2.5 Tonnes Of Quran Ashes Disposed Of In Tok Bali Waters

PASIR PUTEH, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- Some 2.5 tonnes of ashes resulting from the burning of worn-out and damaged copies of the Quran were disposed of in the waters off Tok Bali here today.

Home Ministry (KDN) Enforcement and Control Division deputy secretary Shafril Azmi Shaharin said the disposal exercise was carried out to ensure that worn-out and damaged Quranic copies were handled in accordance with Syariah law and legal provisions.

He said the process also involved religious expertise from the Kelantan Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAHEAIK), with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Kelantan assisting with safety at sea.

“JAHEAIK provided religious expertise to ensure compliance with Syariah law throughout the handling process, while the MMEA provided technical and maritime support to ensure safety during the sea journey,” he told reporters after the Quran Ash Disposal Programme.

Shafril Azmi said the programme was part of KDN’s efforts to ensure that damaged, imperfect or uncertified Quranic copies were handled appropriately.

He said that throughout the year, 22,002 copies of the Quran were collected through 350 “Jom Exchange Al-Quran” (JEQ) programmes nationwide, comprising 14,691 damaged or worn-out copies and 7,311 copies without official certification from KDN.

Shafril Azmi said the JEQ programme allows the public to exchange old or damaged Quranic copies for new ones approved by the Ministry’s Quranic Text Printing Control and Licensing Board (LPPPQ), while raising awareness of the importance of using certified copies.

Meanwhile, he reminded the public, importers, publishers and sellers to comply with the provisions of the Printing of Quranic Text Act 1986.

“The public is advised to check for the Ministry’s hologram sticker and the LPPPQ approval stamp before purchasing any copy of the Quran to ensure that it is authentic and officially approved,” he said.

He stressed that the Ministry would not compromise on the sale or distribution of uncertified copies of the Quran, which could mislead Muslims.

--BERNAMA