He said the temporary closure was done to allow cleaning and sanitisation work to be conducted at the mosques and offices involved.
“Till today, 17 mosques and suraus, including 12 in Ipoh, have been ordered to close temporarily. In addition, the JAIPk halal division office in Jalan Labrooy, Ipoh has also been shut down for now.
“The reopening of all mosques, suraus and offices involved will be announced after all cleaning and sanitisation work is completed,” he told Bernama.
He was asked to comment on a WhatsApp message regarding the closure of several mosques and religious agency offices which went viral today.
Meanwhile, the Perak mufti department through its Facebook page announced the closure of its office beginning today until May 20, adding that all matters would be conducted online throughout the period.
The Perak Islamic Religious Council and Malay Customs (MAIPk) also announced in a Facebook post the temporary closure of all MAIPk counter operations beginning yesterday until May 21 at Kompleks Islam Darul Ridzuan, Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) and MAIPk district administration offices throughout Perak for sanitisation work.
Meanwhile, in Kota Bharu, the Kelantan Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIK) has allowed the Friday and obligatory prayers to be held at all mosques and suraus statewide from today until a date to be announced later.
MAIK president, Tengku Mohamad Rizam Aziz, however, said only 50 worshippers were allowed to perform the obligatory and Friday prayers at state, town and district mosques.
He added that only four committee members were allowed to perform congregational prayers in mukim mosques under category A, other mukim mosques, suraus and musalla.
“Other activities are not allowed,” he said in a statement today.
Tengku Rizam, who is also the Tengku Temenggong of Kelantan, reminded the congregation members to observe the two-metre physical distancing when praying and comply with the stipulated SOPs.
“MAIK fervently hopes for cooperation from all quarters, especially Muslims, in implementing the decision. The SOPs must also be fully complied with by the management of mosques and suraus,” he said, adding that action would be taken against those who breach the SOPs.