No politicking in Kelantan mosques, says mufti 

KOTA BHARU - Kelantan have long since given their trust to professionals to govern the mosques and make sure they are not used for political purposes.

Kelantan Mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad said political party campaigning has stopped since 1915.

He said there were attempts to make the mosques a political stage, but they failed as the state government is diligently and closely monitoring the mosques in the state.

"The Kelantan Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIK), which was established in 1915, has never allowed mosques to be used as places for political propaganda," he said, He said this after launching the 'Commemoration of 150 Years of the Muhammadi Mosque' book launch ceremony here on Wednesday.

Shukri said matters related to religion must be given to experts in the field.

"Politics can't be separated from Islam, but the political parties must separate it from the mosques," he said.

He said speakers should make an application that will be approved by MAIK before they are allowed to use the mosque to conduct religious talks. MAIK is an institution that controls and upholds peace in the mosque.

"Mosque managements should ensure only credited speakers are given the permission to provide lectures or sermons as stipulated in Section 91 of the Maik Enactment.

"So far, no such offences have been committed in the state.

"Popularity is not an assurance that a speaker would be allowed to provide talks in mosques," he said.

Selangor Sultan Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah ordered mosques be managed by professionals and must be systematic so they can become a centre of local community activities, a source of knowledge, a development of economic resources, and a platform for the unification and unity of the ummah.

His magesty disagreed with mosques becoming political arenas and the party's political propaganda, saying they must be freed from any political party's influence and elements.