KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim described the bestowal of the rank and title of Royal Professor to Tan Sri Dr Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas as a significant recognition for the scholar who has made great contributions to Islamic thought and civilisation.
Describing Syed Muhammad Naquib as someone who is always willing to share knowledge and as a loyal friend, Anwar also expressed his deep gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, for bestowing the title on this eminent Muslim philosopher and scholar.
"Throughout my life, I have been fortunate to be close to several great scholars, and Prof Al-Attas is one of those figures.
"He has provided me with guidance and exposure to various aspects of knowledge, especially when I was a student at Universiti Malaya (UM) and later when I served as a tutor at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)," Anwar posted on Facebook.
Anwar also noted that Syed Muhammad Naquib has had a profound influence on his generation in the field of philosophy.
Earlier today, Syed Muhammad Naquib, the founder of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC), was bestowed by the King the title of Royal Professor, the highest and most esteemed professorship in Malaysia, recognition of his services and contributions to the nation, particularly in Islamic education.
He pioneered the concept of the Islamisation of knowledge, which has been applied in various fields of knowledge, including religious education, history, philosophy, theology, metaphysics, philology, semantics, literature, and arts. – BERNAMA