By Amnah Khalid, for Muslim Mirror,
Kuala Lumpur, August 26: Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Friday (23rd August 2013) launched the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) Islamic City which is set to reflect the university’s success qualities on a multi-faceted scale.
The Islamic City, to be built on 17.6 acres (7.1 hectares) at an estimated cost of RM800 million, would comprise an Islamic Centre, a medical centre, serviced apartments, a convention centre, a hotel, a shopping mall and a food court. It will develop the area providing employment and opportunities and become a model of Islamic moderate modern city for the world to see.The project, which would use water as its underlying concept, is expected to be fully completed within five to seven years.
Najib said that with the implementation of the contemporary findings of modern architecture through the model of Madinah Al-Munawarah, Damascus, Baghdad and Cordoba, the prism of the Islamic civilization model would allow the Islamic City to be set as a new benchmark for excellence in Islamic architecture.
The prime minister said the Islamic City, with its unique design and functions would propel the university to be among the global league of premier universities in the 21st century.
“I believe the Islamic City will boost the IIUM efforts to become the central player in recapturing the historical and central role that Islam had once played in all fields of knowledge to benefit all of mankind,” he said.
“This city will bear witness to the progress of Malaysia as a modern state that truthfully embodies the values of moderate Islam,” he said at the launch of the Islamic City in conjunction with IIUM’s 30th anniversary at its Gombak Campus, near here.
“The Islamic City will be a commercial hub for IIUM and I hope that many will generously contribute towards making this project a success,” he said.
The prime minister noted that the innovative city would be built on the basis of endowment, which would provide for government funds to be saved for the new requirements of IIUM to achieve research university status.
Also present were IIUM president and advisor to the government on social and cultural affairs, Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim, and IIUM rector Prof Datuk Seri Dr Zaleha Kamaruddin.
Earlier on the same day the 1st World Congress On Integration And Islamization Of Acquired Human with theme: “Constructing The Alternative Paradigm Of Tawhid” was inaugurated with thinkers and contributors on Islamization of Knowledge. Over a period of two days Scholars like Dr Dato Abudul Hamid AbuSulayman, Dr. Jamal Badawi, Dato Dr. kamal Hassan presented papers in various discipline and debated on the term Islamization or Islamcisation.