Tuesday July 8, 2008
Friday prayers will soon be a must for civil servants in Kelantan
By IAN MCINTYRE
KOTA BARU: Performing Friday prayers without fail will soon become a mandatory criterion for Muslims seeking jobs and already working with the Kelantan state government.
Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat plans to table the proposed resolution at the state legislative assembly sitting soon.
»I will be proposing that it be made compulsory for even village heads and all in the civil service. Even all PAS state assemblymen« DATUK NIK ABDUL AZIZ NIK MAT When passed, the employment requirement would be binding on civil servants, including department heads, already working and those seeking employment with the state government, said Nik Abdul Aziz on the sidelines of the state assembly legislative sitting.
“I will be proposing that it be made compulsory for even village heads and all in the civil service. Even all PAS state assemblymen. They must abide by the religious guidelines to perform Friday prayers.”
He said the proposed resolution would ensure that performing Friday prayers would become compulsory similar to how passing Bahasa Melayu in SPM examination has been made a compulsory in applying for jobs.
Currently, the state religious enactment has a provision to fine those who were caught not performing Friday prayers in the state.
This proposed employment pre-requisite would ensure that those working in the state government or elected as assemblymen are those with strong moral and religious values, he said.
This is important as only through a pious lifestyle, can the Government eradicate sins such as corruption and immoral activities, he said.
As for the daily required praying of five times, Nik Abdul Aziz said that it had been fixed as one of the Islamic tenets so it, “is a responsibility which must be met by all Muslims.”
Those who do not follow, have a weakness, which in turn makes them weak in terms of upholding spiritual and moral values, he said.
Later, Islamic Development committee chairman Nik Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah confirmed that the state religious authorities would be studying provisions to penalise those who do not pray five times a day. In 2004 and 2005, the state religious enforcement detained two Muslims for not performing Friday prayers and they were fined by the Syariah Court, said Nik Mohd Amar.
He said the mechanics on how to implement the enforcement aspects and the legislation amendments, was now under study.
In another development, the state assembly sitting approved the appointment of former state Umno secretary Datuk Ahmad Rusdi Ibrahim as a Senator. Ahmad Rusdi defected to PAS in 2005.
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