P102 Islamic Development in Sarawak After 1968: A Historical Analysis of The East Malaysia Islamic Congress and Its Relevance to The Transformation of Islamic Education in The Artificial Intelligence Era

Abstract

The development of Islam in Sarawak during the post-independence period progressed relatively slowly due to the legacy of Brooke rule, British colonial administration, and the socio-political challenges of the early post-independence era. The dominance of a Western-oriented education system and restrictions on Islamic propagation limited the growth of Islamic education. Although Malaysia was formed on 16 September 1963, significant transformation in Islamic education did not occur immediately. The Sarawak Islamic Council, established in 1955, was primarily responsible for administering Islamic affairs and had limited involvement in Islamic educational development. In response to these challenges, Muslim leaders from Sabah and Sarawak convened the East Malaysia Islamic Congress (Kongres Islam Malaysia Timor) in 1968 to formulate strategies for strengthening Islam and the Muslim community. This study addresses two research questions: (i) What were the major ideas and resolutions articulated during the East Malaysia Islamic Congress? and (ii) How have the historical achievements of Islamic education in Sarawak since 1968 contributed to its transformation through the integration of digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) towards nurturing holistic, adaptive, and globally competitive Muslim communities? The objectives are to identify the key ideas formulated during the congress, analyse their implementation, and examine their contribution to the transformation of Islamic education. The study employs Kuntowijoyo’s historical research framework, encompassing heuristics, internal and external criticism, interpretation, and historiography. The findings reveal that among the resolutions adopted during the congress, the expansion of zakat management and Islamic education were the most successfully implemented initiatives. These developments strengthened Islamic educational institutions, enhanced Muslim human capital, and reinforced the administration of Islamic education in Sarawak. Furthermore, these historical achievements provide a valuable foundation for integrating digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Islamic education, thereby supporting the development of holistic, adaptive, and globally competitive Muslim communities.