EBRAILLE DEVICE OPENS NEW ACCESS TO QURAN, RELIGIOUS LEARNING FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- The locally developed eBraille device marks a significant milestone in Quranic education for the visually impaired, expanding their access not only to religious knowledge but also to learning in other fields.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan said the device, an innovation by Edote Sdn Bhd, addresses key challenges faced by visually impaired teachers, who previously had to rely on conventional Braille Qurans that are bulky and heavy.

“This is the result of the creativity of Malaysians themselves, offering a more affordable solution that is also more advanced. It is a very commendable innovation.

“Previously, the visually impaired relied on a six-volume Braille Quran weighing about 10 kilogrammes. Now, they only need to use the eBraille device, which weighs less than one kilogramme,” he told reporters after officiating the eBraille Device Usage Workshop and the presentation of eBraille devices to visually impaired Quran teachers here today.

The event was jointly organised by Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (YADIM), the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) and Edote Sdn Bhd.

According to Zulkifli, a total of 10 eBraille devices were distributed today, with two placed at the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque in Putrajaya and the Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek Mosque here to support the continuation of lecture classes using the innovation.

“We want to produce more Quran teachers who are proficient in using the eBraille device so that visually impaired children can have better access to religious knowledge, particularly the Quran,” he said.

Meanwhile, YADIM president Datuk Dr Hasan Bahrom, in his speech, said that a total of 20 visually impaired Quran teachers, accompanied by their companions, participated in the workshop, which aimed to strengthen Quran teaching methods through the use of the latest technology.

To ensure the success of the initiative, he said RM90,000 had been allocated by the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call for government agencies to fully leverage technology in serving the people.

“This initiative is also in line with the Action Plan of Religious Agencies for Muslims with Disabilities 2024-2028, which places strong emphasis on religious education and the rights of persons with disabilities to perform their religious obligations as Muslims.

“YADIM will continue to expand, monitor and enhance such programmes, including through collaboration with the media, non-governmental organisations and the private sector. It is hoped that these efforts will empower persons with disabilities within the nation’s broader dakwah development agenda,” he said.

-- BERNAMA