Speech of YB. Tan Sri Dato' Seri Sanusi Junid, President of International Islamic University Malaysia at the 19th IIUM Convocation Ceremony, 1st Session on 23rd August 2003.
The Honourable Professor Dr. Mohd Kamal Hassan, Rector of the International Islamic University Malaysia,
Members of the Majlis and members of the Senate,
Your Excellencies the High Commissioners and Ambassadors,
His Excellency Sheikh Maktoum Saeed Al Maktoum and members of his delegation from Dubai,
Respected Vice Chancellors, Rectors and representatives of universities and university colleges,
Deputy Rectors,
Members of the academic and administrative staff,
Honoured guests,
Parents and family members,
Ladies and gentlemen,
In the first session of this 19th convocation, the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) will confer degrees on 660 graduates. I am delighted and honoured to offer my congratulations to the new graduates and future national leaders and future leaders of the Muslim ummah, after having worked very hard, you certainly deserve the rewards for your efforts.
Struggling through and graduating from the International Islamic University Malaysia is something to be proud of. But it is not the end of the journey. It is only the earlier phase in your life-long struggle.
As you proudly walked out of the gate of this university, after this graduation ceremony, you should then begin to perform in the outer world so as the university can also be proud of you.
Besides the students having worked hard, the success of the university also depends on the dedication and diligence of its academic and administrative staff. To them we say thank you.
The Majlis and I are fully aware that while students may come and go, the academic and administrative staff always stay a little longer.
While the performance of the students outside the university will decide on the future image of the university, nationally and internationally, it is the staff of the university which is responsible for the attitude of the students while they are studying here. It is therefore important that in whatever is undertaken, our good image must always be upheld as of now.
As has always been said, besides Allah s.w.t., the only permanency in life is change. This is the world that the graduates will be walking into a continuously changing world. It is a great challenge and also a great opportunity.
Graduates will have to decide whether they would like to be mere observers to all the changes taking place around them or to participate, or even initiate and lead, in adjusting, amending, improving, or guiding these movements of change. Opposing change will only delay but not stop the process. We have to ensure that we are not left behind and that we do not lose out in the end.
With international networking of IIUM students we expect our graduates to have a global mentality, as IIUM itself is a global brand name.
On the world stage, imbalances in economics achievements between nations, or between states within a nation, between districts within each state or between each group within the villages, districts or nations, have to be attended to. There is political instability in Muslim nations to look into. Social problems are in abundance in Muslim communities.
In order to face and solve these challenges, young graduates must be mentally, physically and spiritually equipped and alert.
At the outset, young graduates must ask themselves three questions and make one decision, as they leave the university:
Question 1 : What do I want in life?
Question 2 : What do I have?
Question 3 : What can I do with what I have in order to achieve what I want in life?
Decision 1 : Do it.
The answers to these simple naked leadership questions should be revised from time to time as you progress. Only by being thorough and honest with yourself in answering the above questions, can you act decisively with the hope of getting results.
On the global scene, Malaysia’s image is among the best in the developing world, the third world and the Islamic world. This image is not easily earned. It takes time to build.
IIUM is an Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) institution. It is therefore one of the windows through which the Muslim world looks at Malaysia with the help of international students, in cooperation with local students, and the staff who nurtures them, we can up-keep this image of Malaysia, as a model country for Muslim nations.
On 30th September 2002, when I spoke in last year’s convocation ceremony, I said:
“The last convocation (23rd September 2001) was held after the New York World Trade Center was attacked and the United States was threatening to attack Afghanistan. This year (i.e. 30th September 2002) our convocation is held while Iraq is under threat of a second attack by the United States either with or without the United Nations approval after they have failed to track down Osama bin Laden. The war will definitely take place if it is thought to be necessary for us leader to win his re-election.”
The war has taken place, and nobody has won. Osama and Saddam are still alive. Leaders in the United States and Britain are being harassed for giving fake reasons for going to war against Iraq. Iraq did not have weapons of mass destruction, which the aggressors claimed they had. It is proven that powerful nations need not be reasonable. Only the weak are taught to live by reasons.
Terrorism is today rampant. Powerful nations which have the means to terrorise weaker nations manage to link the terrorists, being Muslims, to Islam. Christian and Jewish terrorists are not linked to Christianity or Judaism, by the mass media which are controlled by them.
In order to fight against terrorism, powerful nations have passed laws in their own countries allowing them to invade any country which they think or believe need them to solve their internal problems.
Malik Bennabi, an Algerian scholar has summed up the situation very well. He introduced the word “colonisability”. According to Bennabi, Muslim nations at one time were just perfect for colonising by stronger western nations. The Muslim world was weak, leaderless and lost. Muslim nations became easy prey for the colonial powers. They came, they saw and they conquered. They then exploit and benefit from the resources of Muslim countries. Muslim nations were colonised because they made themselves “colonisable”.
In order not to be re-colonised, Muslim nations need educated leaders like all of you. You should not be content with existing situation in Muslim nations. You should improve on it.
Knowledge in science and technology is of utmost importance. You should equip yourself with the knowledge of the Islamic financial system. Your further education should be top priority.
The university will continue to nurture the talents of our people for it is from this source that our future leaders and innovators will spring.
Today is a great day for all of you, the IIUM new graduates. It is also a great day for your parents who have sacrificed so much to bring you here.
All the academic staff would not mind you leave them, but you must not leave, but bring along with you, as your companion, the knowledge that they have taught. Give of your best at all times.
Remember the values that have been inculcated in you during your years of study at the IIUM. Remember that you are not only representing yourselves but also your respective nations and the Muslim ummah in general.
Thank you.
The Honourable Professor Dr. Mohd Kamal Hassan, Rector of the International Islamic University Malaysia,
Members of the Majlis and members of the Senate,
Your Excellencies the High Commissioners and Ambassadors,
His Excellency Sheikh Maktoum Saeed Al Maktoum and members of his delegation from Dubai,
Respected Vice Chancellors, Rectors and representatives of universities and university colleges,
Deputy Rectors,
Members of the academic and administrative staff,
Honoured guests,
Parents and family members,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Congratulations
In the first session of this 19th convocation, the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) will confer degrees on 660 graduates. I am delighted and honoured to offer my congratulations to the new graduates and future national leaders and future leaders of the Muslim ummah, after having worked very hard, you certainly deserve the rewards for your efforts.
Struggling through and graduating from the International Islamic University Malaysia is something to be proud of. But it is not the end of the journey. It is only the earlier phase in your life-long struggle.
As you proudly walked out of the gate of this university, after this graduation ceremony, you should then begin to perform in the outer world so as the university can also be proud of you.
Besides the students having worked hard, the success of the university also depends on the dedication and diligence of its academic and administrative staff. To them we say thank you.
Image
The Majlis and I are fully aware that while students may come and go, the academic and administrative staff always stay a little longer.
While the performance of the students outside the university will decide on the future image of the university, nationally and internationally, it is the staff of the university which is responsible for the attitude of the students while they are studying here. It is therefore important that in whatever is undertaken, our good image must always be upheld as of now.
Change
As has always been said, besides Allah s.w.t., the only permanency in life is change. This is the world that the graduates will be walking into a continuously changing world. It is a great challenge and also a great opportunity.
Graduates will have to decide whether they would like to be mere observers to all the changes taking place around them or to participate, or even initiate and lead, in adjusting, amending, improving, or guiding these movements of change. Opposing change will only delay but not stop the process. We have to ensure that we are not left behind and that we do not lose out in the end.
Brand name
With international networking of IIUM students we expect our graduates to have a global mentality, as IIUM itself is a global brand name.
Polemas
On the world stage, imbalances in economics achievements between nations, or between states within a nation, between districts within each state or between each group within the villages, districts or nations, have to be attended to. There is political instability in Muslim nations to look into. Social problems are in abundance in Muslim communities.
Menjaro
In order to face and solve these challenges, young graduates must be mentally, physically and spiritually equipped and alert.
Methodology
At the outset, young graduates must ask themselves three questions and make one decision, as they leave the university:
Question 1 : What do I want in life?
Question 2 : What do I have?
Question 3 : What can I do with what I have in order to achieve what I want in life?
Decision 1 : Do it.
The answers to these simple naked leadership questions should be revised from time to time as you progress. Only by being thorough and honest with yourself in answering the above questions, can you act decisively with the hope of getting results.
Malaysia – a model
On the global scene, Malaysia’s image is among the best in the developing world, the third world and the Islamic world. This image is not easily earned. It takes time to build.
IIUM is an Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) institution. It is therefore one of the windows through which the Muslim world looks at Malaysia with the help of international students, in cooperation with local students, and the staff who nurtures them, we can up-keep this image of Malaysia, as a model country for Muslim nations.
War on Iraq
On 30th September 2002, when I spoke in last year’s convocation ceremony, I said:
“The last convocation (23rd September 2001) was held after the New York World Trade Center was attacked and the United States was threatening to attack Afghanistan. This year (i.e. 30th September 2002) our convocation is held while Iraq is under threat of a second attack by the United States either with or without the United Nations approval after they have failed to track down Osama bin Laden. The war will definitely take place if it is thought to be necessary for us leader to win his re-election.”
The aftermath
The war has taken place, and nobody has won. Osama and Saddam are still alive. Leaders in the United States and Britain are being harassed for giving fake reasons for going to war against Iraq. Iraq did not have weapons of mass destruction, which the aggressors claimed they had. It is proven that powerful nations need not be reasonable. Only the weak are taught to live by reasons.
Terrorism is today rampant. Powerful nations which have the means to terrorise weaker nations manage to link the terrorists, being Muslims, to Islam. Christian and Jewish terrorists are not linked to Christianity or Judaism, by the mass media which are controlled by them.
In order to fight against terrorism, powerful nations have passed laws in their own countries allowing them to invade any country which they think or believe need them to solve their internal problems.
Malik Bennabi
Malik Bennabi, an Algerian scholar has summed up the situation very well. He introduced the word “colonisability”. According to Bennabi, Muslim nations at one time were just perfect for colonising by stronger western nations. The Muslim world was weak, leaderless and lost. Muslim nations became easy prey for the colonial powers. They came, they saw and they conquered. They then exploit and benefit from the resources of Muslim countries. Muslim nations were colonised because they made themselves “colonisable”.
Globalisation
In order not to be re-colonised, Muslim nations need educated leaders like all of you. You should not be content with existing situation in Muslim nations. You should improve on it.
Knowledge in science and technology is of utmost importance. You should equip yourself with the knowledge of the Islamic financial system. Your further education should be top priority.
The university will continue to nurture the talents of our people for it is from this source that our future leaders and innovators will spring.
Today is a great day for all of you, the IIUM new graduates. It is also a great day for your parents who have sacrificed so much to bring you here.
All the academic staff would not mind you leave them, but you must not leave, but bring along with you, as your companion, the knowledge that they have taught. Give of your best at all times.
Remember the values that have been inculcated in you during your years of study at the IIUM. Remember that you are not only representing yourselves but also your respective nations and the Muslim ummah in general.
Thank you.
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