INTERNATIONAL LEVEL QURAN RECITERS` ASSEMBLY BEGINS WEDNESDAY

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 (Bernama) -- The 51st International-Level Quran
Reciters' Assembly will begin on Wednesday until Aug 12 at the Merdeka Hall,
Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).

The Public Relations Officer of the Malaysian Islamic Development Department
(JAKIM), Asiah Alkharib Shah, told Bernama that so far 69 male and female
reciters from 43 countries had confirmed their participation, including from
Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, China, Croatia and India.

Malaysia would be represented by a male reciter from Sarawak, Awangku Omar
Asfuaddin Awang Hamdan and female reciter Sharifah Khasif Fadzillah Syed Mohd
Badiuzzaman from Perak who emerged as champion in their respective category at
the 52nd National-Level Quran Reciters' Assembly recently.

The international-level assembly will be officiated by King Tuanku Mizan
Zainal Abidin while the closing ceremony will be performed by the
Deputy King Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Alhaj.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, his deputy Muhyiddin
Yassin, and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom
are expected to attend the opening and closing ceremonies.

-- BERNAMA