KUCHING: The Al-Quran Tilawah (recital) and Hafazan (memorisation) Sarawak-level competition is scheduled to take place from April 17 to 19 (5 to 7 Ramadan 1442H) after its absence last year.
“This year’s theme is Ummah Rabbani Negara Harmoni which is the same as the previous year before the Covid-19 pandemic happened. It will take place at the Sarawak Islamic Complex hall,” said Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs and DBKU) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi here on Tuesday (April 13).
“The objectives are to enhance the love for the Al-Quran among Muslims and to produce more calibre Qari and Qariah in the state while creating a healthy competition among participants.
“Besides that, the competition also aims to enhance and strengthen the efforts as well as goals in dakwah along with setting exemplary good deeds and noble characteristics.”
There will be 20 participants in the Al-Quran Tilawah category while the Al-Quran Hafazan category has 30 participants from different schools and institutions.
Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg would attend the prize presentation ceremony for the Al-Quran Tilawah category on April 19.
The Al-Quran Tilawah winner will bring home RM10,000, the challenge cup and a trophy, a gift, certificate and an Umrah trip.
The winners of Al-Quran Hafazan for 1 to 10 Juzuk, 1 to 20 Juzuk and 1 to 30 Juzuk will receive RM3,000, RM4,000 and RM5,000 respectively.
The panel of judges consists of Al-Quran and religious experts from the state, including SF Datuk Mustapha Kamal Ahmad Fauzi, Ustaz Ahmad Sukarno Saini, Ustaz Rafaee Morshidi, Ustaz Abdus-salam Morshidi, Datuk Ismawi Duet, among others.
Dr Abdul Rahman said the public could follow the competition through live streaming.
“We will make sure there will be live streaming, and we will get Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) to assist with this. If the public would like to physically attend the event, they can contact our secretariat.
“The event will not have more than 200 people attending and stringent SOPs such as physical distancing, MySejahtera app check-in, temperature check and availability of hand sanitisers will be in place.
“As for the prize presentation ceremony involving the Head of State and Chief Minister, there will be no physical contact with the recipients. We will arrange for them to be on stage, but the prize will be on a platform for the recipients to collect.”
