A number of Moslem delegations from ASEAN countries met in Campus I University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) on Thursday – Saturday (6/14-16). They came from Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Philippine. One of the results of the conference agreement was the declaration of Association of Moslem Community in ASEAN (AMCA).
The director of Postgraduate UMM Dr. Latipun stated, the declaration was previously formulated by a team who represented the various countries. Latipun said, AMCA declaration was the first step to enter the new history of Moslem community entire ASEAN in the next 2015 year.
“We start a new phase in the development of the Moslem history in ASEAN. It is the first Islamic struggle by using modern method in accordance with the modern community demands,” said Latipun who was appointed as the general secretary of AMCA.
Based on the declaration, AMCA had several objectives; first, strengthening the equal understanding, relation and partnership among ASEAN Moslem community peers. Second was strengthening the foundation for the prosperous and peaceful ASEAN Moslem. Third, strengthening the social improvement and the culture development; encouraging the collaboration and partnership in any mutual interest, and the fifth, creating and maintaining the beneficial corporation with others international organization which had the same goal.
Musa stated, the conference was successful enough, although it was the first time conducted. For him, the important thing was the intensity of communication after that first conference. “Later, we will meet more intense for discussing many technical things. Whereas, the arrangement of association rules will be prepared by the general secretary, in advance,” said Musa.
The declaration was read by Prof. madya Dr. Mohammad Zain Musa from Cambodia. Musa represented 14 names of the declaratory who participated in signing the declaration script which was held in Malang. Moreover, the board arrangement was agreed that Latipun as the general secretary and several coordinator of the representative states. Those were: Dr Ahsanul In’am (Indonesia), Nek Mah Bte Batri (Singapura), Prof Dr Datuk Wira Abdul Latief Abubakar (Malaysia), Abdul Hafiz Hile (Thailand) and Prof Madya Mohammad Zain Musa (Kamboja).
The next year meeting was planned would be held in Yala, Thailand. On the next meeting would discuss about the association regulation and the follow-up of the meeting which held in Malang. “Before heading for the second meeting, we will examine the potential community members from Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Laos. While, Timor Leste and Philippine, Insya Allah will join immediately,” Latipun said.
To ease the communication between the community members, AMCA used Malay as the first language; while English and Arabic as the second languages. Malay was selected by AMCA because it’s believed that Malay was mastered by the most community members. “We estimate there are 300 million people who use this language, including Indonesia,” stated Latipun. Language was the common identity which assumed that was important in a association.
Meanwhile, the conference that was divided into several subthemes was running well. This was the first international conference which entitled “Strengthening the Moslem Community in the South-East Asia Region toward ASEAN Community 2015”. The participants consisted of the various representation of states community. Besides Indonesia, the others participants came from Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, and Philippine. (nov/nas/t_rys)
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