UIM celebrates past achievements

Dr Mohd Yusof showing one of the events that took place in KIM.

“Any endeavour for excellence cannot exist without the corresponding values of discipline, motivation and a commitment to truth and honour.”

Based on this mission statement, Universiti Islam Malaysia (UIM) firmly believes global knowledge can be achieved through integration of transformation and innovation.

The tertiary institution was the first post-graduate university in the country to emphasise on comparative science with integrated knowledge and wisdom, offering programmes through coursework and research across all fields of studies from an Islamic perspective.

Formerly named Kolej Islam Malaya (KIM) or better known as Muslim College, it was established in 1955, borne from a reformist movement against the backwardness brought on by colonialism.

UIM president Tan Sri Dr Mohd Yusof Noor said the integration of traditional and modern subjects produced well-rounded thinkers with positive values, relevant to today’s society development.

“The institution also played an important role in promoting moderation in Islam, a solution to curb extremism among Muslims.

Almarhum Sultan Sir Hisamuddin Alam Shah

 

“Without this being addressed, Islam would be practised differently and would have been a threat to the country,” he said.

He added that many would have thought it was revolutionary; that it was something new to integrate religious and modern subjects.

“It started way back in 1955, before Malaya gained independence. Today marks the 62nd anniversary of the institution, and it is our duty to celebrate and remember this significant milestone in education history.

“We are proud to continue the vision of the institution’s founders,” added Mohd Yusof.

After numerous consultations between the fourth Sultan of Pahang Darul Makmur Almarhum Sultan Abu Bakar Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mu’adzam Shah and the sixth Sultan of Selangor Darul Ehsan Almarhum Sultan Sir Hisamuddin Alam Shah, KIM was established by the Council of Malay Rulers.

The opening of KIM was made possible when Almarhum Sultan Sir Hisamuddin Alam Shah gave his royal consent to convert his palace at Jalan Kampung Jawa into the institution’s first campus, and the college was officially opened on April 8, 1955.

Among the important figures behind the successful formation of KIM included Pendeta Zaaba, better known as Tan Sri Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad; former Penang governor Tun Hamdan Sheikh Tahir; former Menteri Besar of Johor Baru Tan Sri Hassan Yunus; and former Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan Datuk Mansor Othman.

“While other religious schools were confined to pure religious subjects, KIM was the first religious college to introduce traditional subjects together with modern subjects.

“It was the only higher education institution to receive funding from the Malay rulers as well as Muslim and non-Muslim philanthropists such as Datuk Syed Ibrahim Alsagoff, The Shaw Brothers and the Lee Foundation,” said Mohd Yusof.

Some of its prominent graduates included public figures such as Mohd Yusof, who was also a former federal minister; former federal minister Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Othman; former Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia director generals Datuk Wira Ismail Ibrahim and Datuk Abdul Monir Yaacob.

Istana Jemaah was donated by Almarhum Sultan Sir Hisamuddin Alam Shah to be turned into KIM campus.

 

Back then, KIM graduates were recognised by two prominent universities globally – University of London and University of Al-Azhar, Cairo.

In 1963, degrees awarded by KIM were recognised as equivalent to first degrees awarded by Al-Azhar University and students were eligible for master’s and doctoral degrees at Al-Azhar University and Cairo University.

KIM moved to a new campus in Petaling Jaya in 1966 and in 1968, the then Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj announced in Parliament that KIM would be upgraded to be the first Islamic University in South-East Asia.

However, that aspiration was postponed to give way to the establishment of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 1970.

KIM was later absorbed into the university as its Faculty of Islamic Studies, resulting in KIM ceasing operations.

In 2010, KIM was given royal consent to commence as UIM, based on a special report submitted at the 222nd Conference of Malay Rulers.

“UIM became the first post-graduate university in Malaysia in July 2014, among just a handful of 16 higher learning institutions around the globe offering only postgraduate courses,” said Mohd Yusof.

Today, UIM offers eight post graduate academic programmes through three schools of studies – Cyberjaya Graduate School of Management and Finance; School of Laws and Syariah; and School of Heritage and Civilisation.

Currently, it is operating at Bangunan MKN Embassy Techzone in Cyberjaya. Its new 33.87ha campus near Cyberjaya Lake is slated for completion in five years’ time.