PUTRAJAYA: The Home Ministry (KDN) has seized 3,254 units of digital wall clocks featuring Quran recitation with azan functions sold without approval, estimated to be worth RM1.1 million.

KDN Enforcement and Control Division secretary Nik Yusaimi Yussof said the seizures were made during raids on four premises, believed to be distributors of these digital wall clocks, in the Klang Valley last month.

He said all the items, believed to be imported from China and sold at a price starting from RM350 per unit on social media, e-commerce platforms and physical stores, were seized for violating Section 6(1) of the Printing of Qur'anic Texts Act 1986.

"Further checks found that the seized clocks had technical errors in the audio recitation of the Quran, including repetitive and incomplete recitations and meaning due to a mix with the call to prayer (azan).

"The translation of the Quran in other languages found in these digital clocks also did not comply with the Tafsir Pimpinan Ar-Rahman used in Malaysia," he told a press conference today.

Nik Yusaimi said following this, four premises owners aged between their 30s and 40s have been detained to assist in the investigation.

He emphasised that any publication of the Quran containing one or more juz' or parts must obtain KDN certification through an expert review process before being distributed or sold in the country.

To date, KDN has approved 952 final proofs of Quranic texts, including electronic and digital Qurans, for sale and distribution in Malaysia.

He also said that KDN would take stern action against any party involved in importing, distributing and selling the Quran in violation of this act.

The public with information can contact the complaint line at 03-80008000 or hotline 88893145 or email [email protected].

-- BERNAMA