Pehin Sri Dr Taib amongst the conference participants

The 13 th Science Conference of the Islamic Academy of Sciences (IAS) took place in Kuching from the 29 th September to 2 nd October 2003. The Right Honourable Chief Minister, YAB Pehin Sri Dr. Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud addressed the congregation of Muslim scientists from throughout the world by calling upon the revamping of the education system. He called on society to get actively involved in science and technology to enhance science for humanity.

“Muslim scientists of today must be receptive to the challenges of globalisation and be ready to adjust to change from the norm,” continued Pehin Sri Taib. “Globalisation,” he said, “…is a game in which the strong and the powerful have the upper hand in world economy, thus challenging the developing economies to be more resilient and competitive.”

“One irony,” Pehin Sri Taib lamented, “is that the past glories of the Muslim Ummah has been surpassed by western civilisation and now we find ourselves having to catch up with the best of the developed world.”

He therefore hoped that the IAS could use the forum to promote scientific learning within the Islamic world by assisting those that are still lagging behind and promoting those that have developed to the forefront of scientific knowledge and expertise.

The other eminent figures who also spoke at the opening were Prof. Abdel Salam Majali, President of the Islamic Academy of Sciences, Jordan; a message delivered by the representative of the HRH Prince Al-Hassan Ibn Talal, Patron of the Islamic Academy of Sciences, Mr. Moneef R. Zou’bi; and a message from the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, HE General Pervez Musharraf delivered by his representative Dr. Mahamed Ali Mahaser.

A recitation of the Holy Quran Surat Ar-Rahman by Al-Ustaz Luqman bin Isa preceeded the speeches.

Jordanian Prof. Abdel Salam Majali, Pehin Sri Dr Abdul Taib Mahmud and Datu Putit Matzen together officiating the conference