Date: Sunday 5th October 2008
Time: 3:30pm – 5pm
Venue: Cheetham CE Community School, Halliwell Lane, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M8 9FR

Discussion Focus: To provide a vision and illustrate practical steps on how the Malay community in the UK (whether temporary or permanent) can contribute positively in the British community and shine.

Organisers: Melayu UK in collaboration with Melayu UK Students Support Team (MUSST)

Featuring: Majlis Syura Muslimun (MSM), the Indonesian Community of Manchester and Federation of Students Islamic Societies (FOSIS)

• Malay descent (Malays, Indonesians, partial Malay etc) are a minority within the British minority group. As such, many of us are ignored and therefore our opinions and roles are seen to be irrelevant or negligible in the society.

• As our opinions are not appreciated in the wider community, many of us retreat by only keeping within our own communities (at times even isolating ourselves).

• Consequently, many of us achieve optimum satisfaction only when we are able to express our opinions within our own communities successfully. Therefore the very thought of being recognised by the global community is reduced to becoming a mere figment of our imagination.

• Quality Counts – Although we are small in number, do we have anything to offer? What do we have to offer? How do we break through our shell and shine as valuable contributors to this society? How do we become capable of shining above the Malay norm? Should we remain happy with just becoming the best of our own crowd, or should we aim to achieve something higher?

• Our panellists will trigger a discussion of the hurdles we face and discuss solutions forward for the Malay community in the UK whether residing here permanently or temporarily.

1. Hamidi Abdul Rahman: President of Melayu UK

• The Malaysian experience as part of a multi-cultural and multi-racial society. How can Malays shape the British Muslim identity?

• Propagating the Malay world’s (Malaysian /Indonesian) experience in Islamic awareness and resurgence to the Western world. A comparison of Malay / Indo-Pakistani / Arab experiences and an analysis of strengths and weaknesses.

• FOSIS and Muslim Student Leadership: Invaluable contributions to the wider British community.

• Malaysian students’ contribution to Western society. What can be done in 3-5 years in the UK as an international student?

Discussion Format (1½ hrs)

• 7-10 minutes per panellist to present their arguments.
• 45 - 60 minutes for the audience to discuss, raise ideas and ask questions.

For more information email musst @ melayu.org.uk