PUTRAJAYA, 6 November 2025 — The Festival of Ideas Putrajaya 2025 commenced today in a ceremony graced by Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC).
Accompanying Her Majesty was Her Highness Che’ Puan Mahkota Khaleeda Johor.
The programme also featured presentations by Royal Discussant, Shaykh Prof. Dr. Hisham A. Hellyer from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), London, United Kingdom, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Khairudin Aljunied from the National University of Singapore.
Also in attendance were the Minister of Higher Education, Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir, alongside dignitaries, scholars, local and international students from across Malaysia.
Adab as the foundation of ethical progress
In Her Majesty’s royal keynote address, Raja Zarith Sofiah reminded everyone that true progress must go hand in hand with moral awareness and good manners (Adab).
“Every significant achievement born from progress must be accompanied by continuous questioning of truth, rightful authority and justice,” said Her Majesty.
“Whatever form of advancement we pursue, it must always be guided by Adab.
Her Majesty cautioned that when Adab is lost, injustice follows, a serious wrongdoing in Islam, as Allah commands believers to uphold justice even towards those they disagree with.
Speaking on the importance of ethics in research and innovation, Her Majesty urged scholars to be transparent, responsible, and mindful of voices that are often overlooked.
“In research and innovation, Adab requires that we remain transparent about our methods, conscious of our limitations, responsible in our pursuits, and attentive to, as well as advocates for minority voices.
Adab and Khidmah go hand in hand
The first discussant, Shaykh Professor Dr. Hisham A. Hellyer, shared his thoughts on the role of Adab in guiding human behaviour.
“Why does Adab matter so deeply? Because it is the manifestation of our fundamental purpose as human beings,” he said.
“We are entrusted with this earth, with each other, with knowledge, with power. And this trust demands khidmah (service).
He explained that khidmah is not a form of servitude but rather the highest expression of human nobility.
“Adab teaches us to give everything its proper place,” he said.
“Khidmah teaches us that our proper place is in service to others, to justice, to truth, and to the well-being of all creation.
Scholars must think beyond ideology
The second discussant, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Khairudin Aljunied, urged Muslim scholars in Southeast Asia to move beyond narrow ideological debates and focus on global human concerns.
“Muslims have been too focused on internal matters,” he said.
“Because of this, our societies in Southeast Asia have been affected by the rule of ideology, rather than the rule of ideas.
He also warned against over-reliance on artificial intelligence and blind imitation of past scholars.
“The loss of adab we see today stems from our dependence on artificial intelligence, which, if we look carefully, is not intelligent enough,” he said.
“There is a lack of will to innovate, to be creative, to give birth to new path-breaking ideas.
Dr. Khairudin called for scholars and youth to embrace Adab as the foundation for courageous, ethical, and forward-looking scholarship.
Towards a future shaped by knowledge and values
Beyond the exchange of ideas, the festival reflects a deeper aspiration, to elevate the culture of knowledge as the very core of national progress.
It reminds Malaysians that true advancement does not rest solely on technology or infrastructure, but on the strength of ideas, guided by wisdom, compassion, and a sense of moral responsibility.
Source: UTM NewsHub
