| Azlan Othman |
WHILE adapting to the fast advancement of technology we should keep our own identity. Technology must be used wisely or else may otherwise expose us to pressures in life, lack of safety and anxiety, said Professor Dr Zulkiple bin Abdul Ghani, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) yesterday.
“In such a situation, we will be vulnerable and may find ourselves in a ‘sink’ or ‘swim’ situation,” he added at his premier talk themed ‘The Connection of Blessed Communications with Ummah’s Well-being’ on the second day of the Knowledge Convention 2016 held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas.
Gracing the second day of the convention was Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam, who was accompanied by Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman; Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah; Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Bini Hajah Faizah binti Dato Haji Nasir; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam.
Professor Dr Zulkiple asked whether we are able to cope with the challenges brought about by the abrupt change in communication technologies. For instance, every day, we are bombarded with messages in WhatsApp which at times can create overwhelming levels of information whether we realise it or not. He also added that with the advancement of communication technologies nowadays, belief and faith towards God get diminished unlike before where people sought God for their problems. Through technology, we are also exposed to wrongdoings in large quantity.
Professor Dr Zulkiple added that as of April 2016, globally there are over 1.65 billion active users of Facebook, another one billion users for WhatsApp, 400 million on Instagram, 1.3 billion for YouTube and 55 million blog users.
Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam during the second day of the Knowledge Convention 2016 held at the Interna-tional Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas. – PHOTOS: AZROL AZMI
Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam, Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman and other members of the royal family during the second day of the Knowledge Convention held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas.
Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah, Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Bini Hajah Faizah binti Dato Haji Nasir, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam during the event.
Professor Dr Zulkiple bin Abdul Ghani, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, delivering his talk.
Among those who attended the event.
The advancement of transportation affects the psychology and sociology of our livelihood and brings negative impact to our lives like greenhouse emissions. For Muslims, questions are raised whether such advancement in communications can bring blessings and provide prosperity in our lives. Professor Dr Zulkiple also said with the boom in social media, we are facing the ‘Internet by storm’ phenomenon where many users are online for at least 3.5 hours daily immersing themselves in social media.
He also lauded the Brunei Government’s efforts with its Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) concept, aspiration towards a Zikir Nation (remembrance of Allah the Almighty), Compulsory Religious Education Order, Syariah Law and temporary closure of shops during Friday prayers, to gain blessings in the world and in the days of the hereafter.
The efforts to uphold the image of Islam and the nation to gain blessings from Allah the Almighty should be supported by the people in the nation, he urged.
Earlier, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohamad Roselan bin Haji Mohamad Daud, the Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, as the chairperson of the committee for the Premier Talk of Knowledge Convention 2016, in his welcoming remarks said Her Majesty’s presence at the talk was a valuable support to the people to strive to enhance knowledge either for the development of an individual, community and the development of the Ummah as a whole.
Safe and blessed communication systems determine the well-being of the Ummah and the development of the nation, he said.
Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohamad Roselan added that in the old glorious days of Islam, communication was not only extending the trading network and widening Islamic influence as a religion but it was also being progressive and adaptive towards the needs of the Ummah.
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