JAKARTA - Minister of Religion (Menag) Nasaruddin Umar assessed that Indonesia has a great opportunity to become a new epicenter of the Islamic world civilization. This optimism is supported by economic, political stability, as well as the character of the Indonesian people who are considered capable of becoming the foundation for the birth of a modern Islamic civilization.
Nasaruddin made the statement when opening the National Seminar of the Association of State Islamic Religious Universities (IKA PTKIN) in Jakarta, Tuesday.
"In the future, many people imagine that Indonesia will become a new emerging power of a new civilization, no longer in the Middle East, but will shift to Indonesia," said Nasaruddin.
According to the Minister of Religion, one of Indonesia's main assets is macroeconomic resilience which remains maintained in the midst of global geopolitical dynamics. At a time when a number of countries in the Middle East region are still facing prolonged conflicts, Indonesia is able to maintain economic growth in the range of 5 percent with a relatively low and controlled inflation rate.
"Calm thinking will only be born in a calm country, whose economic stability is strong," he said.
Apart from economic factors, Nasaruddin assessed the moderate character of Indonesian Muslims, respect for human rights, political stability, and demographic bonuses as important strengths that could encourage Indonesia to become a center of modern Islamic civilization.
To realize this vision, the Minister of Religion emphasized the importance of transforming the quality of human resources, especially the alumni of State Islamic Religious Universities (PTKIN).
According to him, PTKIN graduates are not enough to master classical Islamic sciences, but must also have an understanding of the development of science, technology, and global geopolitical dynamics.
"We as UIN alumni must have a high geopolitical awareness. Don't just be good at reading yellow books, but also understand the development of science and regional and global situations," he said.
Nasaruddin added that religious education institutions under the Ministry of Religion need to be directed to produce more innovators, scientists, and researchers who are able to produce new findings.
He assessed that the success of the Islamic civilization can only be built through a combination of mastery of science and religious values, as was the case in the Golden Age of Islam.
"If Indonesia wants to become the epicenter of the modern world civilization, then there is no other way than to produce a thousand BJ Habibie in Indonesia," said Nasaruddin.
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