KUALA TERENGGANU – Prayer halls in mosques cannot be turned into Covid-19 vaccine dispensing areas, Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim said.
He said the opening of a vaccination centre (PPV) at any mosque should be done in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by the National Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF).
“The SOP, among others, disallows mosque prayer halls from being used as vaccine dispensing areas.
“A PPV can be opened at a mosque only if it has the facilities suitable for the purpose, such as a lecture hall, a library or even its own clinic.
“If not, it shouldn’t be allowed to operate as a PPV,” he said in a statement today.
Amzad, who is also Kuala Terengganu MP, said the issue of mosque PPVs arose after certain states launched their own vaccination outreach programme in mosques without referring to the SOPs set by the CITF.
“Pictures of prayer halls in mosques being used as a vaccination area have been widely circulated. In fact, there were also pictures of other areas in mosques being used as a waiting area with chairs.
“I have contacted state health councillors to take the necessary measures to avoid negative public perception on this,” he said.
Amzad said using the prayer hall as there is no other empty space in the mosque area is an unacceptable excuse.
“We don’t ask for all mosques to be turned into a PPV. We have many other places that can be used for this purpose, such as community halls and health clinics,” he said, adding that instructions have been given to ensure such incidences do not recur. – Bernama, June 28, 2021
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