GEORGE TOWN, Oct 1 – Religious affairs domestic trade and consumer affairs committee chairman Datuk Abdul Malik Kassim hold a press conference today at Komtar said there was no issue at all as the whole matter was being blown out of proportion by certain parties.
“It was not a fatwa yet, it was merely a decision by the Penang Fatwa Committee that has to be further discussed and reviewed by others such as the Penang Islamic Religious Department (JAIPP). It was not even brought up to the state executive council to be discussed yet,” Abdul Malik said.
He said from January 2012 until May 2015, the Penang Islamic Religious Department (JAIPP) has received 10 complaints from Muslims concerning the use of loudspeakers outside mosques for reading dhikr after prayers, talks or lectures or the reading of the Al-Quran before dawn, which led to false accusations against the state government of allegedly banning azan.
Meanwhile, JAIPP had also been through mosques and prayer Management Division has conducted an investigation and a meeting with the complainant and found them baseless complaints. Thus, a paper report and recommendations of the relevant JAIPP complaint was forwarded to Jawatankuasa Fatwa Negeri Pulau Pinang for further action.
The Persatuan Mukabuku Pulau Pinang called for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to intervene, while a poster calling for a “Red Shirt” rally to be held on Friday at Komtar also emerged. Yesterday, Bernama reported that Penang will gazette a decision to ban the use of loudspeakers outside mosques and suraus except for azan or the call to prayer.
The report is based on a letter from the Penang Mufti’s Office dated September 1 that stated it had been agreed that the use of loudspeakers outside mosques and suraus is prohibited for the reading of the Quran before dawn, all programmes and meetings. While the external loudspeakers can only be used for azan, or the call to prayer which only can be used internal loudspeakers can for other programmes and activities at the mosques and suraus.
