Tuesday, 27 August 2024 – In this hybrid seminar, Dr Peter Chang explored the ongoing dialogue between Islam and Confucianism in Malaysia.
REGIONAL SOCIAL AND CULTURAL STUDIES PROGRAMME SEMINAR
The ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute held a seminar titled “Anwar Ibrahim’s Role in Islamic-Confucian Dialogue and its Impact on Malaysia, China and Beyond” delivered by Dr Peter Chang, Senior Visiting Fellow to ISEAS and former Deputy Director of the Institute of China Studies, University of Malaya. Moderated by Dr Lee Hwok Aun, Senior Fellow and Co-coordinator of the Malaysian Studies Programme, the seminar featured Dr Chang’s expertise (Malaysia-China Friendship Association).
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/457188670_910805457753256_199415899512875749_n-1024x577.jpg)
Dr Peter Chang opened his remarks by introducing the three aims of Anwar Ibrahim’s interfaith dialogue: first, to mitigate human conflict over promoting human flourishing; second, to maintain the delicate balance of unity and diversity domestically in Malaysia; and finally, to combat Islamophobia and the clash of civilizations thesis internationally.
Setting up the intellectuallandscape of the discussion, Dr Peter Chang noted that Anwar Ibrahim has been distinct from other Malaysian politicians due to his intellectual role as a Scholar-Official and continued interest in civilizational dialogue since his early career. Together with Osman Bakar, they organised the Centre for Civilization Dialogue between Islam and Confucianism at the University of Malaya in 1995. More recently, in 2023, in celebration of the 1995 dialogue, Anwar Ibrahim organized the Islam Confucian Leadership Dialogue at KL.
Domestically, this discourse and dialogue fits within Anwar Ibrahim’s idea of Madani Malaysia which promotes an inclusive and pluralist Malaysia. This has been encouraged by getting Islamic NGO groups, public intellectuals and activists to build dialogues across various groups. Promoting inter and intra-civilisation initiatives between faith groups help to bridge religious divides and forge a common middle ground and manage conservative pushbacks. In the context of Islamic-Confucian dialogue, such interfaith debates can occur as Confucianists have a more open view of the afterlife, an important tenet for other Abrahamic religions.
In the international arena, Dr Chang shared that such dialogues help to combat Islamophobia and promote a moderate and cosmopolitan 21st-century modern Islam. This is particularly so given the recent crises like the Gaza Conflict and growing Islamophobia around the world. The productive response is to counter prejudice, build trust, and foster understanding through civilizational dialogue and a focus on co-existence and multiple pathways.
During the question and answer, participants raised a number of questions. Some asked about the opportunities for dialogue between Islam and Confucianism, and the potential conflicts that could occur between the two faiths. Following up on Dr Chang’s presentation, some sought to clarify the significance and reason for why the first Islamic-Confucian dialogue was held in 1995, and if there were any circumstances that influenced then Anwar Ibrahim to organize such an event. Further, an audience member remarked that current PM Anwar Ibrahim is a politician, and thus asked if such interfaith dialogues were more for his political interests.