KUALA LUMPUR – The Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (JAWI) has decided to allow activities to enliven mosques, Friday surau and surau in the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) areas in the Federal Territories from today.
This was following the government’s decision to implement the CMCO in the Federal Territories of Putrajaya and Labuan starting from today until March 4, and extending the MCO in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur until March 4.
JAWI director, Datuk Mohd Ajib Ismail, said that ‘tazkirah’ and ‘zikir munajat’ could be held alternately in CMCO-imposed Putrajaya and Labuan after the Magrib prayer until Isyak, limited to 50 per cent the capacity of the main prayer hall of the mosque, Friday surau and surau, subject to 1.5 metres physical distancing.
“‘Solat Hajat’, Yaasin recital, ‘doa munajat’ and `tahlil’ every Friday evening and ‘Solat Hajat’ after the nightly Magrib prayer and after the Friday prayer are also allowed.
“’Kuliah subuh’ could be conducted for not more than 30 minutes with physical distancing of 1.5 metres.
“Marriage solemnisation (akad nikah) ceremonies are allowed with a maximum attendance of up to 30 people depending to the size of the mosque area, including marriage official, witnesses and photographer, with physical distancing of 1.5 metres,” he said in a statement today.
In the MCO areas, Mohd Ajib said that the number in the congregation and other conditions at all mosques, Friday surau and surau were still subject to the rules implemented prior to this.
The exception is the change in the number of attendees for marriage solemnisation not to exceed 30 people subject to the size of the main prayer hall of the mosque, with 1.5 metres physical distancing.
He said that the number of worshippers for the Friday prayer and the five obligatory prayers in the CMCO areas is the same as for MCO, namely, half of the capacity of the mosque, Friday surau and surau, with 1.5 metres physical distancing.
Mosques and surau open in Sabah
All mosques and surau in Sabah meanwhile has been open for the congregational Friday and five daily prayers starting today.
State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said the permission was in line with the implementation of the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) in the state.
“However this is subject to a third of the capacity of the mosque or surau prayer hall, taking into account the ruling on physical distancing,” he said, adding that other activities such as religious talks and the non-obligatory dhuha prayer were also allowed but the sessions must be limited to one hour.
“Religious classes are also permitted but they must not exceed five hours, with a maximum of 20 people in attendance and the standard operating procedures (SOPs) must be adhered to,” he said in a statement here today.
Masidi, who is also Sabah COVID-19 spokesperson said, marriage solemnisation ceremonies were allowed to be held in the mosque special hall or room, with the presence of not more than 20 people at a time and strict adherence to SOPs.
He added that meals and drinks could be served but they must be packed and only children aged 10 years and above were allowed in the mosque and surau.
Religious activities and programmes at non-Muslim houses of worship were also permitted but visitors must register their attendance using the MySejahtera application, Sabahtraces or log book, apart from complying with all the stipulated SOPs, he said.
