KUALA LUMPUR: The International Conference of Religious Leaders 2024 kicks off at Sunway Resort Hotel, Petaling Jaya, this morning, drawing approximately 2,000 religious and intellectual figures from 57 countries.
Regarded as the most significant international conference of religious leaders hosted by the Asian continent, the event will be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the presence of the Muslim World League’s (MWL) secretary-general and chairman of the Organisation of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Dr Mohammed Abdulkarim Al-Issa.
In his foreword for the event’s book, Anwar said the theme of the gathering, “Unity within Diversity”, is paramount as it is one of the most pressing issues today, with the zeitgeist marked with dissonance, discord, and division.
“Despite the progress in globalisation over the past half-century and the ubiquitous presence of the internet, we bear witness to growing cracks in society. In fact, nary a day goes by that we do not hear of communal, religious, or political strife somewhere in the world,” he said.
In this regard, Anwar stated that honest introspection of past shortcomings is the only way forward, while socio-economic challenges, that are the roots of today’s discontent, must be addressed earnestly, honestly, and equitably.
The Prime Minister said Anwar said all leaders have a moral duty to act by bridging the existing cracks in the societies through universal and egalitarian values, and parochialism must give way to progressiveness.
“We must transcend the surface-level differences such as the colour of our skin, the language that we speak, and the religion that we profess,” he said, adding that true leadership lies in the ability to see beyond these differences.
Anwar is also optimistic that Malaysia’s diverse social tapestry provides the appropriate backdrop for the conference on understanding and unity.
The one-day event will be followed by the Conference of Asian Religious Scholars 2024 at the Mandarin Oriental in the capital tomorrow (Wednesday).
Both events are organised by the Office of the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) in collaboration with MWL. – BERNAMA
