TEMPLES, CHURCHES PUTTING SAFETY FIRST
Situation still precarious, so they decide to wait until Health Ministry gives assurance
MANY non-Muslim houses of worship have decided to wait until the Movement Control Order (MCO) is lifted and receive an assurance from the Health Ministry before reopening their doors to devotees.
Buddhist Maha Vihara honorary secretary Leslie Jayawardena, when contacted, said the general sentiment was to wait until the situation could be considered truly safe by the ministry.
He said the guidelines outlined by the National Security Council of having not more than 30 people at a time also made it difficult for them to manage devotee attendance.
“We have 10 monks and staff residing at the temple, leaving only a few places for others to attend selected religious ceremonies.”
Leslie said the temple management planned to meet tomorrow following the new development.
Council of Churches of Malaysia general secretary Reverend Dr Hermen Shastri echoed a similar sentiment.
“The current situation is still very precarious and volatile.
“In keeping with our spiritual obligations and social responsibility, we shall continue to pray and worship at our homes, and also offer online streaming of our worship services on Sundays.
“We seek to prioritise the safety of our people as our paramount spiritual duty.
“Whether that will be on June 10 will be reviewed judiciously when the time comes,” he said.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had announced that non-Muslim houses of worship in green zones would be allowed to reopen from June 10 but subjected to strict standard operating procedures (SOPs).
The SOPs include a maximum congregation of 30 people at a time. The ban on worshippers in high-risk groups — those above age 70 and children below 12 — remains.
Ismail Sabri said, among others, individual temperature of worshippers must be recorded, face masks worn and hand sanitisers provided.
The government had approved 174 non-Muslim houses of worship to reopen nationwide.
Mosques and surau had been allowed to reopen for Friday prayers and other congregational prayers from May 15, but subjected to strict SOPs.
These include the number of people in the congregation should not be fewer than three (excluding imam) and not more than 30 at any one time, while those with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and others, were not allowed to attend.
The Malaysian Gurdwaras Council and Malaysia Hindu Sangam have yet to respond to queries for comments.