37th CONVOCATION PROGRAMME BOOK

38 the phenomena could be attributed to the lack of religious understanding, a critical factor in constructing the moral behaviour of human beings. In early 2019, he again raised his concerns over the deteriorating moral values and religious understanding among societal members and expected the IIUM to come forward to address the issues. Tan Sri plays significant roles in shaping the community’s opinion towards Islam and Muslims. This was clearly demonstrated in his response to the presence of lack of understanding among Muslims when dealing with outsiders. In transforming society, Tan Sri has initiated strategic initiatives to strengthen the role of the mosque education programme. He had mobilised support from various parties to design programmes which should nurture the right understanding of Islamic teachings; and in turn, develop good values and positive attitudes among individuals in the community. Tan Sri Orang Besar Gombak had also proposed the formation of a Steering Committee to oversee the progress of the Kulliyyah's Flagship project on the mosque curriculum development. He aspires to see the elevated roles of the mosque, in that it should be made a centre that nurtures, fosters, and facilitates the progress of Muslims and the community. Educational Tan Sri views the importance of education in transforming society. He underscores the need to turn mosques into community development and transformation centre, instead of being only worship centres. Lamenting the lack of understanding of the religious concept and the absence of internalisation of religious ritual, Tan Sri holds strong to the idea that education programmes at mosques require transformation so as to bring about genuine impacts on the community. He emphasises the essentiality to educate the right meaning and values of Islam instead of having rhetorical religious input or customary rituals devoid of the real Islamic substance. He has facilitated the engagement of IIUM with the Gombak local community and relevant Government agencies, leading to the design and implementation of synergised academic projects. At AHAS KIRKHS, among them are, the Mosque Study Curriculum (MSC), Stress Prevention Programmes (STOP), Mawaddah for Young Married Couples (MYMC) and Social Wellness Campaign (SWC). He believes that each mosque should be active and proactive in educating the community. He sees education as an essential catalyst for community development and transformation and in turn nation-building. On this note, Tan Sri believes in the need to place the right understanding of Islam as fundamental to being a religious person for the benefit of Indonesia. His work has been focusing on the effort to change the negative narrative and perception of Islam which has prevailed over time in many places. He advocates the thought that the present time is the era for intellectual instead of physical warfare. These stands are the epitome of his commitment to transforming the mosque education curriculum. Tan Sri has in many programmes stresses the essentiality of providing the right narratives and discourses on Islam by placing importance on understanding the true teaching of Islam among Muslims through education processes.