40,000 Al Quran Copies For Muslim Brothers In Cambodia

PHNOM PENH (Cambodia), Aug 17 (Bernama) -- About 500,000 Muslims in Cambodia now have the opportunity to learn the al-Quran in the Khmer language, thanks to the efforts of Malaysia's Restu Foundation and the Ministry of Defence. Through the efforts of both parties, a total of 40,000 al-Quran copies in the Khmer language will be printed in the first phase with 3,840 copies already handed over on Wednesday at the Kilometer 9 mosque at Cambodia's capital city. At the handing over ceremony, the chairman of Restu Foundation Abdul Latiff Mirasa and the Religious Adviser to the Defence Minister Kamaruddin Mamat handed over the copies to Cambodia's Deputy Minister for Transport, Vocational and Training Othsman Hassan. Othsman who is also the Cambodian Muslim Development Foundation chairman represented the country's Muslims. Kamaruddin explained that the remaining copies would be shipped in stages after Hari Raya (Eid ul-Fitr) through Air Asia and MAS flights. TIRELESS EFFORT He said the task to translate the holy book into the Khmer language took 15 years to complete with the translation work headed by Zakaryya Adam. “As a Muslim I'm proud of the fact that with Allah's blessing the al Quran was successfully translated into the Khmer language though it took quite a while to complete," he said when speaking at the handing over ceremony. Also present was the Cambodian Mufti Haji Kamaruddin Yusuf and local religious personalities who provided a helping hand in ensuring the holy book reached the Cambodian shores. Mufti is an expert on Islamic religious law. Kamaruddin hoped that the cooperation would enhance universal brotherhood among Muslims and show Malaysians cared for their Muslim brothers who were in need of assistance in the material and knowledge sense. The holy book's translation was done under the guidance of Zakaryya while its printing and shipment was managed by Restu Foundation. Its distribution in Cambodia is managed by the Cambodian Muslim Development Foundation with the cooperation of the Cambodian Muslim Supreme Council. RESTU FOUNDATION'S NOBLE PLANS Abdul Latiff noted that the Restu Foundation has plans to establish an al-Quran publishing setup that would become the second one in the world after the only such set up in Saudi Arabia. According to him, the Restu Foundation is working on ways to source and publish al-Quran in other languages as well - Tagalog (the Philippines), Thai, Cham (Cambodia), Mandarin (China) and Tamil (India and Sri Lanka). He noted that about 60,000 more of the al Quran copies in the Khmer language would be printed the latest by the end of the year making the total number printed 100,000 copies. He pointed out the research, writing, printing and shipping cost amounting to RM3 million (US$957,446) was contributed by Malaysians. Meanwhile, Othsman noted that Cambodian Muslims were proud of Malaysians who have enabled them to learn the al Quran in the Khmer language (the official language of Cambodia). He pointed out Muslims in Cambodia all made use of the Arabic Quran and therefore only those well versed in the Arabic language could understand in depth the sacred verses in the book. “Through the translation, Cambodian Muslims can appreciate better the al-Quran's content. “The translation will also help non-Muslim Cambodians to understand better of Islamic teachings," he said. (US$1=RM3.13) -- BERNAMA