Jan-June 2017 AL MISBAH THE LANTERN-

ISSN: 0128-8377 IIUM NEWS BULLETIN http://www.iium.edu.my

SAUDI, IIUM SOLIDIFY 34-YEAR OLD RELATIONSHIP

ENCOURAGING UNIVERSITY SAUDI, IIUM IIUM DEBATE WINNING REVIVING MUSIC STUDENTS TO REGISTER AS SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP STREAK CONTINUES AND CULTURE IN IIUM VOTERS

PAGE 5 PAGE 9 PAGE 14 PAGE 17 PAGE 2 Al-Misbah TABLE OF WORK WITH PASSION CONTENTS EDITORIAL PAGE 2

RECTOR’S FOREWORD PAGE 4 EDITORIAL BOARD NEWS PAGE 5

Advisor Hon. Rector PAGE 17 Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Zaleha Kamarudin EVENTS

Editor in Chief Assoc. Prof Dr. Ismail Sheikh Ahmad SPORTS PAGE 27

Editorial Mazlan Yusof PAGE 28 Amran Baharum OPINIONS Roslan Rusly

Promotion Committee Office of Corporate Communication (OCCM)

Concept Design Hamizuddin Soid Hamidi

Graphic Designer Nur Hanim Saleh Azrai Rahman

Photographers Noor Azman Shah Ismail Samsuri Abdul Jalil Muhamad Nizam Samsudin PAGE 5 PAGE 6 Finance Administration & Distribution Committee Nurul ‘Ain Mohammed Noor Zulia Mohammad Ali Noor Azlin Ahmad Musbaha

Student Committee IIUM Today

Articles & Published by Office of Corporate Communication International Islamic University

Printer PAGE 10 PAGE 11 Naga Global Print (M) Sdn. Bhd.

IIUM News Bulletin welcomes articles from all contributors especially staff and students of the IIUM. Contributions can be submitted to the e-mail address or address listed above. PAGE 17 PAGE 18 Al-Misbah PAGE 3 EDITORIAL News Bulletin editorial

IIUM News Bulletin reemerges with a new look. This But the world has seen how even with these types of new look represents a spirit of renewal where IIUM, essential knowledge, without the ability to appreciate the Garden of Knowledge and Virtue has reached a art and culture that truly enrich the human soul, youth turning point since it opened its doors in 1983. For the would not be able to fully realize their potential and past thirty-four years, IIUM has made its mark as the aspiration. With that in mind, IIUM has continued to provider of a comprehensive quality Islamic-based pursue the culture of virtue; the philosophy of life higher education to Malaysia and the world. that values moderation, and appreciation of art and culture that begins with what already has existed in For more than three decades, IIUM has invited the the society that we are born into. But the artistic and Muslim world to send its young to be educated in the cultural appreciation can only be present in oneself true sense of the word. The message to the world was with the accompaniment of what the French called s loud and clear: for the Muslim world to be redeemed, voire-vivre, kindness and respect towards others. May education for Muslim youth has to be comprehensive we all be guided towards what is righteous. encompassing the temporal world and the hereafter This IIUM has done remarkably well. It equips the Muslim youth with knowledge of the natural and technical sciences, humanities and social sciences.

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Forewords by Rector

I am extremely pleased that the IIUM News Bulletin RECTOR'S is back in circulation with a new look. I regard its reemergence that occurs when our university is riding high after the visit of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to IIUM Gombak for the FOREWORD conferment of Honorary Doctor in Political Science as a very good sign. His Majesty’s visit was such a momentous occasion for IIUM since it further solidifies our University’s special relationship with the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that has blossomed since IIUM opened its doors thirty four years ago.

I would love to see the IIUM News Bulletin to continue highlight stories of significant human value and interest especially that of our students in the Garden of Knowledge and Virtue. IIUM as a purve or of quality comprehensive Islamic- based higher education also has to be seen as an incubator for healthy development of students’ appreciation of art and culture as manifested by the recent CITRA annual musical concert where musicians and cultural performers consisting of students from practically every kulliyyah. Without the inculcation of high culture and appreciation of the arts among students and staff, our objective to produce highly educated citizens who possess the right virtue would be incomplete. Budi or virtue makes the individual whole!

Alhamdulillah, the first there months of 2017 have been a good one for IIUM with the visit of King Salman to the Gombak campus being the main highlight. In June, MOHE declared IIUM as one of the top ten public universities in Malaysia with its divinity and theology study as one of the world’s Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Zaleha Kamarudin best. IIUM continues to in the forefront of research and publication in Islamic banking and finance. Indeed, we have so many things going our way but we should never rest on our laurels because there is more hard work ahead in these challenging times.

May IIUM continue to prosper in 2017 and beyond with IIUM News Bulletin on hand to archive it for posterity.

Wassalam Al-Misbah PAGE 5 NEWS

By Azreen Azirinee Azizi 1/3/2017

The visit of King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to IIUM on 28 Februari 2017 to attend a special convocation symbolises a reaffirmation of friendship and linkage between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

Tan Sri Dr. Rais told IIUM Today that “It was a great honor for IIUM to have the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques coming to our campus and to receive the Honorary Doctoral Degree that was conferred by the University’s Constitutional Head, Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah.”

Asked about possible contribution of the Saudi government towards IIUM, Tan Sri Rais said it would be to the discretion of King Salman.

Tan Sri Rais, IIUM President, Delivering his welcoming He said, “If His Majesty wants to extend a gift in the form of monetary remarks at the Special Convocation for King Salman. fund we welcome it, if he does not we will not create any inquiry about it. That is Islamic and that is budi in itself.”

He also believed that in the long run IIUM and KSA will have something that will greatly benefit both sides. For a start, he added, there are already over 100 sponsored students from Saudi Arabia IIUM and “that is very good”. PRESIDENT: “IIUM also will be encouraging more Saudi students to study here.” Tan Sri Rais indicated that more Saudi students would be studying SAUDI KING’S here with their family and we welcome them. VISIT TO IIUM In his speech during the conferment ceremony, Tan Sri Rais highlighted on King Salman’s generosity, support and concern for many organisations and committees had not gone unnoticed by SYMBOLISES muslims around the world. REAFFIRMATION IIUM has conferred an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Philosophy and the Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award on King Salman not only as a recognition of friendship, of cordiality, and of Islamic OF FRIENDSHIP brotherhood, but also to appreciate the King’s generosity and contribution to the ummah at large.

The special convocation was witnessed by more than 1,000 attendees, among them were Defence Minister, Datuk Seri , Higher Education Minister, Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, Deputy Higher Education Minister, Datuk Kain Ching, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Dr. Asyraf Wajdi Dasuki, and IIUM Rector, Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Zaleha Kamarudin.

There were also guests from the diplomatic missions in as well as media representatives from Saudi Arabia and the international media. PAGE 6 Al-Misbah

“MORE SAUDI STUDENTS TO STUDY IN MALAYSIA”- A RECOGNITION OF OUR UNIVERSITIES, SAYS IDRIS JUSOH

By Azreen Azirinee Azizi 1/3/2017

More students from Saudi Arabia are expected and educational cooperation between institutions of to enroll in Malaysian universities following the higher learning of the two countries. signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, Higher Through this MoU, it is hoped to promote technical co- Education Minister, Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said operation in the exchange of academic staff, teachers, yesterday. trainees, experts and students, information on the system and structure of higher education, reforms “This shows the recognition of the Saudi Government and new educational technologies, and other areas of towards Malaysia’s higher education,” Datuk Idris co-operation that are beneficial to both parties. said, adding that “this recognition will lead to more students from Saudi Arabia studying here and vice According to IIUM President, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Utama versa, there would be a similar increase in Malaysian Dr. Rais Yatim, the MoU will not only benefit Saudi students studying in Saudi Arabia.” Arabian students but also Malaysian students at large.

The MoU signed by the Saudi Arabian Labour and King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud visited IIUM and Social Development Minister, Dr. Ali Nassir Al Ghafies Universiti Malaya during his stay in Malaysia to receive and Malaysia’s Higher Education Minister, Datuk honorary doctoral awards. Seri Idris Jusoh, will further strengthen scientific Al-Misbah PAGE 7

Gombak 8/5/ 2017

IIUM Rector, Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Zaleha Kamarudin launch in October 2016, it managed to collect around officially launched the Waqf Ilm programme to RM700,000. the corporate donors and Aspiration Ceremony of IIUM Endowment Fund (IEF) at Banquet Hall, IIUM The programme adopted the concept of cash waqf, Gombak today. donations from corporate bodies and the public as well as deduction from salary among staff. The waqf programme was launched in line with the government’s hope to ensure the sustainability of At the launch, IIUM acknowledged generous parties source of income for centers of higher education who had contributed to the waqf where they were in Malaysia as stated in the UniTP Purple Book, categorized as Gold donors. Strategic Plan Higher Education Malaysia. The ultimate objective of the plan was to reduce As a department, IEF is responsible to find funds for dependency on the source of income from the IIUM students with good academic achievement but government and existing donors. who require financial assistance. Through the funds collected from the donors and corporate bodies, IEF IEF hoped, ultimately, to collect as much as RM1 had spent around RM10.5 million which was utilized billion to help needy students of IIUM. Since its by 4,323 recipients in 2016.

OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF IIUM KNOWLEDGE WAQF ILM FOR CORPORATE SECTOR PAGE 8 Al-Misbah

Kuantan 15/5/2017

International Islamic University its own community as well as the Malaysia (IIUM) Kuantan Campus surrounding population with early IIUM launched the IIUM Family Health or initial treatment before serious Clinic for IIUM community and the cases were referred to the hospital. FAMILY general public in Kuantan. It was officiated by IIUM Rector Prof Dato’ This clinic is headed by Prof. Sri Dr. Zaleha Kamarudin. Madya Datin Dr. Faiza Abdullah and HEALTH assisted by two Medical Officers The IIUM Family Health Clinic and 10 medical staff consisting of CLINIC OPENS will offer health check facilities. a pharmacist, lab assistant, nurse This clinic was previously located and driver. Among the facilities ITS DOORS TO within the Kuantan campus area. offered are outpatient clinic, On January 2017, the clinic was maternity, health check like X-ray, re-located to allow access for the blood check, smoking cessation GENERAL general public. clinic, breastfeeding clinic and general health check. The clinic PUBLIC IN The clinic was officially opened on operates from Monday to Friday February 2017. It is to be regulated from 8.00 am until 5.00 pm. by Department of Family Medicine KUANTAN (Jabatan Perubatan Keluarga) Present at the launch was Dean of under the supervision of Kulliyyah Kulliyyah of Medicine, Prof. Dr. Azmi of Medicine IIUM. Through the Md. Noor, Deputy Rectors, medical clinic services, IIUM hoped to serve officers, staffs and students. Al-Misbah PAGE 9

DEBATE: ANOTHER WIN FOR IIUM AT ASIAN BRITISH PARLIAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP

By Azreen Azirinee Azizi 1/3/17

The IIUM debate team has scored yet another gold at In the competiton held from 7 Oct – 12 Oct, the competing this year’s Asian British Parliament (ABP) Debating teams were given 15 minutes each to prepare their Championship at Prasetiya Mulya Business School defence and were restricted from any external help, (BSD), Jakarta, in a competition perceived as the second including electronic aid. most eminent. With the victory, IIUM scored a hat-trick after winning As icing on the cake, Dhaka-born Bangladeshi, Mubarrat other debating tournaments like the Australasian Wassey, 25, a student of the Kuliyyah of Economics and Inter-varsity Debate (Australs) in July and the United Management Sciences and Ameera Natasha Moore, 23, Asian Debate Championship (UADC) last June. student of the Ahmad Ibrahim Kuliyyah of Law grabbed the first and second spot as overall best speakers. When asked regarding their aspirations, the IIUM team said their target was to become champion of the World The second team that was represented by Ahmad University Debate Championship (WUDC) which will be Syarifuddin Ahmad Fakhri and Sara Abdul Rahim also held in December at Thessaloniki, Greece. They will managed to be among the top ten best debaters of the also be competing at the Oxford Inter-varsity Debate in championship. Oxbridge in April 2017.

The final leg of the debate competition witnessed a Mubarrat Wassey said that the team will definitely be fourcornered fight between Singapore Management working hard to ensure top placement in the two up University (SMU), Nanyang Technological University coming debate championships. When enquired regarding (NTU) and Yale – NUS College (YNC). their preparations, Ameera Natasha Moore said that it included lots of reading, memorizing fact sheets and The motion IIUM defended in the finals was ‘This practise debates. house prefers a world where individuals, upon specific deliberate contemplation, know the outcomes of their In celebration of IIUM debate team success, and choices.’ appreciation ceremony was held on 31 October to honour them. It was intended by President of IIUM, Tan Sri Dato’ A total of 80 teams comprising two speakers took part in Seri Utama Dr. Rais bin Yatim. At the ceremony, the the competition with students from different universities debaters were awarded incentives by the Presidential across the world. Trust Fund. PAGE 10 Al-Misbah

IIUM team at Qatar: From left: Ust. Salman, Ust Salah Awadalla Sidig Mohamed, Nazri Rostam, Abd Rahim Elllias,Muhd Nurfir- man Mohamed and Mohd Ikmal Hakimi

4th INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITIES ARABIC DEBATING Muhd Nurfirman Mohamaed receiving his 3rd Best Speaker for CHAMPIONSHIP ASL Category

IIUM Arabic debate team won second place in the non-native IIUM also made history by becoming the first team Arabic speaker category in the 4th International Universities represented by non-native Arabic speakers to reach the Arabic Debating Championship (IUADC). Debaters from final of the Open Category. Br. Muhammad Nurfirman Qatar University took home the championship title. In the Mohamed was also listed as Third Best Speaker in the competition, IIUM was ranked 9th out of 16 teams which Arabic as a Second Language Category while the students took part. IIUM defeated the team from University of from International Islamic University Islamabad and Khartoum, Sudan in the quarter-final and advanced to the Islamic Science University of Malaysia emerged as first finals after defeating Birzeit University, Palestine, in the and second best speaker, respectively. semi-final round.

Members of the IIUM team are: 1) Abdul Rahim Ellias (KIRKHS) 2) Mohd Ikmal Hakimi (IRKHS) 3) Muhd Nurfirman Mohamed (IRKHS) 4) Muhd Nazri Rostam (IRKHS) Al-Misbah PAGE 11

STRENGTHENING MORAL VALUES THROUGH IIUM REWANG BUDI 2017

Gombak 5/5/2017

Advisor of Socio-Cultural for Malaysian Government who is also President of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim attended the Rewang Budi programme at Mahallah Halimah IIUM Gombak Campus here today.

Rewang Budi 2017 was a programme organized by Office of Deputy Rector (Students Affairs) and BUDI (Centre for University Community Engagement) IIUM and was organized by Office of Deputy Rector (Students Affairs) and BUDI (Centre for University Community Engagement) IIUM.

The main objective of this programme was to provide a platform for the college residence administration and residents themselves to gather under one roof as one community to strengthen a sense of belonging to the university. The Rewang Budi event was envisioned as part of the efforts to inculcate high culture among IIUM community.

The Rewang Budi saw 1000 participants taking part that included Principals of Mahallah, Fellows, and management officers where they performed the gotong-royong in cleaning and sprucing up the mahallah premises. There were also cultural performance like pantun, traditional dance and cultural presentation as part of the Rewang Budi programme. IIUM Rector, Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Zaleha Kamarudin, Deputy Rector (Student Affairs) Prof. Datuk Dr. Mizan Hitam together with the university top management also attended. PAGE 12 Al-Misbah

IIUM STUDENT VIDEO ON RAISING AWARENESS ON STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT WINS FIRST PLACE IIUM students won first place in the Multimedia Video Ahmad Arif and his teammates urged all students who Competition (Mulvec) 2017. Their winning entry was took out the PTPTN student loan to regard repayment of about raising awareness among students to pay back their student loans seriously. For the IIUM team, students their student loans or the National Higher Education who did not take their responsibility of paying back their Fund Corporation (PTPTN). loans were depriving other students the opportunity to study in universities. According to team leader Ahmad Arif Ahmad Shauqi, 23, his team took about two weeks to complete their four- minute long video including shooting for video footage. He also added that he and his teammates chose the topic on IIUM students received student loan because it was a topic that was both relevant to the nation and directly connected to university students a RM 10,000 cash prize like themselves. Other team members of the winning team were Raja Muhammad Haqimi Raja Aris Fadilah, which was presented by 23, and Mohammad Abrar Shahrin, 25. All came from Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design. the Minister of Higher

They received a RM 10,000 cash prize which was presented Education, Datuk Seri by the Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh. Mulvec 2017 prize giving ceremony was organized Idris Jusoh by Ministry of Higher Education and sponsored by Utusan Online. Al-Misbah PAGE 13

IIUM RECEIVES SELF-ACCREDITATION IIUM as a Tier 5 position holder in the Malaysian Higher Education Institution Rating System will now work even harder to ensure its academic programmes STATUS FROM MQA continue to fulfill the criteria lay down by the MQA in its self-accreditation process of evaluation. The MQA will International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) re-evaluate the self-accreditation status every five years to has received the self-accreditation status from the ensure the institution sustains its academic quality. Malaysian Quality Agency (MQA). On top of the self-accreditation, IIUM was recently IIUM was among the five Malaysian public universities ranked 46th in the world in the field of Theology, Divinity and four private higher learning institutions that and Religious Studies by QS World University Rankings received the status from MQA. The institutions and ranked number one in Islamic banking and finance received their certificates of accreditation at aresearch publications by SCORPUS. ceremony attended by Datuk Seri Haji Idris Jusoh, Malaysia’s Minister of Higher Education. The self-accreditation status is a complex and meticulous process. In order to qualify for self-accreditation, a higher The certification by MQA is a tremendous achievement learning institution must first acquire Tier 5 in the Malaysian for IIUM in guaranteeing quality higher education Higher Education Institution Rating System after operating that meets global standards for all its students. more than ten years and then it must wait for an invitation IIUM Rector Dato’ Sri Prof Dr. Zaleha Kamarudin, in from the Ministry of Education for an evaluation process her reaction to IIUM’s achievement, said: “ We are by the MQA. absolutely pleased and proud with this status. All our hard work and planning have paid off. At the same time The other institutions that were also awarded the IIUM also realizes that it could not afford to remain self-accreditation status were Universiti Putra Malaysia, complacent since IIUM needs to sustain its stringent Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, academic programmes in order to compete with Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, other public and private higher learning institutions in Monash University Malaysia, University of Nottingham Malaysia and around the world that have also received Malaysia, Curtin University, Malaysia and their own self-accreditation status”. Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak. PAGE 14 Al-Misbah

Is RUU 355 a back door to ‘HUDUD LAW’?

By Aisyah Shasuddin RUU 355 must be approved by the majority of parliament’s members. Malaysia has been rocked by the issue of amendment for RUU 355 (private bill) that is proposed by Datuk Seri The main objective of the RUU 355 amendments is to in Parliament on 26 May 2016 where increase the jurisdiction of the Shariah Court to allow the the proposal raised the issue of hudud once again.Back Islamic judicial profession. If studied carefully, the contents in 1984, the Act was amended for three times pertaining of RUU 355, Hudud has nothing to do with the application of to penalties on shari’ah offenders. However, this time the RUU 355 amendments proposed since the application around, the issue has become the debate on motion since seeks to strengthen the punishment mentioned in shariah it was proposed by a leader of the opposition party. As penal law. The current penalties can be seen as no more for now, the highest penalty that can be imposed on the relevance to the state and it does not really give the great offenders who commit seclusion, adultery or cohabitation impact to the offenders who are Muslims. Thus, what is according to the state Shariah Criminal Enactment are fine proposed is to increase the maximum penalty that is not exceeding RM5,000 or imprisonment not exceeding consistent with Islamic law as total fines, imprisonment three years or to whipping not exceeding six strokes or any and strokes will be determined by the Legislative Assembly combination thereof. itself.

However, the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act Thus, this bill is not a bill on Islamic law. RUU 355 is a 1965 (Revised 1984) (Act 355) has limit the power of the substantive procedure that all parties, including non- state to approve any law relating to criminal law and Muslims can express their views in the content of the rules a Sharia court judge is only allowed with the penalties of this law. In addition, non-Muslims should not oppose mentioned because RUU 355 is a law passed by Parliament and question about it as amendment 355 is an amendment and enforced throughout the country. Any amendment of relating to the jurisdiction of the Shariah Court. Federal Al-Misbah PAGE 15

MALAYS AMONG THE HIGHEST OF 4 MILLION ELIGIBLE BUT YET TO REGISTER AS VOTERS

By Ajwad Amal system. That is our main challenge,” Fatah added saying 8/3/17 that he is worried about the young generation getting wrong information through social media. Malays are among the highest of more than four million eligible voters who are yet to register as voters, “It is not true that there is no transparency in the election Malaysia’s Election Commission (EC) said today. process conducted by EC as perceived by some people. That is only their perception which is not correct.” “The total count of those who have reached 21 stands at 4.4 million but yet to register as voters. Majority are He said with the outreach programme that have been Malays. We got the statistic from the National Registration carried out such as in universities he hoped this would Department or Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN),” give a good impact on giving awareness about EC’s said Abdul Fatah Mohd Pilus, EC’s Assistant Director of transparency and people power in this country. Voter Education. This morning, Students’ Representative Council (SRC) Currently, EC is working on more outreach and has conducted Voters Educational Talk here at Main engagement around the country to spread awareness Auditorium. They invited speakers from EC to give on the importance of registering as voters. The target is information about EC’s role and simulation on the voting to see an increase in voter registration before the next process. general election that is expected around June 2018. SRC also opened a counter for voter registration on the “One of the main factors affecting registration is the ground in front of Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Mosque. unregistered voters not confident with the election constitutional jurisdictions have established Shariah Courts for Muslims only and Act 355 section 2 also has explain that only Muslims can be tried and sentenced in Shariah Courts.

Some people say that this amendment will introduce hudud law in Malaysia. What RUU 355 proposes is increasing the power of the shariah court and it will only affect Muslims. The options to increase the sentence to the maximum rate are subject to the consideration and selection from the states in Malaysia. What matters is the increased penalty in RUU 355 will give space to the states to ensure greater effectiveness of law enforcement.

All in all, RUU 355 has nothing to do with adding more powers to the Shariah Court to try cases of theft or robbery, rape or even murder. Even if RUU 355 was approved, the shariah court will still be confined to covering cases of adultery and indecency, defamation, adultery and gambling and alcohol. It is quite frustrating when the Act is associated with hudud law by some irresponsible inviduals who maliciously try to cause chaos among the public by deflecting from the main contents of the Act which are needed to safe guard Muslim morality. PAGE 16 Al-Misbah

Petaling Jaya, 2370 8/6/2017 The Centre for Foundation Studies (CFS), IIUM Petaling NEW IIUM Jaya Campus held the Bai’ah Ceremony or pledge taking for all new students at Al-Malik Faisal Hall here today. The STUDENTS ceremony was part of the Ta’aruf (Orientation) Programme which started on 3rd of June 2017.

PARTICIPATED A total 2370 new students, 870 male and 1500 female, were selected among 80,000 applicants who had wanted to be part IN BAI’AH of the IIUM family. Some of the new students had their Ta’aruf Programme earlier at the Centre for Foundation Studies, CEREMONY IIUM Gambang Campus, based on their chosen course of study. The remainder of the students had their bai’ah in the Petaling Jaya Campus.

The ceremony was officiated by IIUM Rector, Prof. Dato’ Seri Dr. Zaleha Kamarudin and accompanied by Prof. Dr. Isarji Haji Sarudin, Deputy Rector of Academic and Planning, Prof. Datuk Dr. Mizan Hitam, Deputy Rector of Students Affairs, Dato’ Abdul Rahim Ahmad, Executive Director of Management Services Division, Dean of CFS, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shamsul Jamili Yeob, Deputy Deans, Head of Departments, Principle of Mahallahs and Lecturers of CFS IIUM.

Dean of CFS, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shamsul Jamili Yeob urged students to actively participate in student clubs and programmes at CFS. Their involvement in student extra- curricular activities will equip them with new set of skills that they might not acquire by being inside the classroom only. He also mentioned that the 2017 Bai’ah Ceremony would be the last to be held in CFS Petaling Jaya Campus. Beginning next year, all new intakes will be registered at CFS Gambang Campus.

About 149 committees made up mostly of students from both IIUM Petaling Jaya and Gambang Campus had worked together to ensure the smooth running of the programme. According to the Programme Manager, Br. Umar Danial, after the bai’ah ceremony, all Departments in CFS will be conducting its course briefings to all new students before classes begin. Al-Misbah PAGE 17 EVENTS

By Mazlan Yusof 3/3/17

The annual concert Citra Muzikal, organised by CITRA, a musical and cultural unit of IIUM, held at IIUM Cultural Centre (ICC) last night was a success. CITRA

The concert with the theme “Budi Setahun, Segunung REVIVING MUSIC AND Intan” (A year of virtue equals to a mountain of diamond) received a rousing welcome from the audience going by CULTURE IN IIUM the enthusiastic applause throughout the concert.

In attendance was IIUM President Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Added to the mix throughout the concert was a Utama Rais Yatim, IIUM Rector, Prof. Dato Sri Dr. Zaleha professional-level sound and light show. Kamarudin, deputy rectors, and senior figures from the government and music and entertainment industry. The The two MC’s at the CITRA concert were students from main hall of the ICC was packed with audience. Malaysia and Guinea who dazzled the crowd with Malay pantuns (Malay oral poetic forms). The concert saw 131 musical performers showing off their talents which included the gamelan, caklempong, The final musical number of the concert was a rendition angklung, modern percussions, keyboard, violin, flute, of a song whose lyrics was penned by IIUM President drums, guitar, accordion. called “Budi Tamadun Kita” (virtue is our civilisation).

All the performers were full time IIUM students At the end of the exciting two-hour long concert Tan Sri coming from different kulliyyahs and departments. The Rais announced that a RM50,000 budget allocation was to performers were supported by vocal groups, singers, and be set aside to sustain CITRA’s amazing development into dancers. a university asset.

The songs were in tune with the concert ‘s theme, mostly If anything to go by based on last night’s CITRA concert, about the value of virtue and good deeds. Together they the President was confident the unit would become the all put up a rousing foot-tapping Malay and contemporary platform to showcase IIUM as well as the Malay-Muslim musical numbers and dances. cultural heritage to the world. PAGE 18 Al-Misbah

INCULCATING HIGH CULTURE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Gombak, 18/5/2017

The Government Socio-cultural Advisor Tan Sri Dato’ SEBUTIK hoped to assist the nation that is developing Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim cum President of IIUM rapidly in all aspects of human activities, to embrace launched the Semarak Budaya Tinggi (SEBUTIK) high culture practices that are related to daily life programme on 18 May in IIUM Gombak. activities and human interactions.

SEBUTIK is a series of programme to inculcate high Tan Sri Rais also cautioned about how the nation’s culture concepts among people from different walks of development could collapse if cultural values were life, especially university students as they will lead the to be taken for granted especially for a country with country in future. The programme was inspired by Tan multi-cultural background like Malaysia. He further Sri Dr. Rais following the Kongres Kebudayaan 2017 added that a stronger sense of cultural bonding which was held at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and oneness among its people was necessary for (UKM) recently. to be respected internationally.

In his speech, Tan Sri Rais called for a serious and Several activities were organized in conjuction with the integrated effort to inculcate high culture among campaign such as cultural talk, motivational camp, the younger generation especially among university seminar, and charity drive. IIUM Rector Professor Dato’ students. This high culture is essential for the younger Seri Dr. Zaleha Haji Kamarudin and other university generation as it could lead to the creation of a dynamic senior administrators were also present at the event Malaysian society and in parallel with the vision of which was held at Cultural Activities Centre (CAC) IIUM. making Malaysia a developed nation with high cultural values. Al-Misbah PAGE 19 SHAS MOSQUE Ihya Ramadhan Programme to Celebrate Ramadhan

Gombak, 26/5/2017

The Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah (SHAS) Mosque of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) held a “Bubur Lambuk” cooking event at Foyer 1, Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Mosque, IIUM Gombak campus.

The “bubur lambuk” was one of the many programmes included in the Ihya Ramadhan Programmes to fill the month of Ramadhan with meaningful spiritual activities on a collective level such as Qur’an recitation, Iktikaf, breaking of fast, and qiyyamulail.

The cooking of the bubur lambuk started at 8 a.m where briefing for volunteers was conducted after breakfast. Deputy Rector of student affairs, Prof Datuk Dr. Mizan Hitam was among the volunteers including personnel from Daya Bersih and Kulliyyah of Engineering. The Director of SHAS Mosque, Dr. Abdul Salam later launched the Ahlan Wa Sahlan Ya Ramadhan programme of 1428H/2017 with the preparations for cooking the bubur lambuk kicked into high gear.

Cooking and packing of the bubur lambuk was completed before Zuhr prayer. The distribution of the bubur lambuk packs began at 1.30 p.m and by 5 p.m all packs were collected. PAGE 20 Al-Misbah

IIUM PRESIDENT AND RECTOR ATTEND IFTAR WITH STAFF

Gombak, 13 /6/2017

President of IIUM,Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim joined university staff for breaking of fast (Iftar) at Banquet Hall. Also in attendance were Rector Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Zaleha Kamarudin and top management staffs.

At the event, Tan Sri Rais also presented financial aid to nineteen staff. They included staff who were single parents, staff with family members suffering from chronic medical ailment, and staff with special needs. In his speech, Tan Sri Rais talked about the need to increase Muslim generosity to help those in need in any way that they can. It could be in the form of money, time, energy or even skills. He added, a Muslim spiritual pursuit would be wanting, if they do not spare a serious thought for those who are less fortunate then himself. Al-Misbah PAGE 21

Jogjakarta Carving Exhibition BY KAED STUDENTS A SUCCESS

By Nur Syazwani Ibrahim 12/12/16

An exhibition of the “Wonders of Carving in Jogjakarta” by third year students of the Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design (KAED) was successfully held in IIUM campus here from 13 to 15 February, attended by visitors from inside and outside the university.

The exhibition this time was quite different from before because it was associated more with entrepreneurship by making products like paintings, handicrafts, including copper tooling of Jogjakarta, for sales. The products were mainly carvings on five materials which covered wood, silver, pottery, stone and leather.

“Preparation for the exhibition was made in our class of Heritage and Contemporary studies last semester.But most of the displayed products were originally brought from Jogjakarta,” said the exhibition’s programme manager, Muhammad Syarafuddin Ahmad.

Some of the products were also made by the students and the most attractive one was copper tooling made by Nurul Aqila that cost RM7000. Besides that, other products included sketches, paintings and embroideries.

“IIUM President Tan Sri Rais himself bought six canvases, one mural and one sketch,” Syarafuddin added.

This event managed to attract a number of visitors, both outsiders and insiders, as it displayed many carving designs that were very unique. Even though their features were quite similar with the Malaysian type of carvings, they were more complex in terms of its usage.

“It’s amazing and I’m proud to be a Javanese,” said Kartika Purwandani, one of the visitors from the Kulliyyah of Education.

Syarafuddin hoped the event would help prepare junior students in organizing future exhibitons on art and culture of Jogjakarta. PAGE 22 Al-Misbah

to encourage more staff to conduct research in line towards IIUM HONORS ITS making IIUM a more research-oriented higher learning EXCELLENT STAFF AT institution. The 2017 Quality Day celebration was all the more meaningful as in 2016 IIUM had received its Self-Accreditation Status Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA) from the Ministry of QUALITY Higher Education (MOHE) in which university was given the trust to self-accredit its academic programmes .

Nearly 2,000 of IIUM community together with Rector of IIUM, DAY 2017 Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Zaleha Kamarudin and senior university officials attended the quality day celebration. Also in attendance Gombak, were representatives from the Immigration Department of 27/4/2017 Malaysia, National Registration Department (JPN) and The National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN). IIUM honored its excellent staff in the Penganugerahan Pekerja Cemerlang (Excellent Below is the list of award categories: Staff Award) ceremony in conjunction with IIUM 1. Zaid bin Thabit Award Quality day 2017 at Main Hall, IIUM Cultural 2. IIUM Journal Award Centre (ICC) here today. 3. Highest Number of Publication in Citation - Indexed Journal Award IIUM Quality day is an annual celebration that 4. Ismail Al’Faruqi Publication Award – Book with high impact acknowledges and honors staff who have given 5. The Most Productive Researcher Award exemplary services to the university from 6. Murabbi Award among both the administrative and academic. 7. Staff Sport Award This years’s Quality Day carried the theme 8. Administrative Staff Award “Quality Through Action”. Staff who excelled in 9. President’s Budi Award their work were honored in 11 award categories. 10. Mahallah Award There were also categories for best researchers 11. Quality Agency Award Al-Misbah PAGE 23

IIUM AND IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT OF MALAYSIA ESTABLISHED STRATEGIC COOPERATION Gombak, 6/1/2017

IIUM and Immigration Department of Malaysia signed a The strategic cooperation would also encompass jointly strategic cooperation agreement in a formal ceremony organized training courses. This would facilitate greater held at Banquet Hall, IIUM Gombak Campus. efficiency for IIUM in dealing with issues relating to foreign students whose number of enrolment continues Rector Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Zaleha Kamarudin and Deputy to grow. At present, about 5,055 international students Rector (Internationalization & Industry and Community are studying in IIUM which makes it the highest among Relations), Prof. Dr. Abdel Aziz Berghout signed on higher learning institutions in Malaysia. For IIUM, its behalf of IIUM while the Immigration Department of Centre for Strategic Continuing Education & Training Malaysia was represented by its Head Director, Datuk (CRESCENT) would be playing a key role in running the Sri Haji Mustafar Haji Ali and Director of Corporate training course. Planning and Strategic, Datuk Azlan bin Johar. Also in attendance were President of IIUM, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim and other senior IIUM and Cooperation between IIUM and Immigration Department officials. Immigration Department is the Among the cooperation that would be taking place exchange of expertise in terms between IIUM and Immigration Department is the exchange of expertise in terms of research and sharing of research and sharing of of knowledge leading to both parties to run internship programmes for students and staffs. knowledge PAGE 24 Al-Misbah

INAUGURAL LECTURE BY DIRECTOR GENERAL, IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT OF MALAYSIA, DATO’ SRI HAJI MUSTAFAR BIN HAJI ALI “BORDERLESS WORLD: SAFEGUARDING SOVEREIGNTY OF THE NATION”

Gombak, 19/4/2017

Director General Immigration Department of Malaysia, world faced by governments around the world. Issues Dato’ Sri Haji Mustafar bin Haji Ali delivered a Grand such as cross border crossing, influx of refugees, and Lecture in conjunction with IIUM Global Forum held at labor migration would affect how government agencies Senate Hall, IIUM Gombak Campus today. and related institutions operate.

He gave the lecture in front of 200 students and staff on Present at the lecture were IIUM President cum the topic “Borderless World: Safeguarding Sovereignty Socio-Cultural Advisor for Malaysian Government, Tan Sri of The Nation”. The lecture was a follow-up from the Dato’ Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim, Rector, Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. teamwork strategic agreement that was signed by IIUM Zaleha Kamarudin, Deputy Rector (Internationalization and the Immigration Department last January. One of & Industry and Community Relations) IIUM, Prof. Dr. outcomes from the strategic agreement was to organize Abdelaziz Berghout, Immigration officers and students. a series of forum by inviting officers from Immigration Department of Malaysia to share their experience and knowledge that would benefit the IIUM community.

This forum was organized in light of the new and complex challenges brought by globalization and the borderless Al-Misbah PAGE 25

PRE-CONGRESS ON CREATIVE CONTENT TO HELP FORMULATE AND PROMOTE LOCAL VALUES AND CULTURE Gombak, Radzi, writer Datuk Dr. Anwar Ridhwan, Dr. Shafizan 19/4/2017 Mohamed from Communication Department, IIUM and Professor Mohamad Md Yusoff, Centre of Centre for International Islamic Culture (CITRA) of Communication Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia International Islamic University Malaysia IIUM hosted (USM). Director of CITRA IIUM, Dr. Mahadi J. Murat the Forum Discussion on Cultural Pre Congress 2017 moderated the forum. Among the top issue debated was on Creative Content held at Conference Hall, IIUM the lack of local contents intended for a global audience Cultural Centre (ICC) today. as had been successfully achieved by content creators from India, South Korea and Iran whose success stories The theme of pre-congress was “Cultural Heritage and can be the template for local creators. Hj. Burhanuddin Creative Content Industry ” and was attended by figures whose media content company created and owned the from the filmmaking industry, broadcast and satellite hugely popular of Upin dan Ipin characters, urged local television, independent electronic content creator, content creators not to create contents meant only for political activist and academic. The keynote speaker the local Malaysian market since it was a small one of was Tan Sri Johan Jaafar formerly of the Media Prima only 30 million. They should instead think global of the Group. over 200 million speakers of the Malay language.

Other figures included Vice President of Malay Business Resolutions from the one-day forum would be forwarded section at ASTRO, Dato’ Khairul Anwar Salleh, film to the. Cultural Congress 2017 which would be taking producer and director Datin Paduka Shuhaimi Baba, place on 15 April 2017 at Universiti Kebangsaan Operation Director, founder and producer from Les’ Malaysia (UKM) and would be officiated by the Prime Copaque Production Sdn Bhd, Haji Burhanuddin Md Minister. PAGE 26 Al-Misbah

Kuala Lumpur, 11/6/2017

Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) held the Siswapreneur Showcase programme at Boulevard Central, Berjaya Times Square from 9 until 11 June 2017 and carried the theme Hayati Ramadhan, Syukuri Syawal.

The programme intended to build confidence among students in putting into practice knowledge and entrepreneurship skills they have acquired. The institutions which participated were Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn (UTHM), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) , Universiti Malaysia (UMT), and polytechnics and community colleges including those from and Sarawak. STUDENTS SHOWCASE THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS AT SISWAPRENEUR PROGRAMME AT BERJAYA TIMES SQUARE

Activities at the Siswapreneur programme included sharing sessions by Biz Feed Gen-Y students’ entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship challenge called Real Business Challenge, product demonstrations, fashion and makeup tutorial from students. Products made by stduents were also on sale including those from IIUM who were promoting their biscuits, scarfs, and beverages.

Chief Secretary of Ministry of Higher Education Tan Sri Dr. Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur attended the programme on day two to show her full support to the young entrepreneurs. She said that MOHE would always support platforms which help encourage more student participation in entrepreneurial activities so that Malaysia would be able to achieve the status of high income nation faster. She hoped more students would opt entrepreneurship as the preferred career option once they have completed their studies. Al-Misbah PAGE 27 SPORTS

Gombak, 19/4/2017

Other than a sterling name it has created for itself in academics, research and debate, IIUM has also built IIUM SALUTES quite a name for itself in student sport activities.

Three of its student athletes Muhammad Nasharuddin ITS Ismail, Norlina Ahmad Zainal and Mohd Syafiq Danial Wan Shariman have brought IIUM’s name to the world stage in the sports of rugby, field hockey and karate OUTSTANDING respectively. Their success was due in part to IIUM Sports Development Centre (SDC)’s successful athletics development programme in honing sports talents among STUDENT students on campus. ATHLETES Muhammad Nasharuddin is a regular in the Malaysian national rugby team and was part of the team that won silver medal at the Singapore SEA 7’s in in April of this year. He also has vast experience on the international stage competing in the Asian rugby 7’s in Hong Kong in September last year as well as the Cockburn 7’s in Australia in February this year.

Nasharuddin, who is IIUM sportsman of the year 2016, along with the Malaysian squad will be hunting for gold later this year in the Kuala Lumpur SEA games. Norlina has represented Malaysia which will be competing for a medal in the SEA games in August later this year. The student from the Kulliyyah of Economics has taken part in a pre-SEA games friendly in Australia earlier this year and she represented Kuala Lumpur in the Malaysian Women’s Hockey League 2016 where her team won bronze. Mohammad Nasharuddin Ismail in action during Malaysia vs France match at World University Games 2016, Swansea, Wales Mohd Syafiq, a student also from the Kulliyyah of Economics, won four medals last year in the Majlis Sukan Universiti Malaysia games as well as the Higher Education Institution games in 2016. Three of them being gold medals. The first year student also represented Malaysia at the Intercollegiate Games in Taiwan recently.

The success of IIUM student athletes on international level has done justice to IIUM university sporting logo, the Mustangs with its slogan “Prancing Higher”. Deputy Rector of Student Affairs, Professor Datuk Mizan Hitam, in his comments said the students’ success reflected the aspirations of IIUM in producing “Thinking Athletes with Holistic Personalities”.

There will be a formal event to honor IIUM athletes later Mohd Syafiq Danial Wan Shariman doing his routines in the semi final at the National Intercollegiate Athletic Games, 2017, this year. Chinese Taipei OPINION

MALAYSIAN ADOLESCENTS: COGNITIVE AND PSYCHO-SOCIAL

Are you interested in the findings on Malaysian adolescents, especially pertaining to contemporary challenges in current digital and global age? The findings are shocking, yet interesting and would definitely be valuable to policy makers, social counsellors, community workers, parents, teachers and the public.

Malaysian Adolescents: Cognitive and Psychosocial presents research findings of 4404 Malaysian adolescents (16 years old) nationwide.

This book contains eleven chapters with an array of topics such as smoking, drug taking and alcohol Title: Malaysian Adolescents: Cognitive and consumption, self-esteem and resilience, relationship Psychosocial with families, cognitive reasoning abilities, moral Editors: Lihana Borhan, Fatimah Hashim & choice and moral reasoning; citizenship literacy and Juliana Othman their aspirations. Publisher: IIUM Press Price: RM57.00 Being a research-based book, the results are supported Pages: 129 by primary evidences which add validity to the findings. Year: 2014

Premier International Islamic Research University OFFICE OF CORPORATE COMMUNICATION International Islamic University Malaysia Level 2, Rectory, OfficialIIUM IIUM Gombak Campus P.O Box 10, 50728 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia OfficialIIUM www.iium.edu.my