Page 8 - E-BOOK PULSE@FASS ISU NO.02/2023

Issue no. 2 | 2023

Events Towards Enhancing Intercultural
Dialogue for A Harmonious Society

By Dr Lai Suat Yan

Among those present were Prof. Datuk Dr. Azizan Baharuddin, Director of the Centre for Civilisational Dialogue (seated second from right),
Emeritus Prof. Datuk Dr. Shad Saleem Faruqi, Tunku Abdul Rahman’s Chair Holder, Faculty of Law, UM (seated second from left), Dr. Lai Suat
Yan, GSP (standing, fifth from right), Dr. Dr. Alwani Ghazali, Academy of Islamic Studies (standing, fourth from right), and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Roy
Anthony Rogers (standing, eighth from left).
The forms that intercultural including interfaith dialogue take Prof. Datuk Dr Danny Wong, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and
is diverse and can range from the dialogue of life where Social Sciences, gave the opening remarks focusing on the
peoples of different ethnicities and nationalities meet and promotion of cultural events in multiracial Malaysia at the
interact in their neighbourhood and workplaces, to dialogue faculty to foster intercultural understanding and harmony.
of action where people get together to work for a cause or The event organized by the GSP in collaboration with the
reach out to the disadvantaged in solidarity irrespective of Humanistic Buddhism Research Centre was held in hybrid
their ethnic, religious and class backgrounds. mode on 24 May 2023 with the physical event at Lecture Hall
A of the faculty. Students for the course AQD 7013 Gender
Dr. Alwani Ghazali of the Academy of Islamic Studies and Ven. and Intercultural Dialogue and members of the Fo Guang
Jue Cheng, Chief Abbess of Fo Guang Shan for Singapore, Shan organisation were in attendance.
Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia who were speakers at the
forum moderated by Dr Lai Suat Yan, Gender Studies Program On 8 June, Dr Lai Suat Yan was invited to provide input to the
(GSP) shared their experiences on intercultural dialogue Malaysia Harmony Charter as a guideline for harmonious
initiatives and the importance of touching people’s heart as living in the multiracial society in Malaysia. The event was
well as the achievements and challenges faced. organized by the Institute of Islamic Understanding (IKIM)
Malaysia and the Centre for Civilisational Dialogue, Universiti
While women have contributed to enhancing intercultural Malaya (UM) at the Seminar Room A & B, Institute for
dialogue, their roles are not necessarily seen or captured. This Advanced Studies, UM.
occurrs when the focus is on high-profile interfaith dialogue
typically dominated by men or due to the stereotypical Besides providing input for the guidelines, the best practices
association of women with the domestic sphere and the as well as the dos and don’ts and ways to cement the emotive
neglect of women’s contributions to enhance intercultural ties and relationships in multiracial Malaysia were also
dialogue at the community level in their daily lives. discussed.

8 | Pulse@FASS