WAS it Andy Warhol who said that rather than believing that time changes things, we would be better off changing them ourselves?
Thus, early this week, leaders of the Muslim world, representing members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and League of Arab States, convened in Riyadh for the Extraordinary Arab and Islamic Summit.
The summit offered not only a condemnation of Israeli aggression, but more broadly, a
reinvigorated resolve in the Muslim world to respond collectively to today's most urgent challenges.
In fact, it remains baffling why and how Israel is being allowed to act with impunity and behave as if the institutions and rules set up following World War 2 do not apply to it.
How could it stand to reason that Israel stays entrenched in the United Nations, where nations wrap themselves in the garb of law, legitimacy and righteousness?
And that is why Malaysia's national statement, delivered cogently, forcefully, and passionately at the summit by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, included a proposal for suspending, even expelling Israel, from the United Nations.
No niceties of international law need to be pleaded here for a colonial settler power that consistently thumbs its nose at the rule of such laws, a political entity that is no longer fit to belong among the civilised community of nations, with Malaysian peacekeepers being attacked and terrorised alongside other members of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon by Israeli forces.
The summit was also a noteworthy milestone for Muslim world relations, evidenced by the encouraging albeit cautious signs of rapprochement between certain Gulf Arab states and Iran and the warming of relations between Egypt and Turkiye.
Malaysia is no less critical despite being geographically on the periphery and should seize this opportunity to show support for growing political stability in the Middle East.
This builds on the diplomatic momentum generated by Anwar since taking office as prime minister, where Malaysia is now seen as a key voice among the Global South.
Related efforts have been initiated, with Malaysia, as Asean chair for 2025, exercising its agency to convene the Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council-China Summit.
This will serve to diversify trading and investment options among the three, unlock new growth areas and promote further intellectual and social exchange as a bulwark against radicalism, terrorism and the virulent festering of phobias.
It is promising that Saudi Prime Minister Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had not only committed to attending this trilateral summit next year, but to do so with an expectation to move the needle forward in regional economic cooperation.
In other words, start immediately and have some tangible deliverables achieved before the main event.
This resolve to "getting things done" is refreshing and will go a long way to address criticisms levied against Asean for being a mere talk shop.
Earlier, Anwar also met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi to explore partnership for spanning investment and trade, palm oil and the halal industry, and natural resources and renewable energy.
Up to last year, Egypt was Malaysia's fifth-largest trading partner among African nations, with bilateral trade valued at RM3.35 billion.
The commitment to add greater depth to the comprehensive strategic partnership is matched diplomatically as well, with Cairo lending support to Kuala Lumpur's participation in BRICS.
Yet, while diplomacy remains a priority, more must be done for the Muslim world to keep pace with global change.
In the august halls of Cairo's Al-Azhar University, Anwar, donning his professorial thinking cap, expounded on the imperative of responding to these rapid shifts, which necessitates a commitment not only to knowledge and progress, but to the teachings of faith and the values contained therein.
With faith and values acting as a moral compass guiding our actions, we can root our decisions in higher, more noble goals and ensure that moral responsibility is not sacrificed for personal or economic gain
As time won't change things for us, we have to seize time to change ourselves.
For the first time in a while, it may seem possible that the Muslim world can provide a steadfast and collective voice for justice and progress.
The writer is chairman, Institute of Strategic & International Studies (Isis) Malaysia