The ASEAN Islamic Thought Forum (AITF) 2025 was held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) in conjunction with the Festival Idea Putrajaya 2025. The forum was jointly organised by Pusat IDEA, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS), and the Faculty of Islamic Studies, UKM, serving as a regional scholarly platform to strengthen discourse on contemporary Islamic thought within the ASEAN context.
The forum brought together distinguished Islamic scholars from across the ASEAN region with the aim of enriching discussions on the strengths of Nusantara Islamic epistemology as a foundation for civilisational renewal, social harmony, and universal well-being. The deliberations reflected the intellectual capacity of the ASEAN Islamic world to address contemporary global challenges while shaping a progressive, inclusive, and value-driven narrative for the future.
Throughout the forum, strategic perspectives were shared by Ahmad Fauwaz Fadzil, Mufti of the Federal Territories of Malaysia; Prof. Dr. Imtiyaz Yusuf from the Center for Buddhist-Muslim Understanding, Mahidol University, Thailand; and Prof. Dr. Wardah Nuroniyah from Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta. These exchanges highlighted diverse yet complementary scholarly viewpoints that underscored the role of Islamic thought in fostering societal development and global peace.
Beyond an academic forum, AITF represents a symbol of intellectual unity within the ASEAN Islamic world, bringing together scholars, policymakers, and institutions to construct a renewed narrative of Islamic thought that is relevant to contemporary realities. The forum also strengthened collaborative networks among higher education institutions and key stakeholders in advancing Islamic intellectual discourse at the regional level.
The forum was further graced by the presence of senior university leadership, including Prof. Dr. Jamia Azdina Jamal, Director of Pusat IDEA and Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof. Dato’ Dr. Mohd Izhar Ariff Mohd Kashim, Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies, and Dr. Wan Haslan Khairuddin, Director of the UKM Islamic Centre, reflecting UKM’s strong commitment to intellectual leadership and regional scholarly engagement.
