PORT KLANG: The Home Ministry (KDN) disposed of 15 tonnes of ashes of Quranic texts and materials in the waters off Pulau Angsa, Kuala Selangor, today, under the Pemulian Abu Al-Quran programme. KDN Enforcement and Control Division secretary Nik Yusaimi Yussof said that the ashes were shaped into cubes or blocks before being released about 13 nautical miles from the shore, at a depth of 10 metres.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, 29.3 tonnes of ashes from Quranic texts and materials have been disposed of through the programme, which has been held for the fifth time this year. This includes the disposal of 15 tonnes of Quran ashes in Selangor today, along with 10 tonnes in Pahang, 2 tonnes in Terengganu, 1.3 tonnes in Sarawak, and 1 tonne in Kelantan, as stated by Nik Yusaimi during a press conference on the programme.
Nik Yusaimi explained that materials or texts containing verses from the Quran, as well as copies of the Quran without KDN certification, were also processed into ashes before being formed in
to cubes to ensure they sank easily. They are released into the sea, away from the main shipping routes, at a specific depth, following the Quranic Text Disposal Guidelines issued by the KDN through the Quran Printing Control and Licensing Board (LPPPQ).
Further methods that could be implemented include burying the materials in areas where people do not usually walk, at a specified depth, and removing the ink from the printing paper. This involves dissolving the ink so that no traces of writing are left on the paper, allowing it to be recycled, with the ink disposed of according to the Department of Environment guidelines.
In the meantime, the public is reminded not to sell the Quran and materials containing Quranic verses as recyclable paper, as it does not comply with the syariah guidelines regarding the proper disposal of the holy book. Nik Yusaimi recommended handing over the Quran to any KDN Enforcement and Control Division office nationwide for disposal in accordance with the established guidelines.
