Religion, Law And Governance In South East Asia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia : 29th - 31st January 2010

International Conference on Religion, Law And Governance In South East Asia

Jointly organised by

* International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) Malaysia.
* International Center for Law & Religion Studies, Brigham Young University, USA.
* Faculty of Law, University of Malaya, Malaysia.
* Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Amity University, India.
* International Consortium for Law and Religion Studies, University of Milan,
Italy.

DAY ONE: Friday January 29th 2010 5:00pm to 9:30pm

* Registration of Participants
* Reception
* Maghrib Prayer
* Inaugural Session: Religion, Law and Governance in Southeast Asia: A

Comparative Overview

DAY TWO: Saturday January 30th 2010 8:30am to 9:00pm

* Registration of Participants
* Plenary Session I: Theoretical and Constitutional Issues

Co-Chairs: Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi and Professor Gerhard Robbers
Professor Dr. Abdul Aziz Bari "Religion, Law and Governance in Malaysia: A Constitutional Perspective"
Professor Carolyn M. Evans "Religion, Law and Governance: Comparative & Human Rights Perspectives"
Professor Mohammad Hashim Kamali "Constitutionalism and Democracy: An Islamic Perspective"

* Lunch at IAIS Malaysia

* Bus transfer to Law Faculty, University of Malaya & Prayers

* Regional Perspectives on Religion, Law and Governance :Parallel Sessions at
Law Faculty Building (Venue: University of Malaya)

Session 1: Indonesia

Co-Chairs: Tan Sri Professor Mohammad Kamal Hassan (Former Rector, IIUM) and Professor Robert Smith (Brigham Young University)
Dr. Bahtiar Effendy "Islam and the State in the Indonesian Experience"
Prof. Tore Lindholm "Religion and Law in Indonesia: An Outside Perspective"



Session 2: Thailand, Philippines, and Singapore

Co-Chairs: Professor Javaid Rehman (Brunel University, London)
Prof. Chaiwat Satha Anand (Thammasat University, Thailand) "The Ship and the Stranger: A Metaphorical Approach to Governance and Islam"
Datu Michael O. Mastura "Filipino Muslims and Issues of Governance in the Philippines"
Dr Suzaina Kadir (National University of Singapore) "Uniquely Singapore" : The Management of Islam in a Small State"

* Tea Break

* Plenary Session II: Law Faculty Building (Venue:University of Malaya): Pakistan & China, and the Southeast Asian Experience: Comparative Perspectives

Co-Chairs: Professor Robert Blitt (University of Tennessee College of Law and Professor Javaid Rehman, Head of Legal Dept, Brunel University, London)

Arif Kamran, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, "Religion, Religious Identity and Constitutionalism: Dilemmas Facing Pakistan"
Reverend Kim-Kwong Chan , Executive Director (Hong Kong Christian Council) "Religion and the Rule of Law in China"

* Official Opening and Keynote Session (Main Conference Hall, IAIS)

Welcome by Professor Mohammad Hashim Kamali (IAIS)
Welcome by Vice Chancellor, University of Malaya
Welcome by Professor W. Cole Durham (Brigham Young University)
Welcome by Professor Tahir Mahmood (Amity University)
Welcome by Professor Silvio Ferrari (University degli Studi de Milano)
Keynote Address by YAB Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak

* Conference Photograph

* Press Conference

* Buffet Dinner (Venue: IAIS Malaysia)

DAY THREE: Sunday January 31st 2010 9:00am to 4:00pm

* Plenary Session III: Religion and the State: Mutual Autonomy, Permissible
Regulation

Co-Chairs: Professor Dr Karim D. Crow (IAIS) and Professor Carolyn Evans (University of Melbourne)


Professor Azra Azyumardi "The Importance of Religious Autonomy for Islam: Good Governance and Civil Society in the Indonesian Experience"
Professor Dr. Gerhard Robbers "The Importance of Religious Autonomy to Religion-State Systems"
Professor Brett Scharffs "Comparative Religion-State Systems"
Professor Dr. Rik Torfs "The Relationship of Religion and Law in Modern Legal Systems"

* Coffee / Tea Break

* Plenary Session IV: Majority-Minority Relations: Promoting an Enhanced
Relationship

Co-Chairs: Dato Faiza Tambhy Chik (Distinguished Fellow, USIM) and Professor Tahir Mahmood (Amity University, India)


Professor Robert Blitt "Differing Constitutional Approaches across the Muslim World"
Emeritus Professor Osman Bakar (IAIS) "Majority-Minority Relations: the Factor of Islam in the Southeast Asian Experience"
Ms Nurhalida Mohamed Khalil "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Renunciation of Faith: In Defense of What is Right and Not What is Good? "

* Lunch

* Plenary Session V: Religion, Law and Governance:Education, Family and Gender
Issues

Co-Chairs: Professor Dato' Wazir Jahan Karim and Professor Rik Torfs


Professor Dato' Dr. Zaleha Kamaruddin "Religion, Law and Governance: A Comparative Legal Perspective with Special Emphasis on Development of Family Law in Malaysia"
Professor Paul Babie, Director, University of Adelaide, Australia
Dr Jamhari Makruf "Law Education in Indonesia"

* Concluding Session

Co-Chairs: Professor Dr M. Hashim Kamali and Professor W. Cole Durham, Jr.


Panelists:

Professor Tahir Mahmood (Amity University)

Professor Silvio Ferrari (University Degli Studi de Milano)
Professor Choong Yeow Choy (University of Malaya)

* Conference Summation



Registration Fee:

* Departments/Organizations/Corporate Companies: RM500.00**
* Individual: RM300.00
* Students: RM150.00

** RM500.00 for up to 3 pax, additional pax at RM170.00


Online pre payments can be made directly into IAIS Malaysia's Malayan Banking Berhad: Current Account # 512334305096