SHAH ALAM, March 17 — The Sultan of Selangor has decreed that the Friday prayers in Selangor will no longer be held in mosques and are to be replaced with the Zohor (noon) prayer at home until April 17.
As part of the precautionary measure to contain the Covid-19 infection, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah also instructed that all congregational prayers, religious lectures and activities at mosques and surau in the state to be suspended for the coming month.
A press statement issued by the Sultan’s private secretary Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani, however, said a new decree would be issued if the coronavirus outbreak is contained within the next month.
The decision was made following a special meeting held with the Selangor Ruler and the Selangor Mufti Department, the Selangor Islamic Religious Council, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department, and the Selangor Covid-19 Prevention Task Force.
“Sultan Selangor has expressed his concern towards the wellbeing of the 6.5 million Selangor residents amid the Covid-19 global outbreak.
“Therefore, in efforts to cushion the impact and contain the coronavirus outbreak, several measures will be taken, effective March 17,” the statement read, adding that the move was in line with the nationwide implementation of the Restriction Movement Order by the Federal government, effective tomorrow.
The Selangor Ruler had also reminded the people to avoid public gatherings, especially for those who are experiencing the Covid-19 symptoms.
