Muslim Council of Elders and Malaysia Discuss Ways to Enhance Cooperation in Promoting the Values of Dialogue, Tolerance, and Coexistence

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, met with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, to discuss ways of enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest, particularly in promoting and strengthening the values of tolerance, coexistence, and fraternity among different religions and cultures, as well as addressing the challenges facing the Muslim world.

During the meeting, Judge Abdelsalam highlighted the pivotal role played by the Muslim Council of Elders in fostering dialogue, both between religions and within the Islamic community, to enhance peace and mutual understanding. He emphasized the Council’s ongoing efforts to engage with Muslims worldwide to better understand their most pressing issues and draw inspiration from their historical experiences in building civil peace and societal harmony. He commended Malaysia for being a leading model of diversity and plurality, while maintaining Islamic values, particularly in light of the country’s ongoing development and progress across various fields.

For his part, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, stressed the importance of strengthening efforts to achieve unity among members of the Muslim community to address shared challenges. He expressed his and the Malaysian people's appreciation for the recent official visit by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, to Malaysia in July. During that visit, the Grand Imam delivered a keynote address at the opening of the Malaysian Scholars and Youth Council titled "The Moderation of the Ummah: Lessons from Past and Future Challenges." The Prime Minister expressed his eagerness to meet with the Grand Imam again soon to discuss the key challenges facing the Muslim world and commended the Muslim Council of Elders' commitment to enhancing cooperation with Malaysia in support of the global Muslim community and the promotion of peaceful coexistence.