Use MABIMS meeting to find initiatives to improve economic status of Muslims — CM

KOTA KINABALU: The Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) of the 46th Informal Annual Meeting of the Religious Ministers of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore (MABIMS) should be used as a place to formulate initiatives that have an impact on improving the economic status of Muslims in MABIMS member countries.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor said it was important, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic affected the world economy.

“Economic development plays an important role in driving the growth of a country. I hope this meeting will be a place to discuss and find initiatives to improve the economic status of Muslims in MABIMS countries.

“This is because the SOM meeting is a very important forum to discuss the issues and challenges of Muslims in MABIMS countries, including economic aspects,” he said in conjunction with the 46th MABIMS Senior Officers’ Meeting (SOM) at the Sabah International Convention Center (SICC) here on Monday.

The event was also attended by the Head of State, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin.

A dinner was also held in conjunction with the meeting.

Hajiji said this meeting is also important to strengthen the bilateral relations that already established between Malaysia and other MABIMS member countries, especially towards the development of Muslims in the archipelago region.

“It is my great hope that this meeting will not only strengthen the existing relationship between MABIMS member countries, but will be able to further strengthen unity and make Muslims as progressive people who love peace and harmony.

“I hope that the level of cooperation continues to be improved, especially in the aspects of religious resilience and the quality of religious life as well as socio-economic well-being,” he said.

He also hoped that the delegation of this meeting would take the opportunity to visit interesting places and experience the beauty of the sea and islands in this state.