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34 35 38 th IIUM Convocation 2022 38 th IIUM Convocation 2022 CONFERMENT OF HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS RECIPIENT OF HONORARY DOCTORATE CONFERMENT OF HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS BIOGRAPHY OF Y.BHG. DATO SRI SYED HUSSIEN BIN ABD KADIR AL HABSHEE Dato’ Sri Syed Hussien Abd Kadir Al Habshee is a prominent diplomat and public figure in Malaysia who has been serving the country in various strategic positions. He obtained his education in Sekolah Menengah Dato’ Jaafar, Johor Bahru, and continued his studies at Universiti Sains Malaysia until he was conferred with B. Soc. Sc (Pol. Sc.) in 1975. He then pursued his master’s degree in International Relations at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Massachusetts USA in 1987. Dato’ Sri Syed Hussien Al Habshee has made a significant contribution to educational, social, and diplomatic development which deserve due recognition from various communities, including the intellectual community and educational institution like the International Islamic University Malaysia. His contributions, among other things, include his effort to advocate the right narratives and discourses on Islam by placing the importance of understanding the true teaching of Islam among Muslims. He has implemented various initiatives to avail strategic avenues to introduce Islam as the perfect guidance on human life, particularly in advocating the concept of Rahmatan lil Alamin. He has advocated the need to place judicious effort to strengthen the role of education in promoting Islamic brands amidst the increasingly challenging society when most of the Islamic teachings are being forgotten due to the extreme enthusiasm for legalistic branding which describes Islam as an exclusive and purely punitive religion. Besides, he has shown his continuous passion and consistent commitment to playing the educational, social, and diplomatic roles. Educational Roles • Promoting Islamic universal values, such as the concept of “Rahmatan lil Alamin” (mercy to all creation) on a global stage. • Introducing Malaysia as a model “rahmah nation”, via various approaches in making the concept accepted by the international community. • Being instrumental in promoting Malaysia as a regional centre of excellence, and contributing significantly to the high increase in the number of foreign students in Malaysia. • Holding the posts as a long-serving member of the Board of Governors of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), a position he holds since the year 2016, as the Chairman of IIUM International Promotion Council Committee and Audit Committee until the present, and as the Chairman of the IIUM Audit Committee from 2016 until the present. • Being a member of the IIUM Staff Service Committee and IIUM Academic Staff Selection Committee from 2006 until the present. • Inspiring and supporting academics to work on research and publication activities which could be used as models to create a society that has good relationships and strong unity, essential to foster harmonious co-existence among them.