(Bernama) - The Terengganu Islamic Affairs Department (JHEAT) has devised a furnace to dispose of copies of the Quran using a more efficient burning system.

JHEAT Research Division principal assistant director, Mohamad Noor Mohd said the furnace would facilitate the disposal process, reduce burning time and was more environment-friendly.

"Previously, disposal was a long process because several steps were involved such as separating the paper, shredding, burning and then dumping the ashes into the sea.

"With this new furnace, shredding and burning will go on simultaneously," he told Bernama.

He said the furnace was invented by 10 department staff who took nine months to design it, while its production took another four months to complete.

Head of the invention team, Wan Zainuddin Wan Mansor said their main challenge was complying with syariah requirements and not violating Department of Environment (DOE) regulations.

"The DOE does not allow burning so as to preserve the environment, but use of this furnace is approved as it does not affect our environment," he said.

Eleven Quran will produce about one kilogramme of ash and the furnace will be able to carry out unlimited amount of burning.

The furnace, costing RM7,000 to produce, won third place in an Innovative and Creative Invention competition among the state government departments and agencies recently.