IRIS
BY NOOR SYAHHIRA HADY & SARAH HAFIZAH CHANDRA
KUCHING: Sarawak State Mosques Welfare Trust Board (LAKMNS) is the first agency to have a mobile application for its online radio, said Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai.
The LAKMNS chief executive officer said the mobile application for Internet Radio Islamic Sarawak (IRIS) was one of the agency’s efforts in going global.
“The launch of the application is based on LAKMNS’ commitment to providing an effective information delivery platform to the community, especially to Muslims in Sarawak.
“Visitors can also access the latest information and activities related to the agency through this application,” he said during the launching ceremony for IRIS today.
The launching ceremony was officiated by LAKMNS honorary secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Bujang Mohd Nor.
According to him, IRIS had been broadcasting on the LAKMNS website since July this year, with interesting segments involving other Islamic agencies in Sarawak particularly on their roles in the development of Islam in the community.
“With this application, listeners can access IRIS broadcasts without having to go to the LAKMNS website like previously, so it is more convenient.” Abdul Wahap added that the application could also enable Sarawakians living abroad to tune in to IRIS.
“Because it is an online radio, listeners do not need to look for the frequency channels. We want IRIS to be community-based, not just for those who are in Kuching. Sarawakians who are living in London or other parts of the world can download this application through Play Store for Android and App Store for Apple.”
Meanwhile, he said that they were working on upgrading IRIS such as increasing airtime and other features.
“We are currently looking into adding another two hours to our airtime making it 10am to 4pm from Monday to Friday. In the future, we want listeners to be able to have two-way communication with our radio and for IRIS to become streaming 24 hours live.”
Some of the topics that would be included in ‘Segmen Bual Bicara’ (discussion segment) on IRIS are issues related to crime, household, education, economy and other public interest topics.
Abdul Wahap added that segments and programmes were not confined to dakwah (preaching of Islam) alone. Thus, non-Muslim listeners may also tune in to IRIS.
