Najib Launches IIUM Islamic City

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Friday 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 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.

"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 Kuala Lumpur.

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.

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.

The project, which would use water as its underlying concept, was 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 civilisation model would allow the Islamic City to be set as a new benchmark for excellence in Islamic architecture.

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.

"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.

On IIUM's anniversary, Najib said he hoped that as a premier international Islamic university, it would play its part as a platform for all Islamic leaders to find solutions to problems in the Islamic world.

"I hope IIUM could provide the intellectual basis or intellectual impetus for world Islamic leaders to come together to resolve conflicts in the Islamic world.

"Do not allow other considerations to separate us in efforts to resolve the ummah's problems," he said.

(Source: Bernama)