| Civil Society Can Be A Superpower To Influence Government Decisions |
|
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- A civil society can emerge as the "other superpower" that could influence decisions made by any government in administrating their countries, consumerism activist Datuk Dr Anwar Fazal said Tuesday.
He said societies that were aware of their influences would be able to steer their countries away from mismanagement and curb the spread of corruption.
"Any government that does not recognise that (people power) is doomed to failure, sooner or later," he said when presenting his paper on "Civil Society and the Culture of Integrity -- Considering the Voices of NGOs in Government Decision-Making Processes" here.
The paper was presented at a special session for the 1st Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Anti-Corruption and Enhancing Integrity Forum 2006.
Dr Anwar said that understanding and managing their networks, from a local set up right up to a global stage, was one of the essences that could energise the creation of a civil society, which to him was still lacking among the Islamic countries.
Among the other essences to consolidate such society was being able to understand the holistic links between their nation's economy, their environment and social equality and fairness; drawing wisdom among the members of the society regardless of age; and able to employ spiritual, scientific and practical disciplines.
He said even history had also shown that the power of a single individual in a society should never be underestimated and could be strengthened further once the individual was able to form a partnership or a network that eventually stirred social movement.
Dr Anwar said that lacking an understanding of the application of good governance posed another great challenge for Muslims to exercise their influences.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Institute of Islamic Understanding (Ikim) director-general Dr Syed Ali Tawfik al-Attas said a revival in the Islamic education system was urgently needed to reflect the role of ulama (Islamic scholars) in ensuring corruption-free Muslims.
"The revival will dictate that only the true ulama, guided by learned authoritative grasp of genuine Islamic teachings, would be guiding ordinary Muslims and giving correct understandings," he said in his paper on "The Role of the Ulama in Ensuring a Corruption Free Ummah".
-- BERNAMA
|
|
|