TYT: Maal Hijrah a catalyst for progressive, dynamic Muslim community

Borneo Post

5 hours ago

Tun Musa presented the Maal Hijrah Icon Award (Male Category) to Amir Kahar. -Bernama photo
KOTA KINABALU (June 27): The annual Maal Hijrah celebration should be made as a catalyst for change in the way of thinking, work culture and direction of the Muslim community to become progressive and dynamic.
Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman explained that progressive means a community that is always moving forward in the fields of knowledge, economy, technology, thought and humanity, while dynamic means a community that is agile in facing the challenges of the times.
Musa said it should be remembered that, in an effort to move forward, Muslims cannot abandon the Islamic values ​​and principles inherited from the Prophet Muhammad, and they must plan and build a more perfect future and not imitate other civilizations.
He also emphasized that the main challenge in developing a civilized community is the presence of radical, intolerant attitudes and a moral crisis among the younger generation.
Datuk Seri Norsuadah Basah (third left) with her family after receiving the Maal Hijrah Icon Award (Female Category) from Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman at the state-level Maal Hijrah celebration on Friday. The former newsreader, announcer and producer received RM20,000, a trophy and a certificate. – Bernama photo
Therefore, he called for a comprehensive approach, including strengthening character education, spreading wise da'wah and monitoring social media, must be implemented so that it does not become a tool for spreading hate propaganda.
'Religious institutions, education and the mass media have a great responsibility to jointly create collective awareness about the importance of developing a civilized community according to acceptable standards.
'This responsibility also needs to be fulfilled by each individual by becoming an agent of change and showing a fair, tolerant and respectful attitude towards fellow human beings in life,' he said.
Musa said this when officiating the state-level Maal Hijrah celebration at the Sabah International Convention Centre here today.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor urged Muslims to make the spirit of hijrah the basis for strengthening unity and determination to face new and increasingly complex challenges in today's challenging world.
Hajiji said this isnespecially with the threat of global instability and international geopolitical turmoil affecting several regions in the Middle East including Gaza, Iran, Lebanon and Syria, which majorly impacts international political stability.
'The ongoing war and the Israeli Zionist army's attacks on Islamic territories not only violate international law, but also blatantly violate human rights. This is not a small issue. It can change history and world geopolitics,' he said.
Veteran politician Datuk Datu Amir Kahar Datu Mustapha who was active from 1986 to 2008 and once served as Deputy Chief Minister as well as State Agriculture and Fisheries Minister was selected as the male Maal Hijrah Figure. He received RM20,000 in cash, a trophy and a certificate.
For the female Maal Hijrah Figure, the award went to Datuk Seri Norsuadah Basah, a former newsreader, announcer, and producer active from 1973 to 1978. She also received RM20,000, a trophy and a certificate.