KUALA LUMPUR, January 14, 2018 – January stories are full of strategic plannings and predictions. Yet as any good scholar (or management practitioner) knows, making them into reality is a risky business. So rather than telling you in this column of the new year when the market will bounce or what the 4th Industrial Revolution will bring, I’m going to say which of the five important projects that can fast forward execution on Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) and Mindanao State University (MSU) System in 2018.
The leading scholars, namely Professor Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, USIM Chairperson and Founding Convener of the Sejahtera Leadership Initiative (SLI), Professor Dato’ Dr. Musa Ahmad, USIM Vice Chancellor and Professor Dr. Habib Macaayong, President of MSU System and Dr. Soraida Esmail, MSU System Budget Director with Br. Amanoding Esmail, Founding President, Philippines Association of Islamic Accountants who is also the President, Rotary Club Cotabato City- South have been engaged in an important meeting in Kuala Lumpur over the extend to which the MOU between USIM and MSU could be up running and fully operational. All sides agree that the execution of MOU signed on 17 February 2017 in Manila was an important pillar in strengthening their multi-lateral relationships for the benefits of ummah in both countries.
First and foremost, in the third week of March 2018 a team of USIM medical scholars and practitioners will be visiting Marawi City in Mindanao to provide humanitarian medical services to the displaced people affected by last year war at the clinics to be set-up at MSU System campus. Br Amanoding will soon provide the details ground requirements for this medical mission for USIM Vice Chancellor, Prof Dato’ Dr Musa to review it.
Secondly, President Prof Dr, Habib agreed for MSU System under which 11 campuses throughout Mindanao covering with 78,000 students to participate in USIM Global Islamic Student Outreach (GISO). Special Officer of USIM Vice Chancellor, Br Mohd Saifullah will provide the details.
Thirdly, President Prof Dr. Habib accepted the invite from USIM Chairperson, Prof Tan Sri Dzulkifli for MSU System to join the collaborative research projects on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Asian ingenious people. A follow-up meeting is scheduled March 1-3 in Luzon.
Fourthly, President Prof Habib has agreed to complete the loop of Asean Islamic IQRA consortium. In this context, USIM Vice Chancellor, Prof Dato’ Dr. Musa who is I-IQRA Convener will seek consensus endorsement from UNISSA (Brunei), FATANI (Thailand) and GINIDA (Indonesia).
Fifthly, PAIA President Amanoding, the Chief Organizer of the first ever ASEAN Genealogy Congress which will be held in Brunei has identified USIM as the focal point for determining relevant speakers and participants from Malaysia. This congress will discuss the roots of sultanate and its influences in the ASEAN countries. His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei Darulsalam has been invited to grace the royal opening of this congress in May 2018. The Office of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has also given endorsement for the South East Asia Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SEACCI) based in Manila to collaborate with relevant partners in organizing this congress in Bandar Seri Bagawan.
In a nutshell the philosophy of MOU between USIM and MSU is to accelerate the cross border development of faculty and students exchange programs, and particularly, to bridge and promote the research between scholars, stimulate the transfer of know-how and create opportunities for partnerships between the two universities. Evidently, in recognizing the presence and to record appreciation of MSU high level commitments and leadership, Prof Tan Sri Dzulkifli presented his latest book entitled ‘VOICING CONCERN In conjunction with the 60th Merdeka Anniversary & Hari Malaysia’ whereas Prof Dato’ Dr. Musa presented USIM symbolic gifts to MSU President Prof Dr. Habib & SEACCI President Amanoding.
At this meeting, Rotarian Amanoding and Rotarian Dr. Soraida Esmail conveyed the warm greetings and high regards from members of Rotary International District 3870 to Prof Tan Sri Dzulkifli for the significant contents of his keynote address on the theme ‘Rotary Making a Difference: Service Above Self’ at the 44th Joint Induction Ceremonies of Rotary Club Cotabato City South and Rotary Anns of the Rotary Club of Cotabato City – South held on 30 June 2017. Until now Rotarians could still remember that Tan Sri highly recognized volunteerism as a noble sejahtera universal values and societal responsibility that must be nurtured in our society especially among young people who are future global leaders.
Prepared by :
Dr. Zulkifly Baharom
CEO Sejahtera Leadership Initiative