PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said that the effort to print and distribute copies of the Noble Quran currently undertaken by Malaysia is an important initiative to enhance understanding of Islam and to take the ummah and the country to greater heights.

Speaking at the One Million Al-Quran Waqf Solidarity programme here today, Anwar said Malaysia responded to the incident of burning copies of the Quran in Sweden by distributing more of the holy book of Islam to that country.

He also emphasised that efforts to address Islamophobia abroad need to be carried out by educating and providing an understanding of Islam and the Quran.

"I believe that there should be an increased understanding between Muslims and the non-Muslims.

"What happened (in Sweden) is a clash and a conflict not based on knowledge, but on ignorance, a clash of ignorance," he said.

On Jan 28, Anwar announced that Malaysia would immediately issue one million copies of the Quran to be distributed around the world as a response to the burning of the holy book in Sweden.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said the publication, printing and translation of the Quran undertaken by Malaysia is giving a meaningful message about the country's capability to appreciate the holy book.

He said this is also an essential element in the understanding of Islam as contained in the MADANI concept he introduced.

"I try to prove that the concept of MADANI, although it embraces issues related to the state, governance, economic sustainability, including compassion and trust, moral values remain a specific thrust for religion, especially the Quran," he said.

The concept of MADANI is based on six pillars: Sustainability, Compassion, Respect, Innovation, Prosperity and Trust.

Earlier, Anwar flagged off three containers containing 30,000 copies of the Al-Quran and its translation in English and Chinese to be sent to Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.

-- BERNAMA