The 19th General Assembly of the Regional Islamic Da’wah Council of Southeast Asia & The Pacific (RISEAP) was held on Tuesday 3 January 2023 in Kuching, Malaysia where the current AFIC President Dr Rateb Jneid was elected as the Vice President for the Southern Zone.
RISEAP’s Southern Zone comprises of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Western Samoa, Vanuatu, Tonga and New Caledonia.
RISEAP has long operated as one of the most prominent Islamic Da’wah Bodies of the world, established initially by Tunku Abdul Rahman who in the lead up to the formation of RISEAP was vocal about the demand for an Islamic Da’wah conference in the Southeast Asian and Pacific region.
Its 24 nation-members stretch from Indonesia to Western Samoa, including countries such as Sri Lanka, Fiji, Japan, South Korea, Philippines as well as Australia and NZ.
RISEAP is currently presided by the Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tann Sri Dr Abang haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg.
The aim of creating this Da’wah body was so that Muslim countries, organisations and representatives across the Southeast Asian and Pacific regions could progress uniformly and conduct Da’wah in a structured way following developments of science and technology.
The event was also attended by Al Faysal Group General Manager Sheikh Shafiq Khan and National Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdul Quddoos Al Azhari and many other delegates from Australia.
RISEAP’s 19th General Assembly and conference included a Women’s Wing meeting, in which several Australian representatives spoke, including Sr Manal Jneid who raised a number of significant issues on behalf of Australian women and youth and Sr Zubeda Raihman amongst others.
In his country briefing, Dr Jneid told the international audience that every effort must be made to ensure a respectful unity amongst Muslims and stronger links are made with Muslims throughout the world, especially majority Muslim nations.
In January 1978, Tunku Rahman wrote of the objectives of this conference to the Prime Minister of Malaysia as follows:
- To bring together leaders of da’wah movements in the Southeast Asia and the Pacific region for the exchange of views on how best to lay the foundation for future da’wah activities based on the teachings of Islam and the exemplary successful works of missionary movements in the glorious Islamic era of the past.
- To outline the role of Islamic movement in the informal educational system for contribution towards the moulding of strong Islamic character.
- To study the progress of Da’wah movements.
- To strengthen Islamic Da’wah movements through cooperation.
Dr Jneid’s election to the post will ensure that this region will have a more effective Da’wah presence and that positive Islamic awareness will spread throughout Muslim and non-Muslim communities.
AFIC has been Australia’s peak national body since 1964 having established schools, offices and society (Mosque and Mussalla) membership throughout Australia.
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