The Mizan Narrative
The development and dissemination of the Mizan narrative are the highest priorities for the success of the Mizan initiative. The Mizan narrative needs to be communicated right across the Muslim world and beyond. The most effective means of communication need to be employed. We propose that it should be realized as a film and a book, and possibly a travelling exhibition.
The KAMPUNG (Village)
The research team adopts an exploratory discourse on the concept of kampung (village) where at the outset, it acknowledges that existing leadership training modules have failed to account for the social cultural perspectives of leading and leadership. Such shortcomings could have been addressed by revisiting the facets of collectivism, harmony and religion entailed in the invocation of the concept of kampung. The research seeks to reclaim the noble values encompassed in the concept of kampung through the narrative of ‘balik kampung’, where the beauty of the values of close-knitted family, filial piety, courtesy, integrity, tolerance and, more importantly, moderation are immortalised.
The concept of kampung is expounded further through a conceptual framework that positions kampung within an overarching umbrella of what is known as culture. The research critically analyses the complex and interactional dynamics of the building concepts from which a culture is said to have emerged. A holistic understanding of the building concepts of ‘adat’ and ‘rukun’ that personify ‘budi’ as ingrained in the concept of ‘rasa’ and yet grounded in concepts of ‘akar’, ‘iman’, and ‘ilmu’, illustrates the substantive and implicit dimensions of kampung. Such understanding enables the synthesis of noble values inherent in the concept of kampung that are still relevant today, and the subsequent reclaiming of these values in the training of leaders.
Hence, in order to bridge noble values and the training of leaders, the research team recognizes the need to inquire into where we come from, who we are etc. – through the different levels of narration, shrouding the abstract concept of kampung as embedded in our subconscious. Conscious efforts are exerted to understand the choices and preferences entrenched within us that form our ‘jati diri’ (self). This intellectual exercise is fundamental in ensuring that the mental framework of a leader as an ‘agent of change’ is capable of embracing values that are close to our hearts– values which stand immutable despite the passage of time – and yet, are dynamic, flexible and resilient enough to meet the modern standards of good governance. In this context, kampung at a metaphysical level, is hailed as the domicile of change.
Sub-Projects under Kampung Mizan Initiative:
Invited Researcher:
Dr Zainurul Aniza A. Rahman, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
Project: Visual Collection of Kampung Artifacts – A Case Study of Kampung in Pulau Pinang
UNESCO Affiliated Projects under Kampung Mizan Initiatives:
1) Mizan Knowledge for Change Hub (K4C) and Community Based Participatory Research Mentoring Platform.
Affiliated to UNESCO Chair in Community Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education, University of Victoria, and Participatory Research International Association (PRIA)
2) UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education Towards Sustainability, University of York Toronto Canada.