Malay experts conference a success, next is exploring the solutions

Participants of the Malay Experts Conference, yesterday said that the gathering had been highly beneficial, but there was much more to do following the conclusion of the three-day event.

The conference, which ended yesterday, saw the presentation of 29 working papers by an equal number of invited experts from Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Osman Bakar told The Brunei Times that he had benefited a lot from the conference, as they not only discussed traditional achievements of Malay Muslims but also how they related to and were relevant to modern knowledge.

The professor, who is from the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur and the CEO of the International Institute of Advances in Islamic Studies in Malaysia, said that he had also widened his network of academic and scholarly contacts in the region.

"This is the first time I've attended a major conference in Brunei and I am pleased to meet many intellectuals and scholars from the country. I've learned from their presentations as well as the presentations of my colleagues from Malaysia and Indonesia," he said.

Professor Datuk Dr Osman said that he felt the issues raised at the conference were important and not just for curiosity's sake.

"It will help us to develop new knowledge, science and technology on the basis of our values," he said.

"We will not separate values and knowledge, because it very important to ensure that our contemporary and future knowledge culture will be based on the right values. This is to ensure that knowledge will be pursued for the sake of true progress and development of the people and religion."

Asked whether there were any topics that would be interesting for further exploration, the professor said there had been several suggestions from the conference participants, for example looking at the factors that have led the younger generation to show less respect for traditions and customs.

"We have identified some of these factors such as globalisation and the flow of ideas and cultural influences. The question is how to get the younger generation to respect the tradition because we are saying that tradition is not opposed to modernity and progress," he said.

Professor Datuk Dr Osman said that the conference would benefit those outside of the experts circle as they would be summarising what was discussed in an interview with Radio Television Brunei (RTB) and they had plans to organise further seminars to disseminate the knowledge discussed with a wider audience.

He added that he looked forward to participating in future conferences, saying that it was important as the problems of Brunei were not unique to the country but were experienced in the Southeast Asian region.

Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid, President of Teras Pengupayaan Melayu (Foundation of Malay Empowerment) in Malaysia, described the conference as a "meeting of minds"; a gathering of the best scholars, who are working towards the enhancements of Muslim Malays.

"I see that as a very effective way of discussing our problems and how to find solutions," he said.

"All the ideas and thoughts shared, have to be sorted out in a way that we will then see real action... I think this meeting should come up with a summary of what we should do to solve the problems we face, and what future endeavours we should engage in."

Mohd Azmi said that the conference was an excellent way to deal with issues in the region as it tackled things much more rationally.

"We cannot just be rhetorical all the time, we have to come up with solid ideas," he said. "Learning from the past, understanding the present and charting the future is the basis of solving problems."

Mohd Azmi added there was much more that could have been talked about a the conference, and there was much more to be done following its conclusion.

"This cannot be just a Brunei agenda, but regional one. What's happening in Brunei, in the region, outside the region will effect us all, that gives me the sense that we need to do more concrete things in the future," he said.

Meanwhile, Pg Dr Karim Pg Osman, Deputy Director of Museums in Brunei said he was honoured to have been selected as a speaker for the conference.

"It was a gathering of experts and I am very proud to be considered as an expert of Brunei, to talk about my paper on archaeology and maritime history," he said.

Pg Dr Karim added that they was much more he would like to explore in the way of research into Brunei's shipping and maritime history.

"I applaud the government for organising this event. Even though it cost a lot, we have got a lot back in return, not just the experts but the visitors and the students too. This is a great way to contribute our knowledge and gain knowledge from our peers," he said.

The Brunei Times