Day: August 10, 2021

The government’s decision to allow congregational prayers at surau and mosques for individuals who have completed the COVID-19 vaccination beginning tomorrow is a welcome relief for worshippers that could enliven surau and mosques nationwide.

The government’s decision to give priority to fully vaccinated individuals is an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the congregations, as well as to encourage those who wish to perform congregational prayers to complete the COVID-19 vaccination. However, the facility is still subject to the approval of the religious authority in each state.

Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said all Friday mosques and surau in the state will be allowed to reopen, limited to 30 or 50 earliest worshippers starting tomorrow.

“Worshippers including mosque officers and committee members as well as security personnel or volunteers must pass the 14-day period after completing their doses. The public can refer to the official channel of the Negeri Sembilan Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAINS) for the list of Friday mosques and surau allowed to reopen,” he said when speaking in conjunction with the Maal Hijrah Celebration and Hijrah Merdeka Online launch held virtually n Seremban today.

He said the permission was in line with the consent of the Yang Dipertuan Besar Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir and the advice and views of the Negeri Sembilan National Security Council (MKN) as well as the state health department.

Meanwhile, Terengganu Religious Affairs Department commissioner Mat Azmi Arshad said mosques and surau in the state were allowed to hold congregational prayers for an unlimited number of worshippers beginning July 8.

He said individuals who have not received their jabs were still allowed to perform congregational prayers at mosques and surau in the state provided that they comply with the strict SOPs set to contain the COVID-19 infection.

“However, those who have yet to be fully vaccinated and senior citizens who are at risk are advised to pray at home as the Delta variant spreads very fast,” he said when contacted by Bernama.

In KEDAH, the State Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAIK) said that it has yet to make any decision on allowing fully vaccinated to perform prayers at mosques and surau in the state.

Its director Mohd Yusri Md Daud said any new ruling on the SOPs would need to be discussed with the relevant parties, especially the Kedah State Health Department as the state is still logging over 1,000 COVID-19 cases.

Starting July 9, individuals who have received their COVID-19 jabs in the state are allowed to perform the obligatory prayers and Friday prayers at mosques and surau in the green, yellow and orange zones, limited to 100 worshippers (excluding officers and mosque committees).

For mosques and surau in the red zone, the department only allows 50 worshippers who have been vaccinated to perform prayers at the location.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in his announcement yesterday said the government had agreed to allow only prayer activities for worshippers who have been fully vaccinated and this applies to all phases of the National Recovery Plan (PPN).

Muhyiddin explained that an individual is recognised as fully vaccinated only 14 days after getting their second jab for two-dose vaccines such as Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Sinovac, adding that for single-dose vaccines, namely Johnson & Johnson and CanSino, the individuals must pass the 28th day from the date of injection to be recognised as having completed his or her vaccination.

The facility is also granted to non-Muslims to attend (prayers at) their houses of worship, and it is subject to approval from the National Unity Ministry, he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

For the second year in a row, the Maal Hijrah 2021/1443 celebration was held in several states on a moderate scale, and with thankfulness and gratitude despite the country’s ongoing battle with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Themed ‘Manhaj Rabbani, Ummah Berkualiti ‘, the Hijrah new year celebration holds significant meaning for Muslims in remembering the historical events of Prophet Muhammad SAW and Muslims’ migration from Mecca to Madinah.

In PUTRAJAYA, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah called on all Malaysians to be guided by the spirit of the Hijrah in battling the COVID-19 pandemic and to rise together to strengthen unity, maintain health and adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the sake of the country.

In His Majesty’s speech at a hybrid celebration held at the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque, Al-Sultan Abdullah urged Malaysians to comply with the four-phase National Recovery Plan, which is a strategy to exit from the clutches of the pandemic.

At the same event, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin expressed hope that the arrival of the Islamic new year would endow Muslims with faith and patience to continue their efforts in the fight against COVID-19 through the National Recovery Plan (PPN) actively being implemented by the government.

Muhyiddin also hoped the Maal Hijrah celebration would continue to be appreciated and highlighted by Muslims in the country even though everyone was still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic battle.

The celebration today also witnessed former National Mosque Grand Imam Tan Sri Syaikh Ismail Muhammad being announced as Tokoh Maal Hijrah at national level while Rabitah Al-‘Alam Al-Islamiy Makkah Al-Mukarramah secretary-general and Saudi Arab Royal Council Advisor, As-Syeikh Dr Muhammad Abdulkarim Al-Issa was named as International Tokoh Maal Hijrah.

In NEGERI SEMBILAN, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun hoped the Maal Hijrah celebration this year would give the people the motivation to be bold in facing all challenges apart from the confidence and strong courage when facing the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I urge all to foster the spirit of the brotherhood and unity and jointly develop a dynamic, blessed and harmonious Negeri Sembilan and pray for the situation to return to normal as before,” he said when speaking at the Maal Hijrah celebration and the launch of Hijrah Merdeka Online virtually today.

In SELANGOR, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari in a statement called on Muslims to prepare themselves to face a challenging time and to be ready to change for the better this new year.

In PENANG, the former judge of the Syariah Appeal Court in the Malaysian Syariah Judiciary Department Datuk Seri Dr Md Yusup Che Teh, 70, who also served as Syarie Chief Justice of the Penang Judiciary Department, was announced as the state’s Tokoh Maal Hijrah.

Meanwhile, the former principal of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Al-Irshad, Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid, 66, was the recipient of the Special Ulamak Award at the state-level Maal Hijrah celebration officiated virtually by Penang Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak tonight.

In KELANTAN, Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob said the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic should serve as a lesson for Muslims to strengthen their friendship and to help each other.

“The Hijrah event also teaches us to be patient in facing challenges including to continue striving and putting our trust in Allah SWT,” he said in a message in conjunction with the Maal Hijrah celebration today.

In PERAK, Menteri Besar Datuk Saarani Mohamad attended the state-level Maal Hijrah ceremony at the Sultan Azlan Shah Mosque (MSAS), Ipoh tonight.

Among those present were members of the Perak state executive council, Perak Islamic Religious Department director Datuk Mohd Yusop Husin, Ipoh Mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin and Perak police chief Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid.

In SARAWAK, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, in his address at the State Mosque in Petra Jaya tonight, reminded all Muslims in the state to not become a society that only watches idly as Sarawak continues to develop, but to seize the opportunity to improve their economic standing.

He said to become a developed state with a high-income population, Muslims need to work together with others in Sarawak to make the most of the opportunities created as a result of government initiatives to open up more avenues to boost the state’s economy.

In TERENGGANU, Terengganu state mufti Datuk Syeikh Abdul Halim Abd Kadir, 86, was honoured with the Tokoh Maal Hijrah award this year, in celebrations that were aired online.

Other awards given included Tokoh Imam Cemerlang, being awarded to Abd Wahab Muhammad, 77, from Kampung Rawai Mosque, Marang while the Tokoh Bilal Cemerlang award was presented to Mohamad Puteh, 67, from Kampung Pecah Rotan Mosque, Kuala Nerus.

Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar had earlier said in his speech that Muslims of calibre knew how to maintain a physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual balance and were capable of facing any challenge without doubt as they had faith in Allah’s qada’ (preordained destiny) and qadar (decree from eternity).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

The Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) will be enforced in 30 localities in Perak, Sabah and Kelantan from Wednesday till Aug 24.

Senior Foreign Minister (Security cluster) Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein in his daily statement on the National Recovery Plan here todaysaid 23 of them were Orang Ali villages in the Batang Padang district in Perak.

The affected Orang Asli villages are Kg OA Sg Lah in Chendering sub-district, three in the Bidor sub-district namely Kg Senta, Kg Chang and Kg Sanding as well as Kg OA Menderang in the Sungkai sub-district.

The list also includes 18 villages in the Batang Padang sub-district, namely Kg OA Batu 6, Kg OA Batu 14, Kg OA Batu 16, Kg OA Batu 17, Kg OA Batu 18, Kg OA Batu 19, Kg Kenderong, Kg Sg Rensa, Kg Sg Chendon, Kg Sg Odak, Kg Ampangan, Kg Pos Woh, Kg OA Batu 7 and Batu 7 ½, Kg Sg Bot Dalam, Kg Sg Bot Luar, Kg Sg Tidong, Kg Lubuk Gaharu and Kg Woh Intake.

The other location in Perak is Taman Meru 2B, Kinta in Perak while five localities in Sabah under EMCO are PPR Taman Sri Balung and PPR Taman Sri Titingan in Tawau, Tolokoson Camp 2 (Tenom), Kampung Kota Tuaran (Tuaran) and Kampung Sarikan (Nabawan).

The EMCO will also be enforced in Taman Sri Bayu in Tumpat district in Kelantan.

Hishammuddin also announced that the EMCO in Sg Klau and Sg Chalit (Raub) as well as the IBN Highland construction site, Genting Highlands (Bentong) in Pahang and Taman Kinarut Ria in Papar, Sabah that are scheduled to end tomorrow are extended until Aug 17.

Touching on compliance to standard operating procedures (SOP), he said 38 premises were ordered to shut immediately for violating SOP yesterday, adding that 281 individuals were issued compounds and 21 were remanded for SOP offences.

Meanwhile, 28 illegal immigrants were detained and seven land vehicles were seized under Op Benteng yesterday, he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency