KUALA LUMPUR: Major media companies have come together for the World #QuranHour programme set for this 22nd Ramadan (June 7).
The media agencies involved are the New Straits Times Press Bhd (NSTP) comprising New Straits Times, Berita Harian and Harian Metro; Sinar Harian; Utusan Malaysia; Kosmo!; Media Prima Bhd television stations; Astro; RTM and Bernama.
To be held at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Mosque in International Islamic University Malaysia, Gombak between 10am and 12pm, the programme is co-organised by the companies together with its main organisers Karangkraf Media Group (Karangkraf) and Warisan Ummah Ikhlas Foundation (WUIF).
Berita Harian executive editor Datuk Ahmad Zaini Kamaruzaman said the NSTP team would work hard in ensuring the success of the event.
“We will establish a secretariat as suggested by the organisers and this will, God Willing, be fruitful event which will be well-received by many,” he said at the #QuranHour pre-launching, here today.
Present with Zaini was also NSTP senior executive editor Saidon Idris.
Warisan Ummah Ikhlas Foundation (WUIF) founder Datuk Husamuddin Yaacub said the various media agencies will be working closely with WUIF in ensuring the success of the event.
“The whole purpose of #QuranHour is to ensure that Muslims would read, understand, interact and practice the recitation of the Quran.
“Hence, that is why each of the media agency which are involved will be forming their own secretariat to better manage the event with us.
“God willing, for the third #QuranHour, the event will be better organised and would have over 1 billion social media impressions in 100 countries from all around the world,” he said.
Husamuddin, who is also Karangkraf chairman said the #QuranHour campaign was driven by Malaysian media fraternity to spur the spirit of learning and reading Quran among Muslims.
He said the involvement of multiple media companies would play big role in support of the campaign, as every agency has its own strength and followers.
“Last year’s #QuranHour programme managed to reach over 357 million views, which was a major success and it came through the cooperation of the media companies.
“When media agencies in the country, each with their own strength, come together, it can create a big wave in promoting the programme,” he said.
Hussamuddin said the campaign was to help Muslims better understand Islam.
“Applying Surah Al-Hujurat as the theme of this year’s campaign, we want Muslims to mainly display respect in behaviour and language as well as the verification of reports.
“Currently, there have been a lot of Muslims who have become know-it-alls, especially when it comes to religion.
“Hence, with this campaign, we hope by understanding the Quran, they would conduct their lives ethically, as according to the Quran.
“In order for us to save Islam’s image, we need the majority of Muslims to know and understand the true teaching of Islam by reading the Quran.
Other than the World #QuranHour, the Malaysia#QuranHour will also be held at the Tuanku Zainal Abidin Mosque in Putrajaya on the 18th Zulhijah (Aug 30) from 10am to 12pm.