Dr. Shaheem receives alumni award of Malaysia’s International Islamic University

Former Maldivian Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has been bestowed Malaysia’s International Islamic University’s (IUM) Alumni Award.

The ‘Tokoh Alumni’ award, otherwise known as Alumni Leadership Award, is bestowed to alumnus of IUM who carries out notable work on a national scale, and on an international scale – in recognition of their great contributions to society at large.

The award was presented to Dr. Shaheem during a special ceremony on Thursday morning – by IUM’s Rector, Professor Dzulkifli bin Abdul Razak.

Dr. Shaheem, in a tweet, said that it was an honor to receive the Tokoh Alumni award. He thanked his family in his tweet.

 “I believe that I had the chance to work within leadership due to the generous opportunities granted to me by those from Maldives. I also sincerely thank them,” he added.

The ‘Tokoh Alumni’ award is bestowed annually to one person. This marks the first time the award has been presented to a Maldivian.

Dr. Shaheem was also conferred the "Jaaizathulkhirreejeenahruhvaadhu" Alumni Leadership Award from the Islamic University of Medina earlier this year. This is the highest honor bestowed on the university’s alumni.

Shaheem received his education from Maldives, Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. He joined the Islamic University of Medina in 2000.

Shaheem, who currently serves as President of the Islamic Organization for Culture and Civilization, had run in the 2018 presential elections as former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s running mate.

Shaheem had served as State Minister for Islamic Affairs during former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration, and later as Minister for Islamic Affairs during both former Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik’s administration and the early years of Yameen’s administration.

Shaheem played a key role in the establishment of Islamic University of Maldives – which was founded while he was Minister of Islamic Affairs. He served as Vice Chancellor of IUM, and later replaced Dr. Zahir Hussain to become the university’s second Chancellor in 2016.