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The 2019 Kuala Lumpur Summit has resulted in tangible steps that translate into a bid to make progress and improve the state of the ummah, according to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The prime minister said the summit had witnessed 18 successful exchanges of instruments in various fields, including advanced high-tech; media collaboration; Center of Excellence; food safety; youth leadership and exchange programs.
“There are several more that are being worked on as a result of the discussions during this Summit,” he said in his closing remarks at the four-day summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center.
Dr. Mahathir, who is also chairman of KL Summit, said that it was hoped that other Muslim brotherhoods would see for themselves that what KL Summit aims to do is to unite the ummah in strategic and advanced technologies.
Dr Mahathir said that the discussions had also touched on the issue of currency and the way Muslim nations trade with each other, in which he suggested re-studying the idea of trading using the gold dinar and barter trade.
Dr. Mahathir also addressed the concern that Muslims in non-Muslim countries were forced to undergo assimilation, saying that “we support integration but assimilation to the point of shedding our religion is unacceptable.”
He said the meeting signaled that if Muslim countries were independent and able to stand on their feet, they would not be subjected to such treatments.
Referring to the 1.8 billion Muslims, he said they made up nearly a quarter of the total human population and yet lack proportional representation in all fields of the global platform.
Dr. Mahathir also had some messages for those with negative opinions about the KL Summit.
“We are not here to replace any other Muslim platform, nor do we intend to create different categories or classes of Muslim nations or undermine others.”
“It’s a congregation of a few Muslim nations from which some of the leaders wanted to meet and discuss some areas that are possible for them to establish collaborations that will first benefit the nations involved and then bring them to a larger platform and collaboration to benefit the Muslim world as a whole.
“While it may not calm some of the suspicions and opposition raised, we would like to reiterate again that this summit is focused on its objectives of finding solutions and programs that we believe can help and eventually save the ummah from its current predicament,” he said.
To conclude I mention the Qur’anic ayat:
“Verily, Allah does not change what a people have until they have changed what is in themselves” 13/11
“We reaffirm our belief that all Muslims are brothers and sisters and that this small step we have taken will be the beginning of a long and fruitful journey with the rest of the ummah. May Allah s.w.t. help and guide us in this endeavor. Amin.
