Kuala lumpur: Malaysia remains steadfast in its approach to addressing Islamophobia by promoting knowledge, engagement, and the dissemination of the Quran, as emphasized by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He highlighted the significance of understanding and engagement over outrage or condemnation as a response to ignorance that fuels hatred and misunderstanding of Islam globally.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar pointed out that Islamophobia has, in certain cases, become institutionalized through the influence of right-wing parties and some governments, creating national narratives hostile to Islam. In light of this, Malaysia is committed to responding in line with Islamic values.
"We can choose to shout and yell and insult. We can choose to show anger and condemn. But we (are) in Malaysia. We choose to respond according to the Islamic precepts and tradition, through engagement, knowledge, and understanding," Anwar stated during the launch of the 30th language translation (Russian) of the Quran and Shipment Container of Quran.
Referring to the Quran-burning incident in Sweden in 2023, Anwar remarked that Malaysia's response was not one of anger, but rather of distribution. The country decided to publish one million Qurans as a response to the incident, sending the first translations to Sweden.
The 30th translation of the Quran in Russian, launched by Yayasan Restu, is part of the One Million Copies of the Quran Project. This initiative, announced in 2023, aims to counteract Islamophobia by distributing translated copies of the Quran in various languages. Over the past two years, 29 languages have been covered, including English, Tagalog, French, Hindi, Hausa, and Spanish.
With the introduction of the Russian edition, Yayasan Restu plans to expand to 30 more translations in foreign languages, aspiring to reach a total of 60 translations over the next three years. This effort aligns with the mission of rahmatan lil alamin (a mercy to all creation), ensuring the Quran's message is accessible globally.
Anwar also attended the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the production of Mushaf Ummah al-Jami', a scholarly collaboration supervised by Dr Ahmad 'Isa Al-Ma'sarawi. This publication will position Malaysia among the first to publish such a mushaf, with Yayasan Restu planning to produce half a million copies.
The event was also graced by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, Yayasan Restu executive chairman and Nasyrul Quran CEO Datuk Abdul Latif Mirasa, Department of Islamic Development director-general Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee, and foreign dignitaries.