Zulkifli Reiterates Role Of Mosques As Centres Of Faith, Learning

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 (Bernama) -- Mosques must continue to serve as institutions for the dissemination of religion and knowledge and should not be associated with any political party activities or influence, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan.

Zulkifli made the assertion following allegations that a Facebook account belonging to a mosque in Rawang had uploaded a post purportedly containing elements related to a political party.

“I have yet to obtain complete information regarding this matter, but my advice is to convey knowledge that remains focused on building the nation, not other matters,” he told reporters after attending the launching ceremony of the Raih Keberkatan Ramadan (RAKAN) programme at the Parliament Building here today.

The programme, officiated by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, was also attended by Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (YADIM) president Datuk Dr Hasan Bahrom and Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) chairman Datuk Syed Kamarulzaman Syed Kabeer.

Earlier, Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) director Datuk Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad was reported as saying that JAIS was conducting an investigation into the administrator of the Facebook account following allegations that the official social media content of the place of worship contained elements of a political party.

Mohd Shahzihan stated that the matter was contrary to the wishes of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who had decreed that all mosques and surau in the state be free from the influence of political parties.

Commenting on the RAKAN Programme, Zulkifli said the programme, held for the first time in Parliament, aims to create the continuous organisation of religious knowledge sessions, not only focused on the month of Ramadan, but throughout parliamentary sittings.

“So we are not only active during Ramadan but beyond Ramadan. These religious knowledge sessions will be driven by YADIM together with the Parliament of Malaysia, and MAIWP will assist in other aspects,” he said.

He said the programme not only encompassed lectures and intellectual content, but also other activities such as breaking of fast programmes and community initiatives, in line with efforts to enliven the surau in Parliament through beneficial activities.

Meanwhile, Johari expressed his appreciation to YADIM and MAIWP for their cooperation in making the programme a success and invited members of the parliamentary community, including staff, officers and members of Parliament, to come to the surau to gain knowledge from credible preachers.

-- BERNAMA