MUHAMMAD SYUKRI SALLEH

NOSTALGIA-1978 PHOTO

2012-01-29T14:53:00.000+08:00

Just received two 1978 photos from an old UK housemate (Dr Faisal), who says: "Assalamualaikum Prof. Terjumpa photos lama semasa kemas rumah. Thought you might like to see old friends kat Norwich (1978) dulu...like YB Dato Nizar, Dr Iskandar dll.. Salam".

Guess which one is me?

Really thanks Allah SWTfor what He has bestowed me today.

QATAR MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

2011-12-22T03:30:00.003+08:00

The end of the 8th International Conference on Islamic Economics and Finance - ISDEV delegates (L-R: myself, Muhammad Yasir and Dr Zakaria Bahari) with Br. Ismail Abdul Rahman from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Alhamdulillah, I am home from Qatar safely. The Conference in Qatar was one of the most joyful and beneficial conferences that I have ever participated. All of us from ISDEV, Dr Zakaria Bahari, Muhammad Yasir and myself, have put forward whatever thinking that we wanted to through the presentation of our respective papers. The Conference provides a platform for a discourse on the latest thought and research findings of the presenters from all over the world. Beside that, many old friends were also here and met, and many new friend too were made, to broaden ISDEV networking. Though it costs the organisers QR500,000 to organise such a big conference, it was worthwhile, I think.

I am looking forward to participate in the next 9th ICIEF to be held in two years time in Turkey, InshaAllah. But like this Conference in Qatar, it would be definitely very competitive to be chosen as a paper presenter. For the Qatar Conference, a total of 815 abstracts from 40 countries were received by the organiser. After careful consideration, only 50% were accepted to pursue to the writing of full papers. Of 340 full papers received later on, only 35%, or 119 papers, were accepted for presentation at the Conference. It took 6 months, that is from April to October 2011, for the organiser to process the evaluation of the abstracts and the full papers.

Brother Rafi-uddin Shikoh, the CEO/Managing Director of Dinar Standard based in New York, USA - the last new friend I met during our departure home

Arriving at KLIA from Doha, Qatar

THE 8TH ICIEF CONFERENCE-3RD DAY

2011-12-21T22:30:00.001+08:00

Muhammad Yasir answering a question from the floor

The last day of the 8th ICIEF Conference today saw Muhammad Yasir and Dr Zakaria Bahari presented their paper. As the previous days, the third day also gave me an opportunity to meet old friends and made new friends, as are recorded by the photos below. I spent the last night in Qatar tonight in my hotel room, preparing to depart for home at 0500 tomorrow morning, InshaAllah.

Prof Masudul Alam Choudhury from Sultan of Qabus University, Oman, who I was indebted to for initiating the establishment of International Project on Islamic Political Economy (IPIPE) in mid-1990s, that eventually developed into a Centre named Centre for Islamic Developmment Management Studies (ISDEV)

With Dr Mabid Jarhi, the former Director of IRTI at IDB and the President of the International Association of Islamic Economic and Finance

With Dr Tariqullah Khan, formerly at IRTI of the IDB and currently works with the Qatar Foundation, the main organiser of the 8th ICIEF Conference

With Dr Sayyid Tahir from Pakistan, a long time friend who I did not met for around twenty years

THE 8TH ICIEF CONFERENCE- 2ND DAY

2011-12-20T18:49:00.145+08:00

Today is my turn to present my paper. It was in Session 12 themed Islamic Economics in Theory and Practice, at 1400 to 1530 in Room 103 of the Qatar National Convention Centre. Together in the Session were another six presenters from various countries. The room was packed as the theme of the Session seemed to be one of the prime themes discussed in this conference. Moreover, prior to this Session, in the morning, there was quite an interesting panel discussion on the state of the Islamic economics.

Two stances were observed in the morning panel discussion. Firstly, it was a stance that it is okay to have a mixture of the Islamic and conventional economics as is the state of the mainstream Islamic economics today. Secondly, there was a dissenting view to the first stance which aruged that Islamic economics was based on a wrong paradigm, hence the necessity of an authentic Islamic paradigm to give birth to an original Islamic economics. The papers in my session seemed to be the continuation of the panel discussion and attracted a lot of participants. Interestingly, all the papers were in favour of the second stance, including mine, or at least have posed a critical anaylsis of the first stance.

The packed room during the Session

As the previous day, and especially after my presentation, I had an opportunity to meet old and new friends, as are reflected in the following photos.

With Prof Mehmet Austay of the Durham University, UK

R-L: With Dr Raditya Sukmana from Indonesia and Naail Mohammed Kamil from Ghana

L-R: Prof Habib Ahmed and Prof Mehmet Austay from Durham University, UK

With Honorouble Zubair Omar from Saudi Arabia, one of the pioneering initiators and long-live supporters of Islamic economics, banking and finance, who plays his role from behind the scene. I have met him last year when I was a Visiting Scholar at IRTI of the IDB in Jeddah. He is a member of the Trustees of the IRTI.

Prof Rodney Wilson of the Durham University standing second from right.

With Prof Ahmad Youseri of Egypt

With Dr Asad Zaman of the International Islamic University Islamabad, Pakistan, who has put forward his dissenting stance against the contemporary mainstream Islamic economics and presented another paper in the same Session as mine.

The speakers during my Session with the moderator, Prof Mehmet Austay (2nd right)

Old friends from Islamic Research Training Institute of the IDB: Sajjad (left) and Dr Abdelateef Bello (middle)

After Isyak, we were brought by Muhammad Yasir's brother and Fadli to Suuk Waqef for dinner and sight seeing. Nights were the only free time that we have during this Conference. Apart from many Arab restaurants that become eating place for many like Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur, there is a Malaysian restaurant here, selling amongst other foods, char koey teow for about QR30 and roti canai for about QR20 per plate. So I was told by the Malaysian conference participants who ate there. This is not surprising as the cost of living here in Qatar is quite high. As opposed to the shopping mall we went last night, here in Suuk Waqeef we could feel that we are actually in an Arab country.

Dinner at an Arabic Bandar Aden Restaurant

Our dinner "appetizer" shared by five of us: Ratib bread and beef agda

The desert: Maasob gate of Aden. In between the "appetizer" and the desert, we shared a big plate of mandi rice with lambs and chicken

One of the avenues at Suuk Waqef

With some Arab customers in a honey shop at Suuk Waqeef

The owner of the honey shop mixing honey with habbus sauda, ginseng, etc

Another avenues at Suuk Waqef

The Malaysian restaurant at Suuk Waqeef

Another site at Suuk Waqef with Muhammad Yasir's brother (left)

Another avenue at Suuk Waqeef where customers were having foods and drink relaxingly

A snack shop at the Suuk

THE 8TH ICIEF CONFERENCE - 1ST DAY

2011-12-19T05:00:00.000+08:00


The electronic banner at the main door of the Conference hall

The 8th ICIEF has started today at the Qatar National Convention Centre. I met many old friends and made many new friends from all the world, Alhamdulillah. Many pioneers of Islamic economics and Islamic banking and finance too are here.

Interestingly, there are also many scholars from Malaysia, in particular from International Islamic University, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi MARA, etc, apart from us from Universiti Sains Malaysia, combining both the lecturers and graduate students. In fact, according to Dr Tariqullah Khan of the Organizing Committee, the Academic Committee found it difficult to choose papers from Malaysia because of the high number, about 40 papers altogether, in balancing with the other regions. The Malaysian presentations, based on many creative and innovative researches too were very impressive, entailing with a high praise from the other scholars.

Conference in progress

However, concentration on this Conference seems to be more on the Islamic banking and finance rather than on the Islamic economics. It is a fact that Islamic banking and finance has grown drastically through an avenue that seems to be gradually detaching from the Islamic economics itself.

Listening to panel speakers

How far this is true is of course as yet to be confirmed. It could be an interesting aspect to be researched. But Prof Volker Nienhaus in a private conversation with me relates the situation to the need of the market which necessitates technical ability rather than philosophical understanding. In short, if Prof Nienhaus is right, Islamic economics has grown within the mould of the conventional market rather than from the mould of Islamic doctrines. Could it be so?


The arriving hall of the Qatar National Convention Centre, where the 8thC	IC IC is held

With Professor Volker Nienhaus of Germany, currently Visiting Professor, Faculty of Islamic Studies, Qatar University (on my right)

With Professor Zubair Hassan of INCEIF

With Associate Professor Shinsuke Nagaoka of Japan, who was together with me at IRTI, Jeddah, last year (on my right)

Concurrent session in progress

Private conversation with Dr Muhammad Umar Chapra of the Advisor of IRTI, IDB

The conference on the first day lasted at about 5.30 pm. After a brief return to our hotel, we took a taxi to Qatar city centre to have a dinner at a Bukhari Rice restaurant. The price of a plate of Bukhari Rice is QR22 (about RM22). There were a lot of foreigners. We did not really feel that we are in an Arabic country. Modernization and a high cost of living has conquered Qatar. The night before, the dinner that has been treated by Muhammad Yasir's brother at our hotel costed him QR699. However, Qatar is peaceful, with wide (six lanes) roads and clean city, though sometimes troubled by traffic jams.

Dinner - Nasi Bukhari

NOW IN DOHA, QATAR FOR THE 8TH ICIEF CONFERENCE

2011-12-18T08:00:00.110+08:00

On the tv in my room at Wyndham Grand Regency Hotel Doha, Qatar, welcoming my arrival

Flying again this morning by 0640 flight from Penang to Kuala Lumpur and by 1010 flight from Kuala Lumpur to Doha, Qatar. Alhamdulillah, I am now safely arriving in Doha and have checked-in into five star Wyndham Grand Hotel. It took about 8 hours 30 minutes (55 minutes from Penang to Kuala Lumpur, and 7 hours 45 minutes from Kuala Lumpur to Doha, minus 2 hours and 35 minutes transit at Kuala Lumpur International Airport) to reach Doha.

The aim of the journey is to participate in a Qatar Foundation-IRTI of the IDB-organised conference, the 8th International Conference on Islamic Economics and Finance, themed Sustainable Growth and Inclusive Economic Development From An Islamic Perspective, from 19-21 December 2011. My participation is sponsored by the organisers, Alhamdulillah.

Together with me are ISDEV Management Committee Dr Zakaria Bahari and ISDEV PhD student Muhammad Yasir Yusof. Both will present their shared paper on "Islamic Corporate Social Responsibility in Islamic Banking; Toward Poverty Alleviation", while I myself will present a paper entitled "Islamic Economics Revisited: Re-contemplating Unresolved Structure and Assumptions".

We will be in Doha until 22 December 2011, InshaAllah.

With Dr Zakaria and Muhammad Yasir at KLIA, waiting for connecting flight to Doha, Qatar

My room at the Wyndham Grand Regency Hotel

Part of Doha from my hotel room

Dinner treated by Muhammad Yasir' eldest brother who is working in Doha

In front of our hotel, with Penang born Fadhil, a friend of Muhammad Yasir's brother

A HEART-FELT TOUCHING INCIDENT

2011-12-17T12:27:00.001+08:00

At the IQRA Foundation-INCEIF-organised Waqf Seminar on last Thursday 15th December, I had a heartfelt touching incident by the grace of Allah SWT. It was a peaceful reconciliation with my earliest academic mentor (now already a Tan Sri Datuk), who attended the Seminar as a distinguished participant.

I am indebted to him for identifying me as one of his echelons during his Deanship days at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in late 1970's, and subsequently tugging me into the academic world by sending me to study with a reknown neo-marxist Dependency Theorist the late Professor Andre Gunder Frank in the UK.

Unfortunately, we had an ideological clash when I returned home in early 1980's, as I brought back Islam rather than the neo-marxist thinking. We had quite a tough ideological and bureaucratic unpleasantness henceforth, and to some extent personal grudge, due to this difference.

I could really understand how frustrated a mentor is if his echelons are not up to their plan and strategy. But as a student of him, I did it all with a good faith, apart of which was to lessen his burden by attracting our students to a right path. I have chosen the path though I have to be his dissident because of my love of him. For these, my respect and care of him remains forever for I have learnt a lot from his academic brilliance and bureaucratic capability, many of which I have applied in leading ISDEV now.

For these reasons too I have a firm plan during the Seminar, once I observed that he was there. I wanted to go to at least to shake hands with him, however angry he was with me. I was prepared to face anything, as long as I could hold his hand again to gain a barakah of a teacher, moreover I have heard that he is now a changed pious man, and observed how humble he was at the Seminar. This was the first opportunity that I have ever had after he left USM since many years ago.

And Allah SWT is Great! He answered my intention by taking him to me, even before I have a chance to look at him. Amidst the noisy atmopshere after the Seminar, I heard someone calling my name, and it was him! We walked fast to each other, holding hands and hugged each other closely. My tears were rushing out while thinking how generous Allah SWT was in reconciling us, apart from hearing him whispering, praising me of what I have been achieved. Two previously dissenting hearts were now getting back into one, now based on a shared belief and similar struggle, that we have Allah to worship to and Islam to strive for. Many many thanks Allah!

Oh Allah, please forgive him of all his sins, providing him with as much opportunities as possible to serve You, guide him to Your path, and protect him in this world and the world Hereafter.

REDEFINING GROWTH AND PROSPERITY FOR WAQF DEVELOPMENT

2011-12-15T18:29:00.004+08:00

The Seminar in progress

Now at KLIA Golden Lounge, waiting to board the 1910 flight to Penang, after becoming a panel at Waqf: Redefining Growth and Prosperity Seminar at Central Bank of Malaysia. The other panels were Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim (former JCorp CEO) and Professor Dr Murat Cizakca of INCEIF.

The Seminar, organised by Iqra Foundation and INCEIF, was a high profile seminar, moderated by former Terengganu Chief Minister Dato' Seri Idris Jusoh and participated by Malaysian reknown figures such as former Malaysian Police Chief Tun Mohamad Hanif Omar, Tan Sri Datuk Dr Kamal Salih, Prof Datuk Osman Bakar, Datuk Mohd Ghazali Mohd Noor, CEOs of Malaysian banks, etc.

The title of my talk at the Seminar was Redefining Growth and Prosperity for Waqf Development. I stressed the need to redefine growth and prosperity by dismantling them from neo-european-centric perspective, and building up a framework for waqf development for an Islamically-defined prosperity from within Islamic philosophical and epistemological underpinnings.

IDMAC11 SUCCESSFULLY HELD

2011-12-14T18:21:00.001+08:00


With Dr Tabrani Abdul Latiff, the Leader of Ban Nua Community in Thailand who delivered the second Keynote Speech at the 5th ISDEV International Islamic Development Management Conference (IDMAC11)

Some of the participants of IDMAC11 held yesterday and today, 13-14 December 2001

Am in Kuala Lumpur again tonight, at Sri Pacific Hotel, to fulfill an invitation by Iqra Foundation and INCEIF to talk at Waqf: Redefining Growth and Prosperity Seminar to be held at the Central Bank of Malaysia tomorrow morning. Arrived here this evening, after participating in the successful 5th ISDEV International Islamic Development Management Conference (IDMAC11) in Penang.

At the IDMAC11, I was requested to deliver the first Keynote Address entitled Preliminary Understanding of Islamic Marketing and Asset Management, while Dr Tabrani Abdul Latif, the Leader of Ban Nua Community in Thailand gave the second Keynote Address entitled An Islamic Grassroots Approach to Asset Management: Ban Nua Experience.

Apart from the two Keynote Addresses, a total of 61 papers have been presented. The presenters came as near as Thailand and as far as Pakistan.

Delivering the first Keynote Address

ISDEV lecturer and students interested in undertaking research at Ban Nua Community, having a preliminary interview with Dr Tabrani Abdul Latif

With Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Abdullah from Pakistan, former ISDEV Post-Doctoral Fellow who returned to USM to participate in the IDMAC11

USM-USIM-UniSZA-UPM RESEARCH PROJECT

2011-12-12T13:48:00.000+08:00

Merting in progress

For the first time today, had a meeting with co-researches of a FRGS research project on Conceptualising Islamic Marketing:A Study of its Epistemological Underpinnings from Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) and Universiti Putra Malaysia. The project is led by Puan Hanim Misbah of USIM and based at the university, with the aim of investigating what is meant by Islamic marketing, assessing the existing Islamic marketing thinking, and proposing shari`ah-based standards of Islamic marketing, particularly in the production of products, promotion, distribution and pricing.

The research team (L-R): Adilah (Research Officer), Hanim (Leader), Dr Fadzila Azni, Dr Azrin, myself, Razali and Dr Radhi

The project was born last year when I was a Visiting Professor at USIM, with Hanim Misbah and Dr Mohd Radhi Ibrahim of USIM, Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad and myself of USM, Dr Ahmad Azrin Adnan of UniSZA and Razali Othman of UPM as the members of the research team.

To date, five papers have been produced and will be presented at the 5th ISDEV International Islamic Development Management Conference (IDMAC11) tomorrow. Another six papers are on the pipeline and scheduled to be presented at a Research Seminar at UniSZA next March 2012, InshaAllah. The project is expected to be the pioneering work in establishing Islamic marketing thinking from within Islamic epistemological and philosophical underpinnings.

HELPING TO FORM A NEW ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY

2011-12-12T12:21:00.001+08:00

Just arrived home last night after attending a meeting since Saturday 10th till Sunday 11st December at Concorde, Kuala Lumpur. The meeting was aimed to design an academic programme for an intended newly-established post-graduate university to be named Universiti Islam Malaysia, initiated by the Majlis Raja-Raja of Malaysia.

We came to an agreement on designing an integrated trans-disciplinary academic programme, inextricably combining natural and social sciences within authentic Islamic epistemological and philosophical paradigm, that is able to produce Quranic, Sunnatic, Encyclopedic and Ijtihadic students at graduate level.

The meeting was chaired by the Academic Committee Chairman of the University's Board Prof. Dato' Dr Ismail bin Ibrahim, and attended by the University's Board Chairman Tan Sri Dr Mohd Yusof Noor, Management Chief Datuk Dr Abdul Monir bin Yaacob, former Rector of the International Islamic University Tan Sri Professor Muhammad Kamal Hassan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of INTI International University Professor Datuk Dr Ibrahm bin Bajunid, IKIM Deputy Director Professor Datin Dr Azizan binti Baharudin, Kolej Islam Malaya Member of Trustees Lt. Jen. Dato' Seri Abdul Ghani bin Abdul Aziz (B), myself and one each from University of Malaya, Insaniah College University, ISRA, and UiTM.

Meeting in progress

The participants

Informal discussion with Tan Sri Dr Mohd Yusof Noor and Lt. Jen. Dato' Seri Abdul Ghani bin Abdul Aziz (B)

5 UNEXPECTED GIFTS FROM ALLAH SWT

2011-12-09T22:56:00.000+08:00

With Dr Zakaria Bahari, the Chairman of the Organizing Committe of the 5th IDMAC11

Still could not write the brief notes of the past activities.

Within this few days, have to prepare a presentation of a final report on Organisational Empowerment and Societal Participation in Zakat Distribution for Lembaga Zakat Selangor Workshop held yesterday the 8th at De Palma Hotel Shah Alam; to fulfill two deadlines by today the 10th, firstly an article on the Conceptualisation of Islamic Project Management for a Fundamental Research Grant Scheme and secondly a Keynote Address entitles Preliminary Understanding of Islamic Marketing and Assets Management for IDMAC11 Conference to be held on 13-14 December at Universiti Sains Malaysia; to prepare for a meeting on the establishment of a new university tentatively named Universiti Islam Malaysia at KL Concorde Hotel tomorrow the 10th till the 11st; to prepare for a solicited talk for a Waqf: Redefining Prosperity and Growth Seminar organised by IQRA Foundation and INCEIF on the 15th at Central Bank of Malaysia in KL; and to prepare for a presentation of a paper entitles Islamic Economics Revisited: Recontemplating Unresolved Structure and Assumptions at the 8th International Conference on Islamic Economics and Finance in Doha, Qatar on 19-21st December, organised by Qatar Foundation, Islamic Research and Training Institute of the Islamic Development Bank, and International Association of Islamic Economics .

For all these, have to fly quite a lot: 3 times return to KL in a week (in between the 7th and 15th), with one or two days break in Penang, plus a long return fly to Doha, Qatar on the 18th and 22nd December. Three other trips are anticipated to be made to KL after coming back from Doha at the end of December and early January, to attend three PhD viva voce as an external examiner at University of Malaya and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Of all these, I firmly believe, Allah SWT has advanced me yesterday with five special gifts: firstly, our final report on the revision of zakat distribution of the Lembaga Zakat Selangor (LZS) has been accepted by the LZS without much query; secondly, my younger daughter Ummu Habibah has been accepted to pursue her study at Sekolah Menengah Perempuan Al-Mashor as she wishes; thirdly, my elder daughter A`firah has been awarded a study loan by Yayasan Terengganu; fourthly, ISDEV Management Committee Dr Zakaria Bahari has been approved to join me to present a paper at the Qatar Conference with USM sponsorship while visa and accommodation are arranged by the organisers; and fifthly, I managed to get the last seat on earlier flight back to Penang.

A few days prior to all these gifts, I was awarded with a RM815,000.00 Research University Team Grant to undertake a four-year research on Islamic-Based Development consisting of a concentration on Islamic-based development world-view and index, the politics of the Islamic-based development strategy, the implication of ethics and hisbah on human development, the Islamic Corporate Responsibility of Islamic Banks, and Istibdal for Waqf Development.

Thank you very much Allah!

Workshop on Kajian Kemaskini Agihan Zakat of the Lembaga Zakat Selangor

TOO MANY ACITIVITIES, TOO LITTLE TIME

2011-12-07T18:54:00.002+08:00

Since the last posting, too many activities to be recorded, but too little time to sit down and write. Postings that will follow perhaps could cover all activities with just brief notes and photos. Hopefully it is adequate to just put them in record, InshaAllah. That would probably be the nature of my postings, from the last posting to date.

ISDEV STORY IN THE LEADER, SEPTEMBER VOL. 6, NO. 3, 2011

2011-11-01T10:38:00.000+08:00

The alumni magazine of Universiti Sains Malaysia, The Leader, in its September 2011 issue (Vol. 6, No.3) has covered a story about the emergence of ISDEV. Below is the coverage.

The coverage

The cover of the magazine

AWARDS ARE GOOD, BUT INADEQUATE FOR A REAL EXCELLENT ACCOMPLISHMENT

2011-10-26T21:29:00.000+08:00

The certificates of the Excellent Teaching Awards

Thanks God that all ISDEV lecturers have won Excellent Teaching Awards for the 2010/11 Academic Session. For each course they were teaching, students gave them a thumb up hence a high mark that became the basis for the Awards. I myself got three Excellent Teaching Awards for three courses I was teaching. So was Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad and Dr Zahri Hamat, followed by two Awards for Dr Zakaria Bahari and one Award for Dr Mohamad Zaini Abu Bakar for two and one courses they were teaching respectively.

The Awards, presented by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dato' Omar Osman at the School of Social Sciences Workshop on Saturday 15 October 2011 at Batu Feringghi Park Royal Hotel, were definitely well-deserved. All of us at ISDEV were working so hard to ensure the quality of our teaching through an approach we called 'Heart-to-Heart Approach', so as to create a caring and loving teaching-learning atmosphere that is conducive for the production of excellent and well-behaved students. The results are self-explained; so far eight graduate students of ours have won various awards, from at the level of ISDEV to the levels of USM and Malaysia.

While thanking God so much for the accomplishments, I think that it is still not sufficient for a real excellent accomplishment. Although all of us were bestowed with the Excellent Teaching Awards, none of us received an Award for Top 10 KPI Contributors that were also given away at the occasion.

I realised then that we were thus far busying concentrating on teaching and ensuring the high quality of students, but forgetting to somehow working for our own other KPI. Of course it is a sacrifice on our part, but definitely it is much better if all ISDEV lecturers could accomplish both, the high quality of teaching and the high KPI.

Our ISDEV next move therefore is to increase our research, publications and networking, as well as to speed up the completion of study of our graduate students. These are achievable, InshaAllah, as all are already in ISDEV pipelines at the moment. We would be likely to be granted with a nearly RM 1 million grant in the form of Research University Team, publishing articles in various journals and a total of at least 20 books with the cooperation of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), signing MoU with DBP, Walailak University of Thailand, and Universiti Brunei Darussalam and Universiti Sultan Sharif Ali of Brunei Darussalam (as an addition to the existing MoU with two universities in Norway, four universities in Indonesia, and one with IBS Books Sdn Bhd, as well as to continue strengthening the networking with institutions affiliated to ASEAN Muslim Research Organisation Network (AMRON) of which ISDEV is the co-founder institution), and graduating 13 Master students and at least five PhD students in the coming few months.

May Allah SWT guides and helps ISDEV in realising such a plan by easing us at ISDEV in accomplishing them accordingly, InshaAllah.

L-R: Myself, Associate Professor Dr Abdul Fatah Che Hamat and Dr Zahri Hamat at the Social Sciences Workshop

All spouses were allowed to come to the Social Sciences Workshop. With my wife during a dinner at Batu Feringghi

JUMPING FROM HOTEL TO HOTEL

2011-10-21T14:23:00.024+08:00

Definitely, I am not the only one. There are a lot of people who spend their nights from hotel to hotel as what I have to do for the last two days. Last night I was at the Carlton Holiday Hotel in Shah Alam, Selangor and tonight I am at the Park Royal Hotel in Batu Feringghi, Penang. Next month and the following months until February next year, apart from the hotels in Malaysia, I will be in a few other hotels abroad, InshaAllah: in Nakhorn si Thammarat (Thailand), in Bandung (Indonesia), in Doha (Qatar), and in Vancouver (Canada). These are what have been already committed in my work schedules.

Carlton Holiday Hotel, Shah Alam, Selangor

Park Royal Hotel, Batu Feringghi, Penang

I was in Shah Alam last night to help Selangor Zakat Council (LZS) to draw an action plan for an effective zakat distribution in the state. Together with me were Professor Dato' Hailani Muji Tahir and Associate Professor Dr Sanep of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Tuan Syed Ghazali Wafa of ANGKASA. I proposed an action plan for zakat organisational empowerment through localisation approach that involves decentralisation and popular participation.

Localisation here simply means collecting zakat locally and distributing it to the local asnaf. This definitely needs decentralisation of power and decision making process as well as the participation of the local masses. Tuan Syed Ghazali Wafa proposed a new form of zakat calculation by taking into consideration both the nisab and had kifayah. Associate Professor Dr Sanep proposed a new kind of educational assistance through zakat, changing it from the present scholarship to educational loan (Qardul Hasan), to be managed by profesional body such as the scholarship section of the Yayasan Selangor.

R-L: Associate Professor Dr Sanep, myself, Ustaz Farid of LZS, Prof Dato' Hailani, and Tuan Syed Ghazali Wafa discussing about the action plan

Now, after flying back to Penang by 1355 flight this afternoon, I am at Feringghi Park Royal Hotel to attend the School of Social Sciences' Workshop beginning tomorrow morning till Sunday. It is actually a rather relax Workshop cum family gathering, with a little programme related to devising strategy and implementation of KPI by Professor Abdul Karim Alias and academic staffs' promotion briefing by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Ahmad Shukri Mustapa Kamal. Our new Vice-Chancellor Professor Dato' Omar Osman too will be here to give away prizes to Top 10 KPI contributors and Excellent Lecturers of our School. i-Pad2 will be given to us in the afternoon, followed subsequently by a briefing on its usage. The occasion will end up with a dinner tomorrow night.

Another note: On the flight back to Penang this afternoon, I was sitting beside another Minister. This time was Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon, the former Penang Chief Minister and currently Gerakan Party President-cum-Minister at the Prime Minister's Department. As usual, I took the opportunity to talk about politics, especially about his political leadership that at the moment seems to be challenged by some individuals in his own party Gerakan as well as by mainstream newspapers like the Star and Utusan Malaysia. He was very frank explaining all about it, including about his frictional relationship with the present Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. But above all, he created a personal touch by trying to memorise my name, sending regards to my wife who was his students in the 70's at USM, and introducing me to a drink in the flight called Ginger Ale as well as ensuring that it is halal.

19 ISDEV TITLES FOR DEWAN BAHASA & PUSTAKA

2011-10-17T23:28:00.000+08:00

The collection of 19 book titles proposed by ISDEV for publication by DBP

A day after INGRAW11, on 14th October 2011, I flied to Kuala Lumpur to attend a meeting at Dewan Bahasa dan Pusataka (DBP). The main aim was to submit a collection of 19 titles of books by ISDEV members agreed to be published by DBP, while the main agenda of the meeting was on a plan to sign a MoU with DBP at a (USM medical academic) book launching occassion sometimes in December this year.

The 19 titles of the books were originated from two workshops. The first was the workshop on manuscript acquisition organised by the School of Humanities and DBP on 24-25 May 2011, while the second was on book titles' revision organised by ISDEV and DBP on 22 September 2011. The titles were presented and approved by DBP officers during the second Worskhop. The launching of the books is expected to be held at the end of next year, InshaAllah.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT INGRAW11

2011-10-15T22:56:00.000+08:00

Alhamdulillah, the 6th ISDEV International Graduate Workshop (INGRAW11) was held successfully on 11-12 October 2011 at the University Conference Hall. The ISDEV annual event organised with the co-operation of Institute of Graduate Studies saw the presentation of a total of 77 papers presented in seven concurrent sessions during the one and a half day Workshop, and the involvement of about 100 participants. All papers were commented by solicited commentators with respective specialisations.

As usual, I felt honoured to be invited once again for the sixth time to deliver a keynote address at this Workshop. This year I insisted on the need to liberate graduate research on Islam and Muslims from eurocentric paradigm, farmework, assumptions and theories.

Eurocentric here goes beyond the geographical boundaries per se, to encompass Americans and Australians (now called neo-Europeans) who share the same language, culture, belief, traditions, lifestyle, et. cetera. I highlighted the danger of academic neo-colonialism/imperialism undertaken for instance by a handful of (Western) European ministers in 1999 in `internationalising European dimensions' through the creation of European Higher Education Area (EHEA) by the Bologna Process (arising from the Magnus Charta Universitatum), which now has been signed by 46 countries. So is the danger of the Eurocentric religio-group 10/40 Window which aims to out-reach the more than 4.4 billion `unreached and unevangelised' people living in the so-called 10/40 area of the world, including the Muslims, Chinese, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews and anamistic.

Lastly, I stressed on the nature of a liberated graduate research on Islam and Muslims which dismantles the Eurocentric thinking and ideologies, to emerge from within Islamic philosophical and epistemological underpinnings itself, moulded by Islamic authentic teachings.

May Allah SWT allows the address to penetrate across the mind and hearts of the Workshop participants, InshaAllah.

With the solicited commentators (l-r): Dr Irsyad from Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), Dr Ahmad Azrin Adnan from Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), and Dr Warjio from Universitas Medan Area (UMA) - all ISDEV alumni

REPRESENTING THE NEW VICE-CHANCELLOR TO ISLAMIC LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

2011-10-08T13:58:00.005+08:00

Hardly a week after his appointment as the new Vice-Chancellor of our Universiti Sains Malaysia, Professor Dato' Dr Omar Osman requested me to be his representative at an International Conference on Islamic Leadership at Royale Chulan Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. The Conference, held on the 4th till 5th October 2011, was co-organised by the Higher Education Leadership Academy (AKEPT), Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), and International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).

Appreciating the VC's trust as well as indicating ISDEV's support to the University's new administration, I rescheduled my hectic workloads and flied off to Kuala Lumpur within the short notice of the VC's office. Moreover, the chance to serve the University on behalf of the VC is not necessarily frequent. As far as I could remember, previously I used to have such a chance only twice, the first to a Conference in Aceh and the other to a Conference in Johor Bharu. Even so, it did not come from the real (former) VC himself; it came from the Acting VC - the former from Dato' Professor Idiris Salleh and the later from Professor Asma Ismail, who as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) were given the tasks, coincidently, of the real VC when he was away. But this time to the Islamic Leadership Conference in Kuala Lumpur, it was from the real VC himself - the new VC!

The results from the deed done in good faith were incredible. Apart from enjoying the discourse at the Conference especially from the talk by our former Vice-Chancellor Tan Sri Dato' Dzulkifli Abdul Razak and former Malaysia's Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (the only thoughtful talks as compared to the `nothing new' and rather boring talks of the other speakers), I also experienced fascinating encounters. On the early morning flight to Kuala Lumpur, I was together with our Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Professor Asma Ismail, while on the flight back to Penang the next day, I was sitting beside the Minister for International Trade and Industry Dato' Seri Mustapha Mohamed.

Both encounters provided me with a chance to discuss with them on various matters - with the former on the possibility of upgrading ISDEV to a Centre of Excellence and with the latter on various contemporary political issues as well as on personal life.

In addition, while I was at the Conference , I was also blessed by Allah SWT with a luxurious room at the prestigious Royale Chulan Hotel provided by the Conference organiser (as I was the representative of the VC). In between the Conference programmes too I managed to visit my eldest brother at Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia who is having a treatment for an illness. Alhamdulillah.

L-R: Myself at the Conference, the organiser (a lecturer of USIM), and a participant from Nigeria

My room at Royale Chulan Hotel

The Royale Club at the 5th floor of the Hotel where our breakfast is served separately from the normal hotel guests

The brochure of the Keynote Address by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM MISSIONS ACCOMPLISHED

2011-09-29T00:14:00.075+08:00

Checking-in at Brunei International Airport

Alhamdulillah, we are safely back in Penang today. All missions in Brunei Darussalam were accomplished. Our knowledge about zakat in the country has been increased, and networking has been established with Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) through Academy of Brunei Studies and Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) through Madhab Shafi'i Research Centre.

In consequence, I am thinking aloud to establish a research team on Malay Islamic Monarchy (Melayu Islam Beraja) concept of the Brunei Darussalam, consisting of academic staffs of ISDEV, UBD and UNISSA. For the beginning, perhaps at least four research concentrations could be undertaken, viz, development, institutional management, zakat, and Islamic banking. The present state of the four could be observed and their potentials could be prescribed in strengthening the realisation of the Malay Islamic Monarchy concept.

In memory: At one of the three buffet restaurants behind our hotel that we used to have our dinner

In memory: The Palm Garden Hotel, our accommodation at Kiulap, Brunei Darussalam

In memory: While waiting for our connecting flight to Penang, working at one of the restaurants at LCCT, Sepang

In memory: While flying back to Penang, Dr Zakaria and Dr Zahri reading and commenting on the thesis of ISDEV graduate students

4TH DAY IN BRUNEI

2011-09-28T23:19:00.001+08:00

With the Director Dr Siti Norkhalbi Haji Wahsalfelah (1st right) and students of the Academy of Brunei Studies of the Universiti Brunei Darussalam during the Eid Celebration at the Academy

On our fourth day in Brunei today, we carried out three tasks. The first was attending an Eid celebration lunch of the Academy of Brunei Studies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam; the second was a discussion with the Dean/Director, Deputy Deans and lecturers of Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA); and the third was another Eid celebration dinner at Dr Zahri's friend residence in Tutong - about 45 minutes drive outside Bandar Seri Begawan. Below are some of the recorded activities.

With Deputy Director of the Academy of Brunei Studies Tuan Haji Mohd Sharol Amira bin Abdullah (1st left) and two expatriates from United Kingdom and Japan at the Academy (1st and 2nd right)

With Programme Leader Tuan Haji Mohammad Rafee Shahif (1st left) and Deputy Director Tuan Haji Shahrol (3rd left) of the Academy of Brunei Studies at the later's office

Discussion with the Deans, Deputy Deans and lecturers of Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) on the zakat in Brunei and the UNISSA-ISDEV possible cooperation, chaired by Acting Director of the Madhab Shafi'i Research Centre Dr Abdul Nasir bin Haji Abdul Rani (1st right)

After the discussion at UNISSA: (L-R) Dr Zahri, Dr Zakaria, Dean of the Faculty of Usuluddin Dr Husin, myself, Acting Director of the Madhab Shafi'i Research Centre Dr Abdul Nasir bin Haji Abdul Rani, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Shari`ah and Law, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, lecturer Hajjah Ros Abdullah and expatriate from Sudan

Receiving a gift from UNISSA's Madhab Shafi'i Research Centre Dr Abdul Nasir bin Haji Abdul Rani

Eid celebration at the residence of Dr Zahri's friend in Tutong

INTELLECTUAL DISCOURSE AT ACADEMY OF BRUNEI STUDIES, UNIVERSITI BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

2011-09-27T23:15:00.000+08:00

The intellectual discourse at Academy of Brunei Studies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, chaired by its Director Dr Siti Norkhalbi Haji Wahsalfelah

Our third day in Brunei Darussalam today was spent at Academy of Brunei Studies of the Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UDB). We had an interesting intellectual discourse with the Director Dr Siti Norkhalbi Haji Wahsalfelah, Deputy Director Tuan Haji Mohd Shahrol Amira bin Abdullah, Programme Leader Mohammad Rafee Shahif, lecturer Associate Professor Dr Mikio Oishi and few others.

The topics ranged from the state of the rich and the poor in Brunei, the management of zakat in Brunei, the state philosophy Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB), the position of zakat within the MIB philosophy, and possible cooperations between the Academy and ISDEV.

For the latter, coincidently, three undergraduate students of the Academy are now in USM and taking my Principles of Islamic-based Development course via a student exchange programme. We agreed that this could be the start of our cooperation, followed possibly InshaAllah by the participation of the academicians from the Academy in ISDEV 5th IDMAC11 to be held in December 2011 at USM, academic visits and exchanges, and research collaborations in the near future. If these are realised, a MoU will be signed between ISDEV and the Academy, InshaAllah, for a longer collaboration.

The Director expressing her points

The participants of the discourse

AL-FATIHAH FOR DATUK KHAIRIL ANWAR SURBAKTI

2011-09-27T23:00:00.080+08:00

Datuk Haji Khairil Anwar Surbakti

While here in Brunei, I got a very surprising SMS from Pak Irfan and later on from Pak Syam in Medan this morning, informing me that ISDEV PhD graduate Datuk Khairil Anwar has passed away early in the morning, possibly due to a heart attack. We have just met him less than two weeks ago, when he was at USM in the Monthly Graduate Supervision on the 15th September. He seemed to be very healthy then.

Datuk Khairil is a hardworking student, rarely missing any of ISDEV Graduate academic meetings either in Penang or Medan, and has completed the first draft of his thesis (except the Conclusion chapter). Everytime ISDEV fraternity were in Medan attending Islamic Development Workshop (WAPI), he never missed to treat them for a dinner at his residence. But definitely Allah SWT loves him more and has taken him this morning. May Allah SWT accepts his study as a jihad fisabilillah and bestows him with rahmah, InshaAllah.

Datuk Khairil Anwar at ISDEV Monthly Graduate Supervision in June 2011

Datuk Khairil is the second ISDEV graduate who passed away in the midst of his study. The first was Pak Wim Ansory of Jakarta. Another ISDEV member who has passed away was Dr Salim of Medan, but only after years of the completion of his PhD. May Allah showers all of them with His mercy and love.

DINNER TREATMENT BY DR BAHARUDDIN ARUS OF UNIVERSITI BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

2011-09-26T23:08:00.005+08:00

With Dr Baharuddin having dinner at a Malaysian restaurant near Times Square

Just came back from a dinner treatment given by Dr Baharuddin Arus of Universiti Brunei Darussalam. The venue was a Malaysian-owned prestigious restaurant near the Times Square of Bandar Seri Begawan. There were Malaysian foods such as Mee Bandung Muar as was taken by Dr Zakaria Bahari, Nasi Goreng Pattaya taken by Dr Zahri Hamat, Mee Goreng taken by Dr Baharuddin, and Nasi Sup Ayam taken by me. We also shared murtabak together, and our drink was Radix. According to Dr Baharuddin, there are a lot of Malaysian restaurants in Brunei Darussalam. Most of the customers seem to be a middle-income class. After the dinner, we were brought around to tour the city of Bandar Seri Begawan by Dr Baharuddin.

Talking to a father of a graduated MBA student from Jengka Pahang who is in Brunei to attend his son's Convocation Ceremony at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam on Thursday 29 September.

FIRST TASK IN BRUNEI DONE

2011-09-26T15:54:00.001+08:00

Programme brochure

Our first task in Brunei Darussalam went on as scheduled, Alhamdulillah. We were at Brunei Darussalam Ministry of Religious Affairs this morning, discussing about zakat in the state with officers of Zakat Collection and Distribution Section (ZCDS) of the Department of Islamic Religious Council. The photos below explain the activities this morning.

The discussion in progress

With some of the Islamic Religious Council's staff involving in the discussion

With the Secretary of the Islamic Religious Council (2nd left)

After solatul zohor at Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque near Kuilap

Outside the Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque

SAFELY ARRIVING BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

2011-09-25T23:02:00.000+08:00

Arriving at Brunei Darussalam's airport

Alhamdulillah, we have landed safely at Brunei Darussalam airport at about 3.45 pm. We were ferried to Palm Garden Hotel of the Bandar Seri Begawan - our accommodation in Brunei - by Jom, the hotel driver. Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei Darussalam seems to be quite and peaceful.

After maghrib prayer, he had our dinner at a buffet restaurant beside our hotel. Buffet restaurant style is a unique trend in Brunei, according to Dr Baharuddin, a former USM lecturer who is now teaching at Universitit Brunei Darussalam for the last 12 years. He came to visit us at our hotel at about 11.00 pm just now.

One communication facility that is absent in Brunei is the pre-paid mobile line. Unlike in Malaysia and Indonesia, we could not buy a sim card and use it instantly. Instead we need to register for a fixed line, says Jom the driver. As we are going to stay here for just five days, we decided to use our existing Malaysian line rather than registering for the Brunei fixed line.

OFF TO BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

2011-09-25T12:30:00.007+08:00

Arriving at LCCT by 8.15 am flight from Penang

I am on a long journey again today. The destination this time is Brunei Darusssalam. The aim is to undertake a round-up visit for the research on Zakat Accounting in Southeast Asia. The team, as usual, consists of Dr Zakaria Bahari and Dr Zahri Hamat. They are travelling together with me, as shown in the photo above.

This posting is published at LCCT in Sepang. We arrived from Penang by 8.15 am flight just now, and at the moment waiting for 1.10 pm flight to Brunei Darussalam. Beginning from tomorrow, we will be visiting Brunei's Ministry of Religious Affair, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, and Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali, InshaAllah. We will be leaving for Penang on Thursday 29 September 2011.

While waiting for 1.10 pm flight to Brunei Darussalam, working at Taste of Asia Restaurant at LCCT.

ISA AND THE REPLACEMENT LAWS

2011-09-24T16:40:00.000+08:00

I am quite surprised to find out today that my letter to the Editor of the News Straits Times on the abolition of Internal Security Act (ISA) has been published on Tuesday 20 September 2011. I missed the daily on the day of the publication for two reasons. Firstly, I was quite busy with my routine teaching and administrative commitment; and secondly, I did not have a high hope to see it published, thus did not really put an effort in checking it.

I feel surprised also for two reasons. Firstly, this is my first try writing to the daily; and secondly, it took just a few days for the Editor to publish it. Although the writing has been shortened and edited by the Editor, the gist of my writing is still there. It clearly indicates an availability of another channel to express my idea, now in English, apart from the other Malay dailies in Malaysia and Indonesia that used to publish my writings prior to this.

Below is the shortened and edited version of the said writing that appeared in the New Straits Times on Tuesday 20 September 2011.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011, 02.37 PM

http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/19isak/Article/

letters@nst.com.my

ARTICLE

Repeal of ISA: Focus on replacement laws

MUHAMMAD SYUKRI SALLEH, Penang

THE repeal of the Internal Security Act (ISA) announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on the eve of Malaysia Day was welcomed by many.

It was especially welcomed by those who suffered under the law; people who were either arrested and jailed, as many of my friends in the mid-1990s were, or those like me, who had been warned and threatened with arrest and detention under the act.

One interesting thing was the response of pro-government supporters and backers of the opposition. The statements and attitudes of some of them were naive.

Not many of those in the pro-government and opposition camps showed curiosity about the laws that are going to replace the ISA, although they are more pertinent to our future.

We should be anxious about how the new laws will ensure a balance between avoiding oppression and safeguarding the security of Malaysia and Malaysians.

Everyone should focus on this and contribute to this now.

NOTES ON ZAKAT IN JAKARTA TRIP

2011-09-21T09:12:00.001+08:00

It is nearly two weeks now since I came back from Jakarta. The knowledge about zakat management in Indonesia that I managed to accumulate are still fresh. Below are some of them that might be worth sharing.

1. The realisation of zakat in Indonesia has originated in about 1993 from the grassroots, not from the government, beginning from zakat consciousness created by journalist Erie Sudewo through Republika daily and subsequently through the establishment of Dompet Dhu`afa Republika, a form of Zakat Amil Board (Lembaga Amil Zakat, LAZ) initiated by the daily Republika.

2. Following later on the emergence of many LAZs around the state at all levels, from provincial to kecamatan and kabupaten, the government established National Zakat Amil Board (Badan Amil Zakat Nasional, BAZNAS), a national zakat organisation acknowledged by but operates quite independently from the government. Top officers of BAZNAS were appointed by the Indonesian President himself from among the outstanding figures of LAZs while some operational staff came from government agencies. However, the BAZNAS officers are not considered as government officers.

3. At provincial levels, there are Badan Amil Zakat Daerah (BAZDA), structured quite similar to BAZNAS at national level. BAZDA 's officers, however, are appointed by and accountable to their respective Governors, while LAZ's officers by their respective Foundations/organisations.

4. With the establishment of BAZNAS, zakat realisation in Indonesia is now being undertaken by two entities, firstly by the government-initiated BAZNAS and secondly by the voluntary LAZs. While BAZNAS could be considered as a top-down government-initiated endevaour, the LAZ is a bottom-up grassroot-initiated endeavour. Their activities are being coordinated by their umbrella organisation called Forum Zakat (FOZ).

5. In spite of the establishment of BAZNAS, LAZs are still needed in Indonesia as the country is too wide to be covered by BAZNAS alone. Historically, the management of Islam in Indonesia in general and zakat management in particular, especially during Dutch colonial period, was not undertaken by the state, but instead by pesanteren, Kiyais, Islamic organisations such as Muhammadiyyah and Nahdatul Ulamak, et. cetera. The phenomenon remains.

6. BAZNAS and LAZs officers work together as most of them have personal relationship and synergy. While LAZs are dealing with the public and masses, BAZNAS is recognised by the government for official information as well as dealing with Ministries and official government agencies. BAZNAS also plays a role in complimenting what the government is doing or not doing or is needed to do.

7. While BAZNAS concentrates its operation more on official public and private agencies, LAZs concentrate their activities more on the masses as well as amongst the members of their organisations. Both, however, cover not only local and national activities, but some also involve in regional and international relief activities.

8. The BAZNAS at national level, or BAZDA (Badan Amil Zakat Daerah) at provisional level, or LAZs at either national or local levels, operate independently of each other, without any specific structured organisations. Relationship between each other is more in the form of consultative, informative and coordinative. The only organisation that coordinates, avoiding duplications and settling conflicts is the Forum Zakat (FOZ), especially at the national level.

9. Both BAZNAS and LAZ's are accountable to muzakki (zakat payers), rather than to the government. The controlling of the policy and implementation, as well as the monitoring tasks are done by their respective Dewan Syariah.

10. The organisational structure of the BAZNAS, BAZDA and LAZ is almost quite similar. There are firstly Dewan Pertimbangan which deals with laws and jurisprudence; secondly the Komisi Pengawal consisting of Accountants, Financial Managers and Shari`ah experts; and thirdly, Badan Pelaksana that is responsible in the day to day operations, consisting of Ketua Umum, two Deputy Ketua Umum (Programmes and Networking) , General Secretariat, Treasury, and Divisions.

11. Unlike Malaysia where zakat institutions and management are positioned under Islamic Religious State Council (Majlis Agama Islam Negeri, MAIN) of respective sates in the country, zakat institutions and management in Indonesia is rather freer. An interested party could establish a zakat organisation by creating a Zakat Amil Board, after they have proven that they managed to accumulate a total of Rp 1 milyer annually. The approval body/Ministry usually come in two forms; firstly, by the Ministry that relates very much to the nature of their organisation (for instance youth, Islamic organisations, welfare organisations, human rights, et. cetera); and secondly, by the Islamic Religious Council. At provincial level, it may come from Governor's Office and the Islamic Religious Council of the province itself.

12. Most the LAZs and BAZNAS operate through the mobilisation of the masses as well as by popular participation. Volunteers at all levels, from public to university students and lecturers, work intimately with asnaf and in asnaf programmes, to train and empower them to overcome their problems.

13. At the moment, there are 18 LAZs at national level. They could be categorised into three categories as follows:

a. LAZ created by Societal Organisations (Organisasi Masyarakat, ORMAS)

1. LAZ NU

2. LAZ Muhammadiyah

3. LAZ DDI

4. LAZ Pusat Zakat Ummat

5. LAZ BMH (Baitul Mal Hidayatullah)

6. LAZ BMT (Baitul Mal watTamwil)

b. LAZ created by Entrepreneurs (Perusahaan)

LAZ BAMUIS BNI 46

8. LAZ Baitul Mal Muamalat (BMM)

9. LAZ Yayasan Baitul Mal BRI

10. LAZNAS BSM Ummat

11. LAZ BAZMA (Baituz Zakat Pertamina)

12. LAZ Amanah Takaful

13.

c. LAZ created by Independent Foundations

LAZ Dompet Dhuafa

14. LAZ Rumah Zakat Indonesia

15. LAZ PKPU (Pos Keadilan Peduli Ummat)

16. LAZ YDSF (Yayasan Dana Sosial Al-Falah)

17. LAZ DPU DT (Dompet Peduli Ummat Darut Tauhid)

18. LAZ IPHI (Ikatan Persatuan Haji Indonesia)

THE ABOLITION OF ISA & ANALYSIS OF ITS RESPONSES

2011-09-18T18:32:00.002+08:00

The abolition of Internal Security Act (ISA) in Malaysia announced by Prime Minister Mohd Najib Abdul Razak during the Merdeka/Malaysia Day speech on 16th September 2011 definitely welcome by many, especially by those who used to suffer from the Act, either arrested and jailed as experienced by many of my friends in mid-1990's, or warned and threatened to be arrested and jailed under the Act such as experienced by me myself.

One interesting thing to observe beyond the welcoming gestures was the responses of the Malaysians to the abolition. As always and expectedly, Ministers and pro-government individuals, political analysts, organisations and parties, either sincerely or otherwise, definitely welcome it with a stereotyped high praise and applause. Statements and attitudes of some of them were so naive and straight forward, let alone the non-existence of analytical components, and not rarely insulting our intelligence.

But such a response too could not be different from amongst the oppositions. Many of them were similarly monotonous and boring. While inevitably has to accept the announcement, detachment from egoism and accusations among many of them was not happening. Thus we read the arguments from some of them that the abolition of the ISA was done as a result of their pressure and an imitation/stealing of the idea consisted in their Buku Jingga, and even requested an apology and compensation from the government, that the abolition should be done a long time ago, and that the government was doing it out of desperation because of the coming General Election.

Not many of them, both the pro-government and the oppositions, went beyond welcoming the abolition of the ISA by showing their curiousity on the Acts that are going to replace the ISA, although this is more pertinent than the `ampu-ism' nature of the pro-government and the `bashing-ism' attitude of the oppositions, for the sake of our beloved Malaysia. We should be anxious of how the new Acts could balance between the avoidance of oppression and the safeguard of the security of Malaysia and Malaysians. This should be the concentration and contribution of all now, I think.

STILL IN EID'S CELEBRATION MOOD

2011-09-17T12:17:00.000+08:00

Eid's celebration is still lingering around, though the Eid has passed for more than two weeks now. On the day before yesterday (Thursday 15th September), there was ISDEV's Eid lunch celebration held in conjunction with the MISDEV Welcoming Session. And yesterday (Friday 16th September), I was with 17 ISDEV members from Malaysia and abroad in three cars, visiting Dr Zahri Hamat's residence in Sungei Petani and Dr Zakaria Bahari's residence in Telok Air Tawar. We were served with the traditional nasi dagang, nasi belauk and akok at Dr Zahri's residence and with soto, lemang, mee soup, nasi himpit, et. cetera at Dr Zakaria's residence. We were back in Penang at the right time for Jumaat prayer.

At Dr Zahri's residence, after the makan-makan

At Dr Zakaria's residence: While we were having our makan-makan, Dr Zakaria supervised Phd Student Suhrawardi

A PLEASANT DEVELOPMENT OF ISDEV

2011-09-16T09:59:00.000+08:00

Islamic Development Management Programme Chairman Dr Fadzila Azni Ahmad (centre) chairing the PhD Proposal Presentation by Mohd Shahruddin Shakrani (left)

I was back in office yesterday to find out a very pleasant development for ISDEV. A total of 22 new Master of Islamic Development Management (MISDEV) students, choosen from out of more than 30 applicants, have registered for this 2011-2012 Academic Session.

They were together with present MISDEV and other ISDEV PhD students at a special Welcoming Session held for them yesterday, which began immediately after a PhD Proposal presentation by Mohd Shahruddin Shakrani and ended with a lunch ceremony of Eid-ul-Fitr. The Conference Room of the School of Social Sciences where the occasions were held was fully packed. With a total of about 100 ISDEV fraternity now, I need to think of a larger suitable meeting rooms for ISDEV regular activities such as the Weekly Tuesday Study Session and the Monthly Graduate Supervision. May Allah SWT provides us with such a necessity.

NEW IDEAS ON ZAKAT DISTRIBUTION

2011-09-15T10:54:00.000+08:00

The three-day Selangor Zakat Board (LZS) workshop I was involved at De Palma Hotel Shah Alam ended yesterday with interesting innovative ideas on the distribution of zakat to the three categories of zakat recipients (asnaf): the hardcore poor (fakir), the poor (miskin), and fiisabilillah.

Firstly, all the three asnaf have been redefined to include spiritual dimensions (for the hardcore poor and the poor), and the creation of Islamic syiar (image) as well as the development of Islamic bi`ah (environment) for fiisabilillah. These to date have been missing out in almost all attempts in zakat distribution.

Secondly, in categorising the hardcore poor and the poor, nisab of zakat has been taken as the basic measurement instead of the usual had kifayah. One with income less than 50% of the zakat nisab (after or may be before substracting his had kifayah) falls into the hardcore poor category while one with more than 50% but less than 100% of the zakat nisab falls into the poor category. Zakat distribution will be done according to case by case guided by the degree of the percentages rather than by the flat rate normally practised at the moment.

Thirdly, with the aim to empower zakat management at grassroots level, adoption of localisation and decentralisation approach was thought to be most suitable and necessary, so that zakat collection and distribution are done locally for the benefit of the local society itself.

Fourthly, the asnaf would be given a chance to be part of the zakat management process by participating in planning and decision making process, so as to allow popular participation and create a sense of belonging amongst the asnaf, hence avoiding prejudices and negative perception towards the management of zakat distribution.

Fifthly, zakat distribution projects/programmes/schemes would be carried out with the involvement of other suitable and qualified professional agencies, dakwah organisations, Islamic non-governmental organisations, voluntary groups, et. cetera. This is to develop individuals and groups that could voluntarily and intimately associate themselves with the asnaf, while providing asnaf with guidance, encouragement and stimulation in improving their life in this world and the Hereafter.

We will be meeting again on 5th October 2011 to stretch out the ideas with detailed action plans, InshaAllah. I was given a task to formulate the methods and action plans for the localisation and decentralisation approach.

May Allah SWT bestows me with ideas that He pleases and helps us in our endeavour to realise an effective zakat management, InshaAllah.

ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT ON ZAKAT

2011-09-14T00:30:00.001+08:00

Since 12th till today (14th September 2011), I was engaged with another discourse on zakat. This time was at De Palma Hotel in Shah Alam, trying to formulate an improvement of zakat disbursement for Selangor Zakat Board (Lembaga Zakat Selangor, LZS). The three day Workshop was one of the last series of discourses, heading towards the end with new ideas on zakat disbursement for specifically three zakat recipients (asnaf): the hardcore poor (fakir), the poor (miskin), and fisabilillah.

Presenting my ideas on the redefinition of the hardcore poor, the poor, and poverty

Our research team at work (l-r): Associate Professor Syed Ghazali Wafa (team leader) & Professor Dato' Hailani Muji Tahir of National University of Malaysia (UKM), Ustaz Farid of Selangor Zakat Board, Associate Professor Dr Hassan Baharom and Associate Professor Dr Abdul Halim of Zakat Research Institute (IKaZ) of MARA Technology University (UiTM), and myself

WEEKEND ACTIVITIES

2011-09-12T22:34:00.004+08:00

Last weekend (10-11 September 2011), after coming home from Jakarta, was not a restful weekend. There were preparations for my eldest daughter A`firah to go back to her university in Nilai (which includes a last nasi kandar breakfast at Bayan Lepas and a shopping spree for her necessities at Tesco), four khenduris (which I managed to go to only two, as the other two were respectively forgotten and purposely missed out due to limited time), reading chapters of my PhD students theses (as I need to return to them my comments sometimes this week), writing a basic report on the redefinition of two zakat recipients (asnaf): absolute/hardcore poor (fakir) and the poor (miskin) for Selangor Zakat Board (LZS), reading and commenting on a working paper of one of my Phd students who is going to present it at a National Seminar soon, finalising outlines for The Principles of Islamic-based Development and Islamic Research Methodology (the two courses I would be teaching this semester), and a drive to Lembah Kelang to accompany A'firah by her car.

The tiring weekend activities however were compensated by invaluable meetings with my elder brother and elder sister who I did not meet during Hari Raya. While accompanying A`firah, I visited my elder brother who is recovering from his health at his residence in Gombak, and had a dinner with my elder sister, together with her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren in Bandar Baru Nilai while they were sending one of the grandchildren to Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia. The meetings completed my Hari Raya cycle in honouring my three elder siblings. I have visited my other elder sister in Ipoh during the second day of the Hari Raya.

My family members at the khenduri

With my elder sister (3rd right) and family at the dinner at Restoran Ayam Penyet, Bandar Baru Nilai

JAKARTA MISSIONS ACCOMPLISHED

2011-09-08T22:28:00.002+08:00

Literature search at Toko Gunung Agong

I am back in Penang today. The 5-day mission in Jakarta has been accomplished successfully, Alhamdulillah.

Following the first and second day, the third and fourth day were spent by respectively undertaking another literature search at Toko Gunung Agong and discussing with Badan Amil Zakat Nasional (BAZNAS) General Manager Professor Dr KH Didin Hafidzuddin, and BAZNAS' Executive Director Teten Kustiawanon.

We left Ibis Tamarin Hotel at around 4 in the early morning of the fifth day today to catch a flight to Penang at 6 am. We safely landed at Penang International Airport at around 9.05 am, Alhamdulillah.

Books bought at the Toko Gunung Agong

Shopping time at Pasar Tanah Abang

The mosque at the roof top of the 12-storey Pasar Tanah Abang

After solatul-zohor at the Pasar Tanah Abang's mosque

With BAZNAS' Teten Kustiawanon and Professor Dr KH Didin Hafidzuddin (1st and 2nd left respectively)

Discussion with BAZNAS' authority

Lunch treatment by BAZNAS

Zakat marketing in front of BAZNAS's office

BAZNAS's mobile office

AN ARTICLE ON MUSLIM CONSUMPTION PATTERN IN RAMADHAN

2011-09-06T10:59:00.002+08:00

The article published on 26th August 2011, during Ramadhan in Medan, Indonesia

Today, 6th September, my third day in Jakarta, I received from Dr Warjio in Medan a scanned article of mine on the Muslim Consumption Pattern in Ramadhan (in Malay) published by Waspada Daily.

The argument of the article is simple. I was wondering, do the Muslims eat more or less during the fasting month of Ramadhan? Logically and likely, they eat more, for Ramadhan bazaars are mushrooming during the month with a substantial amount of foods, almost all sold at the end of each day.

But the exact confirmed answer is unknown, unless a systematic research is carried out. However, if the research were to be undertaken, it itself has to adopt an Islamic research methodology, not the conventional one. The former has adequate tools of analysis vis-a-vis the latter. Consumption relates intimately with desires (nafs), and only the former could identify them, diagnose the source and prescribe the solutions.

SECOND DAY IN JAKARTA, 5 SEPTEMBER 2011

2011-09-06T10:39:00.000+08:00

Literature search at U.D Saudara Islamic Bookshop

Our second day in Jakarta was spent fruitfully for a series of three activities. It began with a literature search at U.D Saudara Islamic Bookshop at Jl. Kramat Raya Gang Buntu, followed by a visit to Masjid Agong al-Azhar (founded by the late Hamka) and subsequently discussion with Deputy Director of Lembaga Amil Zakat Peduli Ummat Bapak Sunaryo Adhiatmoko at his office below the Masjid Agong, and lastly, a meeting with Deputy Rector of Universitas Islam Jakarta Professor Marhamah and family at our hotel. The following photos tell them all, briefly.

Books bought at the U.D Saudara Islamic Bookshop

In Masjid Agong al-Azhar, after solatul-zohor


A `marketing' banner of Lembaga Amil Zakat Peduli Ummat al-Azhar outside its office

Universitas al-Azhar founded by Hamka, beside the Masjid Agong al-Azhar

Discussion with Deputy Director of Lembaga Amil Zakat Peduli Ummat Bapak Sunaryo Adhiatmoko and his General Manager (Kelembagaan) Ibu Ningsih


A brief dinner at Seven Eleven, beside our hotel

An informal meeting with Deputy Rector of Universitas Islam Jakarta Professor Marhamah (2nd left) and family

OFF TO OUT-STATION AGAIN

2011-09-05T10:53:00.000+08:00


Arriving at Soekarno-Hatta Jakarta International Airport. Received by Pak Iswardi of Universitas Jayabaya (second left)

Yesterday, Sunday 4th September, the last day of the Eid's holiday, I was flying away again. This time was to Jakarta, together with Dr Zakaria Bahari and Dr Zahri Hamat. The mission is to encapsulate our research on Zakat Accounting in Southeast Asia.

We will be here in Jakarta until 8th September 2011, InshaAllah, meeting with various parties related to Zakat, including Head of Badan Zakat Nasional Indonesia (BAZNAS) Prof Dr Didin Hafidzuddin, and the Head of Lembaga Amil Zakat Al-Azhar.

While waiting to fly at Penang International Airport, playing around with my new iPhone camera, taking our own photo

Another trial with the iPhone camera at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Jakarta, together with Pak Iswardi while waiting for another friend of ours in Jakarta, Pak Bisma, to take the car at the airport's car park that ferried us to Ibis Jakarta Tamarin Hotel, our accommodation in Jakarta

SUB-CULTURE OF THE ASNAF OF ZAKAT

2011-09-02T11:44:00.000+08:00

For sometimes, since quite recently, I was wondering what type of asnaf society (zakat recipients) has been created by zakat management centres in Malaysia. Have the asnaf been transformed to a pious rather impious society, independent rather than dependent, optimistic rather than pessimistic, creative rather than passive, industrious rather than indolent society?

Acknowledging the encouraging statistics of zakat collection in some states like Selangor, Penang and Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, I was curious to know what type of sub-culture has been actually developed amongst the asnaf. The curiosity goes beyond the normal questions of the mechanisms of zakat collection and disbursment per se. Instead, it moves a step further to deal with societal development of the asnaf, so that a development of an Islamic society amongst the asnaf could be ensured. In fact it is my strong contention that a substantial percentage of the asnaf's problems could be diagnosed and exact solutions could be able to be prescribed through the development of the Islamic society itself.

With a preliminary thought on it followed by a series of brainstorming with a number of academics from National University of Malaysia (UKM) and MARA Technology University of Malaysia (UiTM), as well as with officers of one of the zakat management centre in Malaysia, I came up with a short article to express my preliminary concern and observation on it. It was published last week in the September 2011 issue of Milenia Muslim. Here it is to be shared with all.

HARI RAYA NOTES

2011-09-01T00:53:00.001+08:00

With family members after Eid prayer

My Hari Raya (Eid) celebration this year was wonderful. After Eid prayer at Universiti Sains Malaysia's mosque, I was visited by a substantial number of ISDEV's foreign students and families who were celebrating their Eid in Penang. They were from Singapore, Medan, Menado, Riau and Aceh. In the afernoon, my family members and I were in Yan, Kedah, visiting the graves of my father and mother-in-law. The next day we were in Ipoh, at my sister's house, after visiting my mother's grave there. Below are some of the recorded activities.

My four children: (Clockwise: Taariq, Afirah, Akif & Ummu)

Some of my Eid's guests

With my sister in Ipoh

Akif preparing ketupat for the Eid

HEART-TO-HEART EDUCATION

2011-08-29T00:36:00.001+08:00

Another topic that seems to be liked by Indonesian colleagues in Medan was what I called Heart-to-Heart Education, or before this, Heart-to-Heart Method in Learning-Teaching Process. During the July trip, two universities requested me to talk on this topic. The first was Universitas Pembinaan Masyarakat Indonesia (UPMI) and the second was Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU).

Prior to this, in May 2009, I have actually delivered this topic for the first time in Medan as a keynote address at an International Conference at UMSU. Subsequently in August the same year, Universitas Asahan Sumatera Utara invited me to deliver the same at the university. Altogether, to date, it is already four times that I was asked to talk on this topic in Medan. And the colleagues in Medan seem to still like it.

Actually, the idea on this topic is not new. I first threw the idea in October 1984 at One-Day Forum on Integrated Education, organised by Education Centre, National University of Malaysia (UKM). In my solicited paper entitled "Some Integrated Aspects of Knowledge in Islam: The Case of Islamic Development Knowledge" (in Malay), I pointed out that Allah SWT has bestowed human beings with two tools of learning and teaching, viz. `aql (literally, the mental) and qalb (literally, the heart).

However, I said, more popular tool used is the `aql, and seldom the qalb, whereas from the story of Prophet Khidr and Prophet Musa, as well as the story of Syeikh Abdul Qadir Jailani, teaching-learning process via qalb was more effective than the `aql.

Unexpectedly, my idea attracted a hot discussion, some in favour of me and some others against me. As those who were speaking were too many, and I myself was actually still not having an in-depth knowledge on the idea then, I changed to become an interested observer rather than a defender. Moreover, another panel who was against my idea was the one I respected, the former Rector of International Islamic University Malaysia, Professor Muhammad Kamal Hassan himself. He was a lecturer of Islamic Studies at the National University of Malaysia then.

I reiterated my idea in public only 17 years later, in 2001, in my Professorial Lecture which was then subsequently published by USM Publisher in 2003. In this lecture, I talked specifically, inter alia, on the Teaching-Learning Method of Islamic Development Management. This time was no more based on merely theoretical and preliminary idea. It was rather based on my practical experiments of the usage of the heart-to-heart education method in my own teaching process. Subsequently, beginning from 2005, I used it in the teaching of the ISDEV graduate courses. The result was fantastic as is reflected by the interest of the Medan colleagues who have the intention in implementing it in their respective universities. Alhamdulillah!

HAPPY EID MUBARAK

2011-08-27T09:40:00.000+08:00

WISHING ALL A HAPPY EID MUBARAK.
May Allah SWT accepts our ibadah during Ramadhan and qualifies us to celebrate the Eid.

MORE NEWS IN MEDAN

2011-08-21T09:08:00.001+08:00

During my last trip to Medan, one idea that seems to attract newspapers most was my argument on the dynamics of Muslim in Southeast Asia. I said at the Public Lecture of Universitas Medan Area that Indonesian Muslims possess knowledge, while Muslims in Brunei are bestowed with wealth, Malaysians with organisational expertise, Singaporeans with brilliancy, and Thais and Phillipinos with bravery. If these are combined, Muslims in Southeast Asia would be able to create a forceful ummah, contributing to the peaceful development of the region. Below are some of the newspaper coverages on the idea.

Coverage in Analisa

Coverage in Andalas

Coverage in Jurnal Medan