Page 202 - VC Message

Leading with Purpose
Messages of the Vice Chancellor SELECTED SPEECHES AND ADDRESSES

International Conference On

Civilisational Dialogue 2025

(ICONCIDI’25)

Opening Remarks by Commemorating 30 Years of Civilisational Dialogue at
the Vice Chancellor Universiti Malaya
of Universiti Malaya

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
Salam Sejahtera and a very good morning.

Yang Amat Berhormat Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, distinguished guests,
esteemed scholars, students, ladies and gentlemen:

1. It is my deepest honour and privilege to welcome all of you to the International
Conference on Civilisational Dialogue 2025, or ICONCIDI’25, here at Universiti
Malaya. Today, we are not only gathering to engage in critical and meaningful
dialogue across cultures, faiths, and civilisations, but we are also here to
commemorate an important milestone — 30 years of civilisational dialogue at
Universiti Malaya.
2. Let me begin by extending our heartfelt congratulations to the Centre for
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Civilisational Dialogue for three decades of unwavering dedication to fostering
understanding between civilisations. And let me express our deepest gratitude
to Yang Amat Berhormat Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, not only
for gracing this event with your presence, but for being a lifelong advocate of
civilisational harmony, wisdom, and justice.
3. Thirty years ago, in this very institution, we began a journey that transcended
academic boundaries — a journey to unite the wisdom of East and West, and to
bridge traditions across time and space. That landmark initiative in 1995, bringing
together Islamic and Confucian scholars, was more than just a seminar. It was a
declaration that civilisations need not clash — they can converge, collaborate,
and coexist.
4. That spirit is more urgent than ever today.
5. We gather at a time of unprecedented challenges. Around us, the world is
fractured by divisions — political, economic, ideological. From the tragic war in
Ukraine, to ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Sudan and elsewhere, we are witnessing
the devastating human cost of disunity and mistrust. More than 117 million people
have been forcibly displaced worldwide. Lives shattered. Families uprooted.
Generations lost to violence and uncertainty.
6. Meanwhile, the East–West divide has deepened. Great-power rivalry has
returned, amplified by trade wars, geopolitical posturing, and the weaponisation
of technology and ideology. The tariff war between the United States and China,
for instance, has already affected hundreds of billions in global trade, destabilizing
markets and disrupting supply chains that millions depend on for their livelihoods.
The IMF warns that a divided world economy could cost the global GDP up to
5% — a staggering loss that humanity simply cannot afford.
7. But the greatest tragedy is not in economics or politics. It is in what we lose
as humans — our capacity for empathy, our ability to listen, and our moral
responsibility to work together for the common good.