(Serian, 19th) — The 2025 Serian Division Quran Recitation Competition carried a deeper significance thanks to a message of interfaith unity—Serian Division Chief Caroline Cleophas Joseph, though not a Muslim, personally attended and presided over the event.
Sarawak State Assembly Deputy Speaker Datuk Idris Buang pointed out that Caroline, as host, fully embodied the spirit of mutual respect and religious harmony among the various ethnic groups in Serian Division.
“This may be the first time a non-Muslim has officiated a Muslim event, and I have great respect for that,” he said. Idris made these remarks last night (18th) while presiding over the closing ceremony at the Serian Sarawak Government Administrative Center.
In her speech, Caroline shared that she had grown up surrounded by an Islamic environment, with two of her siblings having embraced Islam. She also thanked the organizers for including Quran translations during the recitations, allowing non-Muslims to understand the meaning of the verses.
During the competition, participants demonstrated steadfastness and enthusiasm for their faith.
Wan Jamaluddin Wan Sait, a 49-year-old from Lantulas Garden, Sibu, emerged champion (qari) in the men's category. He is an assistant librarian at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’kub Library. He joked that his daily half-hour commute had become his best practice time.
“I often listen to Qur’an recitations on YouTube in the car and imitate the styles of seasoned reciters. At the same time, I’m constantly learning from renowned Sarawakian reciters to improve myself,” he said.
As for the women’s category (qariah), the champion was 61-year-old former nurse Surayah Suparti from Kampung Munggo Limo. After retiring, she now teaches the Qur’an full-time, currently with about 40 students ranging in age from 3 to 60.
“As a teacher, I hope to lead by example and inspire my students. I hope one day they will follow in my footsteps, inshaAllah (God willing),” she said.
Both champions received a cash prize of RM1,000, a certificate, and a trophy. The men’s prize was presented by Idris, while the women’s award was presented by his wife Datin Nurhidayah Hussain.
Sarawak State Assembly Deputy Speaker Datuk Idris Buang pointed out that Caroline, as host, fully embodied the spirit of mutual respect and religious harmony among the various ethnic groups in Serian Division.
“This may be the first time a non-Muslim has officiated a Muslim event, and I have great respect for that,” he said. Idris made these remarks last night (18th) while presiding over the closing ceremony at the Serian Sarawak Government Administrative Center.
In her speech, Caroline shared that she had grown up surrounded by an Islamic environment, with two of her siblings having embraced Islam. She also thanked the organizers for including Quran translations during the recitations, allowing non-Muslims to understand the meaning of the verses.
During the competition, participants demonstrated steadfastness and enthusiasm for their faith.
Wan Jamaluddin Wan Sait, a 49-year-old from Lantulas Garden, Sibu, emerged champion (qari) in the men's category. He is an assistant librarian at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’kub Library. He joked that his daily half-hour commute had become his best practice time.
“I often listen to Qur’an recitations on YouTube in the car and imitate the styles of seasoned reciters. At the same time, I’m constantly learning from renowned Sarawakian reciters to improve myself,” he said.
As for the women’s category (qariah), the champion was 61-year-old former nurse Surayah Suparti from Kampung Munggo Limo. After retiring, she now teaches the Qur’an full-time, currently with about 40 students ranging in age from 3 to 60.
“As a teacher, I hope to lead by example and inspire my students. I hope one day they will follow in my footsteps, inshaAllah (God willing),” she said.
Both champions received a cash prize of RM1,000, a certificate, and a trophy. The men’s prize was presented by Idris, while the women’s award was presented by his wife Datin Nurhidayah Hussain.