KOTA BARU – The current standard operating procedures (SOPs) for congregational prayers in mosques, surau, and madrasah have proven to be effective in curbing the spread of Covid-19, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary.
He said this could be seen in how no mosque-related clusters have been reported so far, and added that the existing SOPs would be used for the special tarawih prayers during the month of Ramadan.
“That is why we have maintained the SOPs until today, and if there is a change in the next two months before Ramadan, it will be announced by the government. If any (changes are announced), it is up to the views of the respective state religious councils to use the SOPs effectively.
“We have also learned from several incidents last Ramadan of clusters of tarawih groups that did not comply with the SOPs. The government and the authorities will intensify monitoring so that congregants comply with the SOPs set,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after attending the Food Bank Contribution presentation ceremony by Yayasan Pembangunan Ekonomi Islam Malaysia (YaPEIM) at Kolej Uniti here today, which was also attended by Kota Baru Kolej Uniti chief operating officer Mohd Shaharom Azmin and Kelantan YaPEIM Administrative Centre general manager Nik Mohd Nurul Ihsan Salleh.
The media previously reported that the Islamic Development Department did not intend to introduce specific SOPs for tarawih prayers during Ramadan this year, and would instead maintain the existing ones in use. – Bernama, February 6, 2022
