IPOH, 10 June 2020:
The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, has given his consent to allow every obligatory (fard) prayers to be performed in congregation at all mosques and suraus in Perak beginning Friday (June 12).
Perak Islamic Religion and Malay Customs Council (MAIPk) chief executive officer Sharul Azam Shaari said the consent was given upon advice by the Perak Fatwa Council based on the guidelines set by the National Security Council (MKN) and the Ministry of Health (MoH).
“Starting Friday, June 12, Muslims in Perak are allowed to perform the five obligatory prayers in a congregation of not more than 40 people, excluding mosque officials and committee members,” he said in a statement today.
For Friday prayers, he said the number of people allowed in the congregation will also be increased from 12 to 40, excluding mosque officials and committee members.
For the time being, he said only Malaysian citizens are allowed to join the congregational prayers with their personal details to be recorded before being allowed to enter the mosques.
Meanwhile, Shahrul Azam said the Perak Religious Islamic Department (JAIPk) will issue the guidelines on the matter to all mosque and surau committee chairmen in the state who will also be entrusted to oversee and ensure that the guidelines are adhered to.
Apart from that, he said the mosques and suraus to be used for the congregational prayers must also adhere to the guidelines and the standard operating procedures prescribed by the MKN and the MoH to curb the transmission of the Covid-19 virus.
On May 14, Sultan Nazrin consented for Friday prayers to be performed in the state in a congregation of not more than 12 people including the imam and khatib.
Penang too has allowed more individuals to perform the Friday prayers as well as the five daily prayers at the mosques beginning June 12.
Penang Mufti Datuk Seri Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor said in a statement today for Friday prayers, members of the congregation would be increased to 40 compared to 15 previously while for the five daily prayers, the number would be limited to 15 people, comprising the officials and committee members of the mosque.
He said the matter was decided by the Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Department.
“The number of members of congregation for Friday prayers and five daily prayers at the mosque will gradually increase. It is up to the mosques on how they want to implement it, for example using rotations.”
– Bernama