KUANTAN: The Islamic Development Department Malaysia (Jakim) has to play a more aggressive role to incorporate and apply Quranic values within the community, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said.
He said there was no better method to bolster the Malaysia Madani concept apart than familiarising one with the Al-Quran, understanding and studying its contents to be easily translated in daily life.
"The government wants to increase appreciation and understanding towards the contents of the Al-Quran at various levels including individual, family, community and organisation.
"I often emphasise about the importance of strengthening values without sidelining position, rank and socio-economic background. Everyone needs to have high values in themselves and the best values are those taught in the Quran," he said in his speech when opening the national-level Quran recitation and memorisation event at the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah broadcasting complex here today.
Fadillah said the people can see for themselves the ongoing conflict in Palestine which occurred more than four decades ago whereby generations have come and gone but there seems to be no peace over the years.
"They (Palestinians) have become the victim of envy and discrimination that has been inherited for ages until it resulted in severe and great cruelty. I would like to emphasise that the Madani government is against any unjust suppression, annihilation of race and ethnic cleansing.
"Everyone on this earth deserves to live their life and receive equal welfare rights. The 'karamatul insan'(concept of human dignity) values should be never sidelined," he said.
Also present was Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na'im Mokhtar and his deputy Dr Zulkifli Hasan.
Meanwhile, Fadillah, who is also the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said the government often emphasises the concept of fostering unity of the ummah on the basis of unity and forging ukhuwwah.
"The Quran reminds us about being united and explains to us to unite just like the Surah al-Hujurat in the Quran. It reminds us to stay away from matters that could divide the community.
"Why do we need to refer back to the Al-Quran and hadith? It is to ensure that all of us remain together when referring to the same source, especially when everyone has different views. This is the unity tips provided by Allah through the messages conveyed in the al-Quran.
"I would like to mention that unity is strength and we need to learn from the history of other countries like India, Black Canadian and others about the effects of a union. Unity will ensure a strong and stable social mobilisation providing a positive impact on the national progress including strengthening the economy and sustainable development," he said.
Fadillah described the 64th edition of the national-level Quran recitation and memorisation event this year as a much anticipated ceremony which provides a huge impact and inspires Muslims to further improve their recitation (Quran).