SHAH ALAM, July 10 — Temporary permission to hold Friday prayers at the IOI City Mall surau in Putrajaya has received the royal assent of the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj.
The Selangor Islamic Religious Council’s (MAIS) chairman Dato’ Seri Salehuddin Saidin said the permission granted to the surau, which falls under the administration of the Sepang District Islamic Religious Office, is only temporary.
He added that the temporary permission, which took effect on September 6, 2024, was decided by the Selangor State Mosque and Surau Governance Committee following His Royal Highness’ consent.
“The permission was granted after on-site inspections and assessments revealed that the premises employs a large number of Muslim staff and also receives male Muslim visitors.
“They face difficulties in performing Friday prayers due to the distance of the nearest mosques from the premises.
“The closest mosques are Masjid Al-Mustaqim Kampung Dato’ Abu Bakar Baginda and Masjid UNITEN, both located more than 7km away,” Salehuddin said in a statement today.
Both mosques mentioned are also unable to accommodate the large number of congregants during Friday prayers.
The permission to hold Friday prayers at the surau would be revoked once a new mosque near the premises is completed and capable of meeting the congregants' needs.
“MAIS, together with the Selangor Islamic Religious Department, will continue to ensure that the management and conduct of Friday prayers in Selangor are carried out in an orderly manner, in compliance with Shariah requirements and legal provisions, for the well-being of the Muslim community,” he said.
On Wednesday (July 8), Sultan Sharafuddin withheld consent for any surau or musolla within shopping malls in the state to be granted permission to hold Friday prayers for the time being.
On Sunday (July 5) Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Zulkifli Hasan encouraged states across Malaysia to introduce Friday prayers at shopping malls following the successful implementation of a similar initiative at several locations in the Federal Territories.
He said the initiative was implemented in the Federal Territories through the collaboration of the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department and the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council, in accordance with the respective jurisdictions of both agencies.
