PENANG, 19 September 2016 – Experts coming from 16 countries would gather here for three days beginning today to discuss on the topic of ‘Violent Extremism: Islam and Nonviolent Policy Alternatives.’

The Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Professor Dato' Dr. Omar Osman said that, the cooperation between USM through the Centre for Policy Research and International Studies (CenPRIS) and TODA Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research from Japan in organising this programme is hoped to bring an effect to the whole global community through impactful research innovations and continual collaborations.

"We aim to establish peace in the world, as conditions become more challenging in the spreading of positive or negative messages on extremism," he said in his opening speech of the International Conference on Engaging Extremism Nonviolently: Muslim Theories and Practices here today.

According to the Vice-Chancellor, CenPRIS should be focusing on an issue such as this, as well as to enrol Ph.D students in studies on such topics.

He hoped that this conference would benefit the 16 countries involved, in establishing better networks and closer relations on issues to be discussed within the upcoming 8 sessions.

Meanwhile, the Director for Research, TODA Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research, Dr. Satoko Takahashi said that, the collaboration between USM and TODA in organising this conference is hoped to yield the desired outcomes in dealing with extremism through non-violent alternatives.

TODA is an organisation that is committed in establishing peace through non-violent means and in the global eradication of militaristic actions.

Also present at the event were the USM Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Dato' Dr. Muhamad Jantan; Director of CenPRIS, Associate Professor Dr. Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk and Professor Chaiwat Satha-Anand from Thammasat University, Thailand.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin