Kuala lumpur: Malaysia hopes that its ties with the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) will be further strengthened through the exchange of knowledge and ideas, as well as cooperation that benefits both parties and the Muslim community as a whole. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expressed this sentiment during a courtesy call from OCIS director Dr Farhan Nizami and Kuwait Fellow at OCIS Datuk Dr Afifi Al-Akiti.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid highlighted the meeting as an opportunity to discuss developments involving Muslims in the West, as well as the ties and cooperation between Malaysia and Oxford. He recalled his previous engagement with OCIS in November 2016, when he delivered a lecture titled 'De-Rooting Radicalism and Extremism' during his earlier tenure as Deputy Prime Minister. During that lecture, he emphasized Malaysia's experience in maintaining harmony in a multiracial and multireligious society and the importance of addressing misconceptions about Islam to combat Islamophobia.

Ahmad Zahid noted that despite the passage of nearly a decade, discussions on understanding Islam, fostering relations between communities, and addressing the position of Muslims in the West remain pertinent.