Home Ministry monitoring Quran apps, says only one is Jakim-approved

KOTA BARU: The Home Ministry is monitoring several Quran applications available on several platforms that are not approved and certified.

Its enforcement and control division secretary Nik Yusaimi Yussof, said some of these applications being utilised by Muslims, raise concerns due to the potential confusion they may create.

“Some of these Quran apps developed by local developers companies have not received approval and some have not even submitted requests for approval.

“So far, only one Quran application, ‘Smart Quran,’ has obtained certification from the Home Ministry, verifying its authenticity for use by the Muslim community in this country,” he told a media briefing here on Tuesday (Feb 27).

Nik Yusaimi said the Smart Quran application was jointly developed with the Home Ministry and received approval from Jakim and is registered with both the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM).

“The applications are not certified because they haven’t been reviewed by the Lajnah Tashih al-Quran Committee and for approval, the publishing company must be entirely owned by Muslims.

“According to the Printing of Quran Text Act 1986, any Quran publishing, including Quran applications, must obtain Home Ministry certification, involving expert review, before circulation in the country,” he said.

He said the Home Ministry encourages application development companies to provide copies of the final software of the Quran text to its Quran Text Printing Control and Licencing Board (LPPPQ KDN).

“This is essential to guarantee the purity of Quranic verses and to prevent any misinterpretation that could pose a threat to public security,” he said adding that the ministry has so far approved or certified 966 types of Quran, including electronic versions, for sale and distribution in Malaysia.

“The Home Ministry calls on the public to report any Quran-related content that are uncertified and go against the regulations outlined in the Printing of Quran Text Act 1986 (Amendment) 2023,” he added. – BK