KOTA KINABALU: The State Government has released the standard operating procedures (SOP) for mosques, suraus and non-Islamic places of worship that will take effect on June 15.
Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun said mosques and suraus were allowed to carry out solat fardhu as a congregation with only 12 committee members.
He said Friday prayers were also allowed in mosques and suraus with only 12 committee members.
“Muslims who are not able to carry out Friday prayers are required to perform solat zuhur during that time in their respective homes.”
Masidi added solat jenazah in mosques and suraus were allowed as well, but limited to 12 people, unless the prayer was carried out after the Friday prayer, which should then comply with the number of individuals allowed.
He said that mosques and suraus could also perform solat hajat with 12 committee members only, whereas lectures, majlis ilmu, akad nikah and kenduri (feasts) were not allowed during the movement control order (MCO).
On the other hand, Masidi said non-Islamic places of worship were allowed to operate from 6am to 7pm with only 12 management committee members only during the MCO period from June 15 to 28.
He said wedding ceremonies in non-Islamic places of worship would only be limited to 12 family members and must not exceed two hours.
Meanwhile, he said funeral service at non-Islamic places of worship was allowed from 6am to 6pm, but not more than two hours for each session. He said only 12 persons were allowed including family members and the management committee members.
He said funeral service at home or mortuary parlour was only allowed from 6am to 6pm, with no more than 10 family members, subject to the space of the house or mortuary parlour.
Funeral procession involving large numbers of people is not allowed.
“Not more than 10 family members are allowed to accompany the deceased to the burial ground or crematorium.”
Masidi continued to say that only 10 family members were allowed at the burial site and crematorium, while the ceremony must not exceed two hours.
He added that not more than five family members were allowed to scatter the ashes of the loved one in rivers or sea, and the ceremony must complete within two hours.
Family members who are above 60 years old and children below 12 years old are not encouraged to attend such ceremonies.
Masidi also said that the deceased was allowed to be rested at one’s residence not exceeding three days for last respects before burial.
He said the time allowed for last respects must not be more than five minutes in the residence from 6am to 6pm, and not more than three people, including the house owner, at any one time.
He said prayers for the deceased must not exceed 10 days in one’s residence and must be conducted between 7pm and 9pm with only 10 family members.
As for funeral parlours, he said the deceased was only allowed be kept at the premises for three days for last respects before burial.
He said people would be allowed to pay their last respects from 7am to 6pm at funeral parlours but not exceed five minutes per person.
On the other hand, Masidi said nurseries and childcare centres were allowed to operate from 6am to 6pm with 50 per cent capacity during MCO from June 15 to 28.