Premier urges Muslims to adopt, use tech to be sustainable players in pursuit of advancement

Abang Johari speaking during the GMBF 2023 gala dinner at BCCK in Kuching on Nov 28, 2023. Photo credit: Ukas

By Yee Mei

KUCHING, Nov 28: Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has urged the Muslim world to adopt technology in pursuit of advancement and explore its uses and be sustainable players against the backdrop of economic challenges and commitment.

Speaking at the Global Muslim Business Forum (GMBF) 2023 gala dinner at the Borneo Convention Centre (BCCK) tonight, he also urged them to let the works of Arab sociologist, philosopher, and historian Ibnu Khaldun guide them in doing so.

“Our esteemed scholar Ibnu Khaldun has proposed the way for us to transform. Using his guidance, the Muslim world can attain greater heights of achievement,” he said.

Ibnu is widely acknowledged as one of the most prominent social scientists of the Middle Ages and is considered by many to be the father of historiography, sociology, economics, and demography studies. With that, Abang Johari hopes Muslims can follow in his footsteps.

On the forum, he described it as a testament to the power of unity, entrepreneurship, and the extensive heritage of Muslim business expertise that has influenced economies and societies across the globe for centuries.

“This forum becomes a pivotal platform in our interconnected world, where borders blur and opportunities transcend boundaries.

“It is a place where ideas meet action, where aspirations are nurtured, and where partnerships are forged to share a prosperous future,” he said.

The Premier added that Muslim-majority economies represent a diverse landscape spanning various regions, cultures, and economic structures.

He then stressed that collaboration, both within and outside these economies, is essential to address common challenges and leverage opportunities in which its advancements can be contributed via initiatives like joint investments, technology sharing, and knowledge transfer.

Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim; Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Professor Dr (H.C.) K.H. Ma’ruf Amin; Sarawak Deputy Premier cum organising chairman of GMBF 2023, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan; KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific chairman, Tan Sri Majid Khan; and Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture president, Abdullah Saleh Kamel, were among those present.

Themed ‘Innovations and Transformation in Islamic Economies’, the forum will be held for three days from Nov 28-30 at BCCK. — DayakDaily