KUALA LUMPUR - Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa is facing doubts and disagreement from netizens over the Putrajaya-based Quranic Village project.
The Ketereh MP posted on Twitter photographs of the project’s architectural designs, stating that development is scheduled to begin next year.
The government’s intention to build the RM150 million Islamic learning centre, which among many things will entail a mosque and a few studios, was first reported on July 21.
Annuar had said that it will be a place on how knowledge on the Quran can be better shared with the public.
Annuar’s post was retweeted more than 5,300 times and received more than 1,100 comments which mostly seemed apprehensive.
The negative comments seemed to carry a similar theme, questioning why the federal government is choosing to allocate funds for such a project when it could be used to handle the repercussions of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
“From an Islamic perspective, the development of a civilisation or country isn’t measured solely from a physical aspect. Don’t just pursue majestic monuments when the welfare of citizens is ignored. Monuments are not living and can’t vote. Citizens can,” Twitter user @alfiezik said.
Mengikut sudut pandang Islam, kemajuan sesebuah peradaban atau negara diukur dari segi pembangunan rohani dan bukan hanya fizikal semata-mata. Jangan hanya ingin tampak gah dari segi monumen, kebajikan rakyat sekeliling terabai. Monumen tidak hidup & boleh mengundi. Rakyat boleh
— Alfie ?? (@alfiezik) October 30, 2020
“Instead of building boondoggle or things which may not be functional like this, it is better to practice the basic Islamic principles which help the needy and avoid wastefulness,” @dtawings commented.
Daripada membina "boondogle" atau perkara tidak berguna macam ni, lebih baik mengamalkan antara prinsip2 utama Islam iaitu membantu yang memerlukan dan mengelakkan pembaziran.
— aleph |✨Commissions Open✨ (@dtawings) October 30, 2020
“It’s better to help people in need. What is the point of doing these million dollar projects?” @jim asked.
Baik la g tolong orang susah. Buat projek juta2 ni buat apa la pic.twitter.com/geqUHWFOtx
— jim (@jimujimujimujim) October 30, 2020
Ordinary netizens were not the only ones who expressed apprehension over the Quranic Village project. Local-born celebrity singer Yuna Zarai took to Twitter with a similar message: “Build people, not buildings.”
Build people, not buildings.
— Yuna Zarai (@yunamusic) October 30, 2020
Of course, not all tweets were unsupportive of the federal territories minister's announcement, as some netizens lauded and defended Annuar.
“Those who are attacking the tweet (by Annuar Musa), it’s not like the government is focusing on this only. For me, ministers do work according to their ministries. Other ministers focus on their portfolios. Allocation for Covid, citizens and frontliners are there. The government is not ignoring,” @nedecinhafez tweeted.
Ramai yang sokong, ramai yang kecam tweet ini, yang kecam pula macamlah kerajaan hanya fokus benda ini sahaja.
— InfoKini (@medecinhafez) October 30, 2020
Bagi aku, Menteri ni buat kerja kementerian dia.Menteri lain fokus hal masing2.
Peruntukan utk Covid, rakyat, frontliners ada. ada... faham tak? Kerajaan tak abaikan pic.twitter.com/zzOm2lXvzQ
“Hopefully, Quranic Village will benefit Malaysian citizens as much as the country does. Maybe make it the biggest welfare centre in Malaysia,” @hannafatah tweeted.
Hopefully, Quranic Village will benefit Malaysian citizens as much as the country does. Maybe make it the biggest welfare center in Malaysia?
— your hottest boi on the internet ;)) (@hannafatah) October 31, 2020
The Vibes' has sent a query to Annuar for clarification on the issue and is awaiting his response. -- The Vibes, October 31, 2020.
