KUCHING: Kuching City will host the Borneo Cities Quran Recitation Assembly 2026 (MTQBB) from October 26 to 29, bringing together 32 participants from Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei Darussalam and five provinces of Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Sarawak Islamic Council (MIS) chairman Datuk Misnu Taha said the MTQBB is a regional platform for the propagation of Islam to uplift the Quran, strengthen ukhuwah (brotherhood) and foster strategic cooperation among regions and countries in Borneo.

"So far, there are 32 participants from Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and five Kalimantan provinces. The recitation will begin on the 26th, be officiated by the Sarawak Premier on the 27th, and God willing, the closing will be officiated on the 29th by the Sarawak Governor Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar," he said.

Themed Ummah Maju Makmur (Progressive and Prosperous Ummah), MTQBB 2026 will feature two main events: Quran recitation (tilawah), involving nine male and eight female qari, and Quran memorisation (hafazan), with eight male and seven female hafiz.

Besides the main competitions, the programme will include the Borneo Scholars' Forum, an exhibition and a Quran quiz as supporting activities.

The tilawah and hafazan competitions will be held at the Sarawak Islamic Complex Hall, while the exhibition will take place at Central Court, Majma' Building, and the Borneo Scholars' Forum at the Islamic Information Centre.

For the tilawah competition, the champion will receive RM20,000 in cash, the first runner-up RM14,000, the third-placed participant RM10,000, and the consolation prize is RM3,000.

Meanwhile, the hafazan competition offers RM10,000 to the champion, RM8,000 to the first runner-up, RM6,000 to the third-placed participant and RM2,000 as the consolation prize. -UKASnews

Prepared by: Ahmad Daniel Faiz
Photos: Hazrin Sunaini
Translator: Uilson Ng