There are still several mosques around the country that are disobeying the movement control order (MCO) by having their Friday prayers and sermons, said Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri today.
“The minister in charge of religious affairs has made it clear that there will be no Friday and congregational prayers (during the movement-control order enforcement period).
“However, five mosques still held ‘solat berjemaah’, and another mosque yesterday held Friday prayers.
Speaking at a press conference after chairing the special task force meeting, the senior minister of defence said this is going on despite the authorities’ best efforts and the order from the government not to have large gatherings at places of worship.
He did not say where the mosques are located.
“Yesterday in one of the districts a mosque had their Solat Jumaat and as a result, 116 people who attended the prayers have been arrested by the police,” said Ismail.
Yesterday, Johor police chief Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, said the police detained 116 foreigners at a factory in Muar as they were reportedly preparing to perform their Friday prayers, despite the MCO being enforced.
He said those arrested consisted of Pakistani, Bangladeshis and Indonesian nationals.
Sabri, when asked to elaborate on which mosques were not adhering to the MCO, said he wished not to reveal those names, but assured the public that authorities are taking action to prevent another Solat Jumaat from happening during this period.