KUALA LUMPUR // The keys to stability and economic success in Malaysia, according to the country's former prime minister, are political and personal, involving a "civil" approach to Islam, unwavering commitment to higher education and a genuine respect among citizens for each other.
In an interview with The National that coincided with the Women's Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality conference in the Malaysian capital, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi laid out what he believed were the ingredients of a successful Islamic state.
A successful model of governance "must ensure equal opportunity for all, so no group feels discriminated against", said Mr Abdullah, who served as prime minister from 2003 until he retired in April.
While in office, he approved funding for the Cordoba Initiative, an umbrella project for advancing relations between Muslim countries and the West. "We have to create a meeting point for Muslims and non-Muslims," he said. "Malays would want Malaysia to be an Islamic country, and the government visibly doing things for Muslims."
He said he believed strongly in the concept of Islam Hadari, which roughly translates as civil Islam.
The concept was especially important in Malaysia as one third of the population belongs to minority groups, he said, adding that taking the viewpoints of minorities into account was crucial to cultivating a sense of national identity.
The Malaysian population is a mixture of a Muslim Malay majority and non-Muslim Chinese and Indians.
"I think the practice of democracy is acceptable by the people," said Mr Abdullah, who was also the head of the United Malays National Organisation, the country's largest political party. "There is a feeling that the government cares, that we're an inclusive democracy."
One of the educational policies pushed by Mr Abdullah during his term was to make Arabic compulsory for Muslim students.
"Seven years from now all Muslims in primary and middle school will speak three languages. They will speak English, Arabic and Malay, and for the Chinese kids, they will also speak Mandarin."
This, he suggested, would give young Malaysians an edge in doing business with the West, the Arab world and China.
But he added that it was the schooling pupils received in Islamic studies - gently delivered - that would ensure future generations of tolerant Malaysian Muslims felt connected to their religion and the language in which it was revealed.
"We ensure that we have training for teachers in pedagogy and how to teach religion. And we warn people that if you do anything in the name of Islam, you must not scare them."
Malaysia has recently been praised for its success in cultivating harmony between minority groups and building a strong civil society and national identity. When Barack Obama, the US president, addressed the Muslim world from Cairo last month, he cited Kuala Lumpur along with Dubai as models for Islamic countries to emulate.
Botswana's president, Festus Mogae, also recently said he wanted his country to emulate Malaysia's social and educational structures. Botswana has Chinese and Indian minorities.
relass@thenational.ae
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
MANDOOB
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The biog
Most memorable achievement: Leading my first city-wide charity campaign in Toronto holds a special place in my heart. It was for Amnesty International’s Stop Violence Against Women program and showed me the power of how communities can come together in the smallest ways to have such wide impact.
Favourite film: Childhood favourite would be Disney’s Jungle Book and classic favourite Gone With The Wind.
Favourite book: To Kill A Mockingbird for a timeless story on justice and courage and Harry Potters for my love of all things magical.
Favourite quote: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill
Favourite food: Dim sum
Favourite place to travel to: Anywhere with natural beauty, wildlife and awe-inspiring sunsets.
Teachers' pay - what you need to know
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.
How to vote in the UAE
1) Download your ballot https://www.fvap.gov/
2) Take it to the US Embassy
3) Deadline is October 15
4) The embassy will ensure all ballots reach the US in time for the November 3 poll
How to help or find other cats to adopt
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2)
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Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
57%20Seconds
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