Indonesia
Postgraduate Program Director Prof. M. Mas’ud Said delivered a message of peace and conflict management strategies at the Indonesian Ulema Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia/MUI) Malang City Forum (Sarasehan). The agenda was held in the Pinus Room of Hotel Savana on 29 August 2020 at 09:00 WIB.
The forum, themed “Realising Harmony and Social Cohesion in Malang City,” was opened by Malang Mayor Drs. Sutiaji as UNISMA alumnus who acknowledged that inter-group friction can never be entirely eliminated, but must be carefully managed to prevent it from becoming a source of social unrest.
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In his remarks, the Mayor also quipped that no other event tends to be graced by so many professors, drawing laughter from attendees. The forum was indeed facilitated by Prof. Kasuwi Saiban and Prof. Dr. Agus Sholehuddin, MS.
“MUI should also explain Islam as a religion of friendliness and peace, clarifying Western misconceptions, or what may be termed a miss-perception about Islam, so that the world truly understands that a warm and peaceful Islam exists right here on the soil of Nusantara. Do not import the politicisation of Islam from the Middle East to this land. Do not bring in ideas of formalism that sow division among the ummah and threaten the unity of the Republic of Indonesia,” the Mayor stressed.
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Prof. M. Mas’ud Said, speaking at the MUI Malang City Forum before mass organisation leaders and community figures from across Greater Malang, stated: “MUI and community organisation leaders have many responsibilities — among them, providing input to regional government in formulating policies that are fair, comprehensive, and conducive to public welfare.”
“We are in agreement that strategic meetings between MUI, the Malang City Regional Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), and community leaders must yield fatwa that are soothing, capable of resolving complex problems, and conducive to reconciliation,” reported the Professor of Government Science to Malang City Mayor. (AL/NAD/PPS)
