KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is set to become the world's largest Al-Quran production centre after Madinah in Saudi Arabia.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the centre, to be known as Nasyrul Quran, is a commitment by the government to uphold and raise the glory (syiar) of Islam.
"Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has also envisioned for the complex to be the largest production centre of the Al-Quran in Southeast Asia," he said in his speech during the 59th Malaysia International Al-Quran Recital and Memorisation Assembly (MTQA) prize presentation ceremony today.
In 2015, Najib had launched a site in Presint 14, Putrajaya earmarked for Nasyrul Quran.
The complex is expected to produce one million copies of the Quran annually. The printing plant has the capacity to produce three million copies.
The centre is set to produce the Quran with translations in several languages including in English, Chinese, Bahasa Malaysia, Khmer, Thai, and Russian.
Meanwhile, on the ceremony, Zahid said MTQA has helped to foster the spirit of Muslim brotherhood among the participants.
"We have participants from various countries and during this ceremony we are able to get to know each other," he said.
The event was graced by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V, who presented prizes to the winners.
Present were Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa.