Indonesia Hosts 50th MABIMS SOM, Religious Affairs Minister Calls on Four Countries to Build a Civilised Muslim Society

Jakarta, Berita UIN Online — Indonesia is hosting the 50th Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) of the Ministers of Religious Affairs of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore (MABIMS), taking place in Jakarta from 1 to 4 November 2026. At the meeting, Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar called on the four member countries to strengthen collaboration in developing a model of a civilised Muslim society (khairu ummah) in Southeast Asia.

“How can we realise khairu ummah? Let us formulate concrete criteria for it. The region best placed to embrace, nurture, preserve and develop Islam is one that enjoys relative economic security, the greatest stability in terms of security, the strongest potential in terms of natural resources and, God willing, considerable potential for piety reflected in noble moral character (akhlakul karimah). That region is Southeast Asia,” said the Minister as he personally welcomed the arrival of all MABIMS member-state delegations in Jakarta on Sunday (1 November 2026).

The Minister also proposed the establishment of a collaborative hub or centre that could serve as a platform for strengthening the future of the Muslim community. This proposal is expected to offer an opportunity for cooperation that MABIMS member countries can jointly discuss and develop.

“This could potentially be an opportunity for collaboration. How can we establish a centre that would help strengthen the future of the Muslim community? This is one of the initiatives that we could consider and discuss together,” he said.

The Minister emphasised that MABIMS cooperation should not be confined to annual meetings but should be accompanied by intensive communication and sustained programmes.

“We must not allow our meetings to take place only once a year, with no follow-up until we meet again the following year. What we need is intensive communication and continuity in our cooperation,” he stressed.

Furthermore, the Minister noted that relations among the four MABIMS countries were built not only on geographical proximity but also on strong historical and intellectual foundations, particularly through shared scholarly lineages (sanad keilmuan).

“For the people of Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia and Singapore, these countries are more than just neighbours or friends. If we look at the lineages of scholarly transmission, we can see very strong connections. Our relationship is therefore not merely one of cultural proximity as neighbouring countries, but also one of intellectual and historical kinship,” he explained.

According to the Minister, these close ties represent an important asset for strengthening brotherhood, fostering harmony among religious communities and working together to promote peace throughout the region.

Those attending the welcoming ceremony included the heads of delegations from the MABIMS member countries: Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Brunei Darussalam, Yang Mulia Awang Haji Shamshol bin Haji Omar; Secretary General of Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, Kamaruddin Amin; Deputy Director General of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), Tuan Muhyidin bin Aziz; and Chief Executive of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), Kadir Maideen bin Mohamed.

The meeting marks an important opportunity for the four countries to share best practices and formulate joint initiatives to build a Muslim society that promotes the common good.

Sharing Best Practices to Build a Civilised Muslim Society

As host, Indonesia has also prepared a series of substantive activities for the 50th MABIMS SOM. Head of the Bureau of Legal Affairs and Foreign Cooperation at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Imam Syaukani, said that the programme on Monday (2 November 2026) would begin with a thematic paper seminar entitled “Khairu Ummah: Sharing Best Practices in Building a Civilised Muslim Society”.

Organised in collaboration with UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, the seminar will feature speakers from all four MABIMS member countries. It is scheduled to take place from 9.00 am to 12.00 noon Western Indonesia Time (WIB).

“The SOM thematic paper seminar is scheduled to begin at 9.00 am and conclude at 12.00 noon WIB. Organised in collaboration with UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, the event will feature speakers from all four MABIMS member countries,” Imam said.

Following the seminar, the MABIMS SOM will continue with formal sessions on 2–3 November 2026. The sessions will address four strategic areas: youth potential; education and religious affairs; socio-economic harmony; and regional harmony.

The sessions will also cover various emerging issues among the member countries. Each delegation will present a report outlining its respective country's strategic priorities, providing a basis for exchanging experiences and best practices.

“Each delegation will present a report in line with its country's respective strategic priorities. These reports will form part of the joint discussions, providing an opportunity for member countries to exchange experiences and best practices,” Imam explained.

Through this series of meetings, MABIMS is expected not only to strengthen cooperation among its four member countries but also to deliver tangible contributions to the welfare and common good of communities both within and beyond the MABIMS region.

(Bureau of Public Relations, Ministry of Religious Affairs/PIH UIN Jakarta