49 held over Raya prayers outside Penang mosque

49 held over Raya prayers outside Penang mosque

48 Bangladeshi nationals and one Malaysian citizen nabbed for flouting Covid-19 SOPs.

Of the 49 arrested for holding prayers outside the mosque, 48 were Bangladeshi nationals while one is a Malaysian citizen.
PETALING JAYA:
Forty-nine people were arrested following an investigation into a viral video showing hundreds of individuals violating SOPs by performing Aidiladha prayers outside a mosque in Penang this morning.

A Penang police spokesman said that 48 of those arrested were Bangladeshi nationals while one is a Malaysian citizen.

Earlier today, Penang police chief Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain apologised for failing to prevent “around 200” foreign nationals from gathering outside a mosque in Taman Pelangi, Juru, for prayers.

Meanwhile, home minister Hamzah Zainudin gave his assurance that stern action would be taken on those found to have organised the gathering, adding that he has instructed the immigration department to look into deporting foreigners found to have flouted the Immigration Act.

Penang is currently under Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan, with the Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAINPP) limiting Aidiladha prayers to not more than 150 worshippers at state and district mosques, 100 at kariah mosques and 50 at suraus.

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