Mosques, surau urged to hold special prayer for rain to ease the haze problem

All mosques and surau in the country, as well as Muslims, have been urged to hold special prayer for rain to fall to ease the haze problem.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak made the suggestion when he met him on the sideline of the Dewan Rakyat sitting Monday.

"The prime minister hopes that with the cooperation of the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), all mosques, surau, individuals, associations and non-governmental organisations can hold this prayer," he told reporters after the swearing-in ceremony of the Dewan Rakyat members here.

In the Federal Territory, he said, the special prayer would be held at the National Mosque after the Zohor (afternoon) prayer tomorrow.

"Jakim will inform the states about the suggestion by the prime minister," he added.

On Sunday, the prime minister declared a state of emergency due to haze for the districts of Muar and Ledang in Johor.

The declaration was made following the haze situation, particularly in the two districts, exceeding 500 on the Air Pollutants Index (API) which was an emergency level.

Schools in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Putrajaya and Melaka are also closed today because of the haze, besides the schools in Muar and Ledang in Johor, Kuantan (Pahang) and Port Dickson (Negeri Sembilan).