KUALA LUMPUR – The Perak Islamic Religious Department has issued a directive prohibiting politicians from giving ceramah (talks) at the state’s registered mosques and surau.
On Facebook, the department shared the letter preventing members of the Dewan Negara, Dewan Rakyat and assemblymen from all states from speaking in said places of worship.
The letter, issued by department director Harith Fadzilah Abdul Halim, said the prohibition also applies to those who do not possess teaching credentials from the Perak State Islamic Religious Teaching Supervision Committee.
Moreover, those who hold positions in any political party are not allowed to deliver ceramah in the mosques and surau, as well as individuals who are contesting in any general or by-elections.
Finally, the ban on giving ceramah also applies to former senators, MPs, and assemblymen who are still active in politics.
“The committees of mosques and surau must always monitor teaching and lecturing activities (to ensure) that (they) are in line with the objectives of strengthening knowledge and fostering unity.”
The ban in Perak comes less than a week after political leaders and activists in Terengganu were barred from using mosques and surau to hold political activities or lectures.
The Terengganu Islamic and Malay Customs Council governor Datuk Shaikh Harun Shaikh Ismail said the decision was made after obtaining Terengganu ruler Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin’s assent.
However, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang appeared defiant on the matter, saying he will continue to deliver his sermons in mosques. – The Vibes, March 7, 2023
