IPOH: Conflicts and crises continue to impede the economic and social progress of many Muslim countries.
Malaysian Inclusive Development and Advancement Institute (MINDA-UKM) director Professor Tan Sri Dr Noor Azlan Ghazali said Malaysia should leverage its experience in economic development to assist Islamic countries that were still lagging economically.
Noor Azlan said among the 10 Islamic countries with high levels of global competitiveness, Malaysia does not rely on natural resources as Middle Eastern countries do.
"Our experience should be shared with other Muslim countries. To them, Malaysia is a beacon of success.
"How has Malaysia managed to eradicate poverty? How has Malaysia progressed?
"Perhaps we feel a bit behind because we compare ourselves to those who are ahead.
"However, for them, Malaysia is the most advanced country. We serve as a key reference for Muslim countries looking to enhance their capabilities," he said.
He said this during the Economic Cooperation and Development Forum at the 7th World Conference on Islamic Thought and Civilisation (WCIT2024) at Hotel Casuarina@Meru today.
The forum was moderated by Yayasan Perak General Manager Dr Nasreen Khanum Nawab Zadah Khan.
Noor Azlan also suggested that the government should consider the idea proposed by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, to help Muslim countries rise and unite.
He proposed the creation of a special programme for this purpose, which could involve inviting representatives from Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries to Malaysia or vice versa.
Another panellist, Islam and Liberty Network Foundation chief executive officer Dr Ali Salman said that trade was the bedrock of civilisation, and without open trade, civilisation could not progress.
"If you look at the expansion of trade over the centuries, I would say that trade knew no race or religion.
"Trade was essentially an exchange of goods, and when we talk about humanity and the global community, it brings nations and races together.
"We should not impose restrictions when discussing trade, and we should adopt a global approach if we want to be a useful and productive part of humanity," he said.
Ali added that Malaysia had made significant achievements in economic development compared with other OIC countries and could do more to avoid being stuck in the middle-income trap.
"In my opinion, what is hindering progress to the next level is equality.
"I am not referring to economic equality, as I believe that in a free society, different levels of economic classes will exist.
"But I am talking about equality before the law, regardless of race or religion.
"If we want to stand together as a nation, I think Malaysia needs to move towards a truly equal society, and I believe this will have strong implications for economic progress as well," he said.
Indonesia's Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Dr Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno also shared his views on what makes the republic the top Muslim-friendly destination this year.
"We have applied the three Gs method. The first one is ' Gercap ,' which stands for ' Gerak Cepat .'
"You need to move fast because we have limited time, and we need to seize the moment with swift action. But that is not enough.
"That is why we need to implement the second G, which is ' Geber ,' which stands for ' Gerak Bersama .'
"It means we need to move together. Moving together includes collaboration, and this is what we emphasise in the tourism and economy sectors.
"The third G is ' Gaspor ,' short for ' Garap Semua Potensi ,' which means you should leave no stone unturned.
"You need to look for opportunities everywhere, and this can be achieved through collaboration.
"In the spirit of togetherness, Muslims and the global community need to work together, and we need to improve interconnectivity, structural development, and human capital development. That is key for us," he said.