Kuala Lumpur, 23 June 2025 – Wadah Pencerdasan Umat Malaysia (WADAH), in collaboration with the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM), successfully hosted a welcoming dinner in conjunction with the MADANI South East Asia Leadership Programme (MSEALP) 2025. The event, held at Ballroom 2, Tamu Hotel & Suites in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, brought together delegates and representatives from Islamic civil society movements across Southeast Asia.
The dinner served as a key platform to build strategic engagement among civil society leaders and Islamic movements from ASEAN member states, fostering discourse, collaboration, and long-term planning on shared concerns and aspirations for the ummah.
The event was graced by the presence of YB Senator Dr. Zulkifli Hasan, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), who delivered the keynote address. In his speech, Dr. Zulkifli described the initiative led by WADAH and IKIM as both strategic and timely. He commended the effort to bring together ASEAN civil society leaders for meaningful dialogue, stressing the importance of visionary planning for the future of the region’s Muslim communities.
Quoting The ASEAN Miracle by Kishore Mahbubani and Jeffery Sng, he highlighted ASEAN as a global success story a region of over 650 million people of diverse ethnicities, religions, cultures, and traditions, surrounded by geopolitical uncertainty yet managing to remain one of the most peaceful regions in the world.
“It is time for ASEAN, particularly its civil society movements, to play a more prominent role on the global stage,” he remarked, underscoring the significance of regional cooperation through platforms such as MSEALP in shaping the future of the Muslim world.
The evening began with welcoming remarks from Dr. Ahmad El-Muhammady, Director of MSEALP 2025, followed by a dinner reception, a gift presentation ceremony, and a networking session among the guests and delegates.
WADAH extends its heartfelt appreciation to all participants, partners, and especially to IKIM and the ASEAN delegates, for making this evening a meaningful success. The event marks a significant step toward strengthening the voice and impact of Islamic civil society across the region in facing contemporary global challenges.
