‘Kedah mosques, surau not political platform’
ALOR STAR: All mosque committees in Kedah have been reminded against allowing the house of worship from being used as a political platform.
State Religious Affairs, Tourism and Heritage, and Public Works Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Rawi Abdul Hamid said this was in line with a decree by the sultan of Kedah years ago on the matter.
“The committees must observe the decree as mosques are sacred places.
“We must not allow them to be compromised by any element of partisan politics.
“As for the distribution of Ramadan aid, we have informed the committees to hold the event in the compound, not inside the mosque.
“At the recent event involving Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi here, the Ramadan aid distribution ceremony was done in the compound and not inside the mosque.”
Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had reportedly described Subang member of parliament Sivarasa Rasiah as having “crossed the line” for giving a speech at Masjid AnNur in Kampung Melayu Subang last week.
Rawi said mosque committees in Kedah should be aware of the insensitivity of allowing politicians to give speeches in the mosque.
“The decree was issued to preserve the sanctity of Islam and ukwah (unity) among the ummah (Muslim community).”
In Perlis, the state Religious Department (JAIP) said it would not hesitate to take stern action against those who infused political elements in their sermons or speeches in mosques or surau in the state.
State Religious Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Khairi Hassan said the action would serve as a deterrent to others.
He said the mosque committees would be held responsible if they allowed the mosque to be used by politicians.
“The mosque committee risks being suspended or sacked just like in a recent case, where a committee member was suspended for allowing unauthorised speakers to deliver sermons during Friday prayers.”
Khairi said the Administration of Islam Enactment 2006 stated that any preacher or speaker who wished to use the mosque to spread Islamic teachings or hold talks must obtain an authorisation letter from the Mufti Department, with the consent of the Raja of Perlis as head of Islamic affairs in the state.
He said the contents of the speech would be screened before it was allowed to be delivered in mosques.
Director Dr Hazman Hassan said the authorisation letter contained the decree by the Perlis ruler. He said it stated that no political elements were allowed in speeches inside mosques.
“So far, in Perlis, there has been no case of non-Muslims applying to give talks in mosques or surau.”