Putrajaya: The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) has announced that starting September 6, 2024, permission will be granted to conduct Friday prayers at the Musala IOI City Mall in Putrajaya. This decision was made by the Selangor State Mosque and Surau Governance Committee (JATUMS) and received the approval of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the approval was given after a thorough assessment revealed that the mall premises host a significant number of male Muslim workers and receive a substantial influx of Muslim visitors. This situation creates challenges for them to attend Friday prayers at nearby mosques. The closest mosques, Masjid Al-Mustaqim Kampung Dato' Abu Bakar Baginda and Masjid UNITEN, Kajang, are located approximately 7.6 and 7.7 kilometers away, respectively, and cannot accommodate the large number of congregants.

MAIS chairman Datuk Salehuddin Saidin emphasized that the permission for Friday prayers at the Musala IOI City Mall is temporary. It will be revoked once a new mosque near the premises is completed and can meet the needs of the congregants, including the workers in the area.

Salehuddin assured that MAIS, in collaboration with the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS), will continue to oversee the management and implementation of Friday prayers in the state. Their aim is to ensure that these are conducted in an orderly manner, in strict accordance with Islamic law and legal provisions, to protect the interests of the Muslim community.

Earlier, Salehuddin clarified in a statement that Sultan Sharafuddin had not granted consent for any surau or musala located in shopping centers in Selangor to conduct Friday prayers, with the exception of one, due to the absence of a nearby mosque. However, this approval remains temporary.