UNISSA, UPSI STUDENTS WIN ASEAN IPT QURAN RECITATION

KUALA NERUS, Feb 15 (Bernama) -- Muhammad Hamiz Mirza Sudirman, 23, a second-year student at Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Brunei, was crowned champion in the male category at the Al-Quran Recital (Tilawah) and Memorisation (Hafazan) Event for ASEAN Higher Education Institutions (MTHQ IPT ASEAN) 2025/2026.

Sharing the spotlight, Rushda Nuha Ramly, 22, a third-year Bachelor of Tahfiz Al-Quran and Qiraat with Education student from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), won the female category.

Both received RM2,000, a rotating trophy, and certificates from Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) director-general Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee at the event held at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) today.

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Muhammad Hamiz dedicated his victory to his father, Sudirman Metusin, 48, his first Quran teacher before he joined the Skim Tilawah Al-Quran Remaja (STAR) programme.

“My journey in taranum and Quran recitation began at age 10. This victory is especially meaningful as it is my first at a higher-level Tilawah,” he said, adding that he trained daily for a month while balancing his studies.

Rushda, from Sungai Besar, Selangor, said she had only a week to practice due to final exams.

“The main challenge was mastering the taranum with its many melodies. I had not practiced for a while, so winning was a pleasant surprise,” she said, encouraging young people to incorporate the Quran into daily life.

Sirajuddin said this year’s edition marked the third MTHQ IPT ASEAN, with 211 participants from 50 higher education institutions, 52 of whom advanced to the finals.

“For the first time, it involved students from other ASEAN countries, including Indonesia and Brunei. Participants come from diverse academic backgrounds, from Islamic studies to engineering, medicine and information technology, a positive sign for the region’s future leaders,” he said.

-- BERNAMA