and Contemporary Challenges,” attracted more than 500 scholars, policymakers, and thought leaders from around the world.
The conference, held at Dewan Azman Hashim, UTM Kuala Lumpur, was graced by Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, the Queen of Malaysia and Chancellor of UTM, who delivered a royal address during the event’s officiation session today. Her Majesty delivered a royal address describing the lasting importance of justice in bringing people together to achieve common human values.
Also present were Yang Berhormat Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir, Minister of Higher Education; Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Zaini Ujang, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Higher Education; Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim, Yang Berbahagia Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Ir. Dr. Datuk Mohd Zulkifli bin Mohd. Ghazali, Pro-Chancellor’s of UTM and Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Azman Hj. Mokhtar, Chairman of UTM’s Board of Directors,
Her Majesty’s royal address expressed concern over the injustices seen throughout history and in the modern world, referencing ongoing challenges in Palestine and Ukraine. She urged everyone to reflect on the root causes of these moral crises. “Justice requires the nurturing of genuine knowledge,” Her Majesty stressed.
“Erroneous and misleading knowledge fosters extremism and injustice. Education that imparts knowledge without instilling good values and virtues risks producing corrupt and irresponsible individuals. That is why true knowledge is key to securing a better future for all of humanity.”
In his welcoming remarks, UTM Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim emphasized the importance of creating a platform for intellectual discussions. “We must bring together scholars, leaders, and practitioners to thoughtfully examine justice in its historical and present-day contexts. At UTM, we are dedicated to creating discussions that lead to engagement and collaboration, addressing the challenges facing humanity in a postmodern, secularized world,” he added.
As part of the event, Her Majesty also announced the appointment of Prof. Dr. Alparslan Açıkgenç as the new chairholder of the Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas Chair on Islamic Thought, marking a significant milestone. She further expressed her gratitude to the outgoing chairholder, Prof. Dr. Wan Mohd Nor Wan Daud, for his eleven years of exemplary leadership.
“The Raja Zarith Sofiah Centre for Advanced Studies on Islam, Science, and Civilisation (RZS-CASIS) remains a bastion of scholarship, founded on Islamic principles,” said Her Majesty. The Centre “provides us with wisdom and insight to help us grapple with the complexities of our time through its work.”
The conference also saw the launch of the book “Sejarah Islam di Alam Melayu: Antara Fakta dan Rekaan,” the Malay translation of “Historical Facts and Fictions” by Royal Professor Tan Sri Dr. Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas. Translated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Khalif Muammar with support from UTM Press in collaboration with RZS-CASIS, the book marks an important initiative in promoting deeper Islamic scholarship among Malaysians.
The success of the event was further accentuated by strengthened partnerships. In support of this effort, QSR Brands (M) Holdings Bhd reaffirmed its collaboration with RZS-CASIS by converting RM1 million of its previous non-expandable endowment into an expandable endowment. Mr. Nehchal Khanna, CEO/MD of QSR Brands, expressed great pleasure in this initiative, saying, “In 2018, we presented a non-expandable endowment of RM2 million, and in 2021 we awarded another RM2 million. Through a MOA, QSR Brands is delighted to reaffirm our partnership with UTM’s RZS-CASIS, whereby both parties agreed for RM1 million of the 2018 endowment to remain non-expandable, while the other RM1 million would be transformed into an expandable endowment for activities and furthering endowment initiatives this year.”
Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah envisioned a form of engagement that would foster meaningful connections on matters concerning humanity, which was clearly reflected in the Royal Conference. The event also showcased UTM’s aim to be an academic community rooted in intellectual discourse, collaboration, and the pursuit of justice, grounded in Islamic intellectual tradition and engaged with the challenges of an increasingly pluralistic and secularized world.
