Negeri Sembilan mufti Mohd Yusof Ahmad said each state had its own limits on the number of people allowed for the prayers, adding that the mosque in the video had followed the SOPs strictly.

“This is not something new and should not be made an issue. The maximum number of people in any mosque is determined by the capacity of the respective halls of worship.

“We follow the SOPs issued by the state religious department strictly with the cooperation of the police who control the crowd movement and ensure safe distancing,” he told FMT.

He was commenting on a video clip that went viral yesterday showing a massive crowd in the compound of the mosque in Kampung Sentosa, Seremban, during Friday prayers.

The clip was accompanied by an audio of the man recording it. He said many of those at the mosque were not following the SOPs, including not wearing masks, adding that he feared a new Covid-19 cluster would start there.

Meanwhile, Negeri Sembilan police chief Mohd Said Ibrahim said he and his officers were present to help the authorities ensure the public complied with the SOPs, including the maximum number of people allowed.

“The SOPs are drawn up by the state religious council and we were just there to help them ensure everything was carried out safely and smoothly. Most importantly, we are there to ensure SOP compliance by the congregation,” he said.

Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun had previously announced that the limit on the number of people allowed in mosques would depend on the individual building’s capacity, with safe distancing rules taken into account.

“They are required to bring along a big prayer mat and must perform their ablutions at home. They are only allowed to pray in the main room of the mosques with the required safe distance between each other,” he said.

For the record, the respective state Islamic authorities in the country decide on the limits and SOPs for the Friday prayers.