Warning against political campaigning in mosques

Mosque and surau officials and committees have been warned against using the place of worship for campaigning in the Teluk Intan parliamentary by-election.

Perak Islamic Religious Department director, Datuk Mohd Yusop Husin said he had received complaints from residents that several mosques in the constituency had skewed religious talks towards politics in the run up to the by-election.

He said the department on Tuesday issued a circular barring political ceramah and distribution of political posters and pamphlets in mosques and surau in Teluk Intan.

"The mosque is a place for all Muslims irrespective of their political inclination, not to inflame hatred among each other. We put the interests of religion and the people above others," he said when contacted Wednesday.

Mohd Yusop said mosques in Teluk Intan should deliver the Friday prayer sermon issued by the department without making any amendment and were barred from preparing their own and action would taken against those who defied the warning.

Barisan Nasional's Datuk Mah Siew Keong faces DAP's Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud in the by-election set for May 31.