MANY Malaysians I meet at my speaking engagements ask me why I have taken a road that is not “normal” for a Malay and a Muslim. They are usually referring to the way I write and speak impartially, without taking the side of any race or religion.

We must construct a history of many races and many faiths to create the idea of richness and variety that is a strength in all of us.

RECENTLY, a private university invited me to be a guest panellist at a forum on democracy and its impact on urban design.

AFTER many years of reading, deep contemplation and practising my faith, I have come to the conclusion that the true path to spiritual enlightenment lies in how we relate to people who are different from us. And we need such spiritual enlightenment to create a strong brotherhood of citizenry that will help build a progressive, successful nation.

MANY people want change to better their lives. Some pray to God for change. Some hope that their children will change things for them. Many more hope other people will change so that change can occur. There are also those who believe that if they vote a new political party into government, change for the better will come.

The university is not a place for teachers to parade their knowledge in front of students, because the true professor learns as much as, if not even more than, the student he or she teaches.

A good sermon is one that makes an emotional connection and is backed by experiential knowledge.

It is indeed necessary for us to change our personal lifestyles to deal with the climate crisis. But such change must also be supported with policy changes.

The architecture and design of a university plays a vital role in shaping the minds of undergraduates and contribute to nation-building.

I WANT to prove a simple point about Islam in the modern world using my training and career in architecture, and an acknowledged expertise in architecture history, theory and criticism as well as mosques and Islamic architecture.

RECENT events involving our institutions of governance have reinforced my feeling that Malaysia is in dire straits.

Having a string of letters after your name doesn’t mean much if you close yourself off to different forms of knowledge.