Speakers: Professor Khoo Kay Kim

City Circle invites you to a stimulating discussion on "Pluralism and Islam: Lessons from Malaysia" with Professor Dato Dr Khoo Kay Kim on Friday 13th April at 6.45pm at 45 Crawford Place, London WIH 4LP. 

How can Islam work successfully in a multiracial, multifaith context? Which civil, social, economic institutions work to foster this? What are the impediments to Islamic tolerance? Should British Muslims be looking to Kuala Lumpur for inspiration rather than Islamabad, Riyadh, Tehran or Cairo when Malaysia provides the Muslim example of modernisation without oil and with democracy? 

Malaysia presents an interesting experiment in Muslim pluralism. While Malay Muslims form just over half the population, there are significant Chinese and India minorities, as well as other non-Malay peoples. Historically Malay culture has been tolerant but has not been able to avoid racial and ethnic tensions, which have sometimes turned 

into riots and sometimes communal politics. What role did the preferential treatment given to Malays under Mahathir's government, at first to help a disadvantaged group, and later to entrench a powerful elite at the top of society, play in inter-communal relations? 

Professor Khoo, four decades ago, helped to frame with others, the Rukunegara, the equivalent of the American pledge of allegiance. These national principles of belief in God, loyalty to crown and country, 

upholding the constitution, respecting the rule of law, and showing good behaviour and morality to all fellow citizens was formulated in the wake of a race riot in Malaysia. Professor Khoo will reflect on this legacy of pluralism and how it plays out today in race politics, and how tolerance can be expressed and promoted in Islamic terms. 

Professor Dato' Dr. Khoo Kay Kim is a distinguished historian who has devoted his career to Malaysian history with the Department of History, University of Malaya in 1964 until his retirement in 1998. Professor Dato' Dr. Khoo is a member of the Board of Directors of Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), a member of the National Unity Advisory Panel, a member of Malaysia Royal Asiatic Society's International Advisory Board and a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of American Asian Review. Professor Dato' Dr. Khoo had also served as a member of National Advisory Council on Culture, Editor of Malaysian Museum Society and a member of National Literary Award Panel. Professor Dato' Dr. Khoo has written numerous books and monographs published by Oxford University Press, Pelanduk Publications, Berita Publishing and ASEAN Academic Press, London. 

City Circle would also like to thank Malaysia Think Tank London for facilitating this event. 

Free entrance. All welcome.