KUALA LUMPUR – Fully vaccinated foreigners are finally welcome to participate in congregational prayers in mosques around the city centre following the relaxation of restrictions by the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi).
The ruling, which includes the reduction in social distancing during prayers from 1.5m to 1m, takes effect beginning Maghrib (dusk) prayers tonight in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan.
Jawi director Datuk Mohd Ajib Ismail said the decision was made after receiving the consent of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
“Fully vaccinated foreigners are now allowed to take part in congregational prayers in mosques and surau,” Ajib said in a statement today.
Apart from foreign citizens, adolescents aged 12 and above who have been inoculated are similarly given permission to pray in these religious houses, while students taking religious lessons can begin attending classes physically in these premises.
Separately, Ajib said Jawi has agreed to allow social events like wedding ceremonies, kenduri and festive gatherings to be conducted in designated halls in mosques and surau at 50% capacity.
Attendees are similarly required to be fully vaccinated.
“All these permissions are subject to standard operating procedures set by the Health Ministry and National Security Council.”
The announcement today comes over a week after a netizen, Mahamood Mubarak Ali, posted on Twitter claiming non-citizens were barred from attending prayers in some mosques in the nation’s capital.
He said this after foreign worshippers were denied their right to worship and attend Friday prayers at Masjid Jamek Kuala Lumpur.
“Decided to go to Masjid Jamek (KL) for Friday prayers and they only allowed Malaysians to enter the mosque. The guard said it was a directive from the mosque and he was just following orders. Do they know how discriminative and ridiculous this is?”
Ajib had then denied that the policy was discriminatory, saying mosques are required to seek approval from Jawi should they wish to welcome Muslim non-citizens to fulfil their religious obligations.
“Actually, there are a few mosques that have asked for permission and we have given them approval.
“We have no problem allowing foreigners who want to perform Friday prayers at mosques that have sought approval,” he said. – The Vibes, November 4, 2021
