JHEAIK suspends mosque, surau activities in seven Kedah districts

All religious activities in mosques and suraus in COVID-19 risk areas in the state have been suspended effective yesterday.

Kedah Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAIK) director Mohd Yusri Md Daud said the mosques and suraus involved were from seven districts, namely Kota Setar, Kuala Muda, Kulim, Baling, Yan, Kubang Pasu and Padang Terap.

The mosques involved are one in the district of Kota Setar, Kuala Muda (30), Kulim (6), Baling (6), Yan (3) Kubang Pasu (6) and Padang Terap (3), as well as several suraus from the affected areas. The suraus were ordered to be shut down.

"Friday prayers in the mosques involved are suspended and replaced with Zuhr obligatory prayers at home, religious activities such as lectures, study classes, Yasin reciting ceremonies and so on are not allowed. Marriage ceremonies are also not allowed," he said in a statement here, last night.

However, he said, obligatory congregational prayers in the mosques involved are allowed with the maximum number of three people involving the imam, mosque officer or committee member by complying with the stipulated standard operating procedure.

"Regulars at the mosques involved should replace Friday prayers by performing Zuhur prayers at home, and performing other obligatory prayers in their respective homes," he said.

In addition, funeral prayers and funeral arrangements in the mosques and suraus involved are also not allowed and should be performed at home with only the presence of mosque officials and immediate family members.

He added that any mosque or surau whose congregation members are found to be positive for COVID-19, should be disinfected as a whole and the operation of the mosque should be completely closed and reopened 14 days after the disinfectant process.

"The directive is effective until the latest official directive is issued from time to time," he said.

-- BERNAMA