MAIK president Tengku Rizam Tengku Abdul Aziz said all imams across the state should prevent mosques from being used as places for campaigning when the 15th general election (GE15) is under way.

“A directive has already been issued on Oct 11 in relation to the delay in issuing special permission to religious speakers in mosques in towns, districts and mukims throughout Kelantan. This is aimed at preventing mosques from becoming campaign platforms for certain groups to deliver their agenda.

“I would like to remind mosque officials that it is necessary to ensure that only speakers with credentials from MAIK are allowed to deliver lectures in mosques, as stated in Section 91 of the MAIK Enactment,” he told reporters after meeting 610 imams at the Sultan Ismail Petra Silver Jubilee Islamic Complex hall here.

He said this includes delivering sermons, meaning only mosque officials and appointed preachers were allowed to deliver them, to keep the sacred pulpit from being turned into a campaign platform.

At the event, Tengku Rizam, who is also the Tengku Temenggong of Kelantan, presented almost RM1 million in “fidyah” contributions to 20 town and district mosques, to be distributed to the needy in 610 mukims in the state.