KOTA BARU – Mosques and surau in Kelantan are allowed to hold Friday prayers, other congregational prayers and religious activities in a controlled manner during the conditional movement control order (CMCO) period in force until December 6.
Kelantan Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIK) president Tengku Tan Sri Mohamad Rizam Tengku Abdul Aziz said these are allowed with certain conditions to ensure the spread of Covid-19 is curbed.
He said Kelantan's Sultan Muhammad V gave his consent on the matter.
“During the CMCO, up to 50 worshippers are allowed at a time in state, district and mukim mosques to perform Friday or other congregational prayers while maintaining a physical distance of at least 1m.
“As for surau, up to 30 people are allowed at a time and must keep a distance of at least 1m," he said in a statement today.
Tengku Mohamad Rizam, who is also Tengku Temenggong Kelantan, said for musolla (small prayer rooms) only 10 people are allowed at a time, depending on the size of the room.
He said mosques and surau in areas with Covid-19 clusters will be closed upon the advice of the Health Ministry.
Yesterday, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the high infectivity rate from the Mengketil cluster in Kelantan is causing infections to spread rapidly.
Apart from recording sharp increase in cases within a short period, Noor Hisham said the cluster has spread to Kota Baru, Tanah Merah, Pasir Mas and Kuala Krai in Kelantan, and Besut in Terengganu. – Bernama, November 21, 2020