KUALA LUMPUR – The beauty of the decade-old Terengganu Quran manuscript may now be fully experienced through a digital platform.

The fine workmanship of Islam’s holy book may be seen in augmented reality (AR) form at My5G Experience Portal in Kuala Lumpur.

The AR version of the Terengganu Quran manuscript is the product of a research project by UMT researcher Dr. Riswadi Azmi. It has been developed by Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) in partnership with telecommunication company Ericsson.

“The original manuscript, which has been recognized as the most beautiful in Southeast Asia due to its beautiful colour and the use of gold for illumination and calligraphy, is currently kept at the museum,” said Dr. Riswadi, who is also the director of UMT Sultan Mahmud Islamic Centre.

He said the original manuscript must be kept and treated well to preserve its quality.

“Usually it is not allowed to be touched as that will damage the physical form of this valuable artifact.

“Developing the digital manuscript using augmented reality enables the valuable asset to be referred to, experienced, and used for other purposes without damaging the original manuscript,” he said.

Dr Riswaid said the idea came when he was attending the CEO@Faculty Programme, an initiative from Higher Education Ministry, at Ericsson.

“The programme gathered CEOs and local and international industry players to share their expertise and experience to UMT staff and students and provided opportunities to academic staff to underdo industry attachment programme.

The AR Terengganu Quran manuscript is placed on My5G Portal at Exhange 106 Tower, Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), to showcase the technological ability to process old data into digital formats to visitors.

“Digitalization is about efficiency, accessibility, and innovation. Its use enables faster communication, wider access to information, and extraordinary technological development.

Meanwhile, Ericsson Malaysia President David Hägerbro said manuscript digitalization is an ideal method for displaying and preserving artistic pieces from earlier times.

“The fine calligraphy and embellishments created by earlier artists may be digitalized using the current technology to enable the present generation to access and admire past works and anticipate the future.

UMT Vice Chancellor Professor Dato’ Dr. Mazlan Abd Ghaffar expressed his support for the country’s effort to have the Terengganu Quran manuscript recognized as part of UNESCO’s Memory of the World.

“UMT has drafted various initiatives in the fields of education, preservation, and digitalization to preserve and promote the heritage at the global level.”

“We welcome other agencies to join us as collaborative partners and their names will be included in the UNESCO’s heritage preservation report,” Professor Mazlan said.

The My5G Portal gallery highlights various initiatives related to 5G development in Malaysia, including education, security, sports, and health.

According to DNB Chief Strategic Officer Datuk Ahmad Zaki Zahid, DNB fully supports any initiative to ensure that Malaysia’s digital vision will be achieved and this heritage digitalization will contribute towards the preservation of the nation’s treasures.

Published by:

Corporate Communications Ofice

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu