The Passing of an Era

Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM) condoles with the Abdul Aziz family and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the passing away of King Fahd last Monday, August 1, 2005.

Saudi Arabia has just lost a caring monarch who had ably guided the oil-rich Kingdom for more than two decades under several trying circumstances.

Even before becoming the King of Saudi Arabia, King Fahd had already made headway on several issues, such as improving the educational system to achieve a high literacy rate of 80 and 77 per cent for male and female citizens, respectively. He also expanded the educational institutions to accommodate over 3.2 million students at any one time, from just 30,000 before he took over the education portfolio.

King Fahd's leadership was tested several times during his tenure having surmounted one crisis after another of great magnitude. He had courted the ire of his Arab constituents for inviting the American armed forces into Saudi Arabia, after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Later, he also courted the ire of the Americans when he refused to support the invasion of Iraq in 2003, prompting the American forces to move their base out of the Kingdom into Qatar. During those turbulent years of peripheral involvement in the Gulf Wars, Saudi economy faced severe downturn, but the gutsy King managed to restore it in no time after going through austerity measures in all facet of public life. He was instrumental in declaring an oil embargo during the height of the Arab-Israeli conflict
that hurt the USA so much.

King Fahd may have returned to his peaceful abode, but had certainly left a legacy in being the "Guardian of the two Holy Mosques." Under his able guidance, both the Makkah and Madinah mosques got considerable face-lifts. Both were enlarged several folds to make the annual pilgrimage comparably easy and convenient for millions of the Muslims faithful from all corners of the globe.

Welcome, King Abdullah

Equally capable and highly concerned with the plight of Muslims worldwide, King Abdullah had shown his mettle as the crown prince and caretaker of the Kingdom affairs since 1995, when the late King suffered a stroke. King Abdullah has since stirred the Kingdom to regain its avowed status and leadership in several international fora.

ABIM looks forward to a more vibrant leadership for the host of the two Holy Mosques under King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz.

AHMAD AZAM ABDUL RAHMAN
President
2 August 2005