Kuala Lumpur: The Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (JAWI) has been urged to coordinate actions across all mosques and suraus under its supervision to strengthen security measures following an attempted assault on a young girl who was performing Subuh prayer at a mosque recently. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar emphasized the need for prompt implementation of these measures to ensure the safety of congregants and local communities.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar called on the chairmen of the Kariah Committees, along with their respective committees and management teams, to take the initiative in enhancing the security levels of their respective mosques and suraus. He made these remarks during his speech at the Conference on the Management and Distribution of Ihya Ramadan Aid for Mosques and Prayer Halls, and the presentation of amil fitrah (tithe collectors) certificates for the Federal Territory for 2025.

At the same event, Mohd Na’im highlighted the role of mosques as centers for strengthening Islamic faith, educating communities through the practice of syariat (religious principles), and fostering unity among Muslims. He emphasized the importance of optimizing available resources at mosques and suraus, including financial resources from mosque funds and skilled manpower from committee members with diverse professional and academic backgrounds.

Mohd Na’im expressed confidence that by maximizing these resources, mosques could be restored to their rightful role as vital institutions in the community. Additionally, he mentioned that JAWI has developed a guideline on mosque and surau loudspeakers as a reference for committee members to help maintain harmony within their communities. He noted that this guideline would be distributed through a circular coordinated by JAWI’s mosque management division.