KUALA LUMPUR: Acclaimed fashion designer to the stars Datuk Rizalman Ibrahim, who announced his retirement last February, is reaching out to help Malaysian Muslims better understand the Quran.
In an Instgram post yesterday, the 49-year-old Penangite said that he had plans to establish a Quran learning centre in Johor Baru, specially for adults. It would be set up under the auspices of his new foundation, Yayaysan RI, which will be launched soon.
"It has always been my dream to set up a Quran reading and learning centre for adults. Malaysian Muslims who did not get a chance to learn or read the holy scripture can have lessons under good religious teachers there," said Rizalman.
He added that his company Rinetwork would fully fund the learning centre, while awaiting government approval for Yayasan RI.
"All religious teachers at the learning centre will be paid by myself. It will have modern facilities and a wakaf mushaf for the benefit of students. I plan to establish other branches of the learning centre in other parts of the country later, but for now it will be located in Johor Baru."
Netizens praised Rizalman for his noble project, and expressed hope that it would be a successful endeavour.
Rizalman graduated from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Shah Alam in 1995, with a degree in art and fashion design.
His best known clients include singers Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza, Dayang Nurfaizah and Anuar Zain, actor Fahrin Ahmad, and actress Fauziah Ahmad Daud.
Throughout his 25-year career, he has won numerous fashion design awards include the Mercedes-Benz Asian Fashion Award at the Malaysian International Fashion Awards 2004.