Nasyrul Quran, the world's second largest Quran printing complex here, built at a cost of RM60 million, officially began its printing and binding operations today.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who officiated at the ceremony, said Nasyrul Quran was built starting last year not to compete with other Quran-printing countries but was Malaysia's contribution to upholding and propagating the teachings of the Islamic holy book to the world.
"We respect the biggest (Quran) printing centre in Madinah but as a nation that subscribes to the principles of wasatiyyah (moderation), Malaysia too wants to contribute to the effort through its own bound volumes of the Quran.
"This effort is made not for elation or conceit but to place Malaysia as a Quran-printing landmark as occurring in the Middle East and other countries."
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said this when launching the National-Level Wakaf Al-Quran 2017 and the operations of Nasyrul Quran, here, today.
Ahmad Zahid said the complex's operations would be able to meet the domestic and global need for copies of the Quran as the Muslim population was expected to reach three billion out of the world's total of nine billion by 2050.
He said out of the Muslim population, a small percentage might not be able to buy a copy of the Quran and so Nasyrul Quran could play a role by endowing the holy book to the needy.
Ahmad Zahid said Nasyrul Quran was targeted to print one million copies of the Quran each year, with 70 per cent for domestic use while the rest could be contributed to other countries in need of it.
"This is the aspiration and commitment of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as most countries contribute to the development of Islam by building mosques and institutions but not all use the same avenue as Najib's by printing and distributing the Quran widely for free," he said.
On the wakaf Al-Quran or endowment programme, the deputy prime minister said the idea which came from Najib and implemented since 2007, was aimed at collecting funds to print the Quran to be donated to countries with poor Muslim minorities and others within Malaysia and outside in need of the holy book.
At today's event, Ahmad Zahid also announced receiving a contribution of RM2 million from Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, and a foundation and an individual for the purpose.
Besides Tengku Adnan, present at the ceremony was Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.
Source : Bernama