KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 2010 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Thursday night launched the world's first and only automatic wudhu washer (pre-prayer ablution device), an innovative Malaysian invention for the global Muslim ummah.

The Prime Minister signed a plaque symbolising the launching of the device, at a hotel here.

The Prime Minister later watched the demonstration of using the world's first Islamic pre-prayer ablution device which is the branchild of an airline pilot and flight engineer turned businessmen Anthony Gomez, who also designed the device.

The washing system introduced to enable an individual to perform the wudhu ablution in a standing position efficaciously in full conformance to the teachings of the Holy Quran.

The wudhu washer incorporates sensors to deliver the correct amount of water, as well as other advanced electronic systems for quick blow drying and also replays a recorded prayer before and after each wudhu wash.

Anthony said he had the idea of coming out with the device while travelling in a ferry in Jordan in 2006.

"When I went to the wash room of the ferry I saw some 40 people trying to do wudhu in a wash basin...then I decided I must find a better way and design for Muslims to perform the wudhu," he said.

It took about two years for Anthony to develop the device and spent more than US$2.5 million for the Research and Development (R&D) and prototype development.

Anthony, who is the chairman and CEO of AACE Technologies Sdn Bhd, the company which manufactures the product, said that even the drying process would reduce maintenance costs and save people from the ill-effects of moisture and infections in the carpeting and surrounding areas of the mosques, surau, offices, hotels, homes and even aircraft.

He said the device, estimated to be around RM10,000 per set, would be in the market in six months' time and the company, based in Petaling Jaya, had already received advance orders from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, besides keen enquiries from many Middle East countries.