Reminders On Hari Raya Haji Prayer Sops Ignored Says Penang Govt

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A total of 49 men, comprising 48 Bangladeshis and one local, were remanded yesterday following the incident outside a surau in Taman Pelangi flats in Juru, Penang.GEORGE TOWN: Two reminders on the rules for prayers were ignored by the hundreds of people who gathered outside a surau in Taman Pelangi flats in Juru here for prayers on Hari Raya Haji two days ago.
Penang’s deputy chief minister I Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman said the residents were informed that only 100 people, who had at least received one dose of the vaccine, would be allowed into the prayer hall.
He said announcements on this were made on the eve of Aidiladha and on the morning itself, but hundreds of people who had gathered there were adamant in wanting to go on with their prayers in the adjacent car park.
The Tuesday morning incident saw netizens expressing shock over the large-scale prayer session at a time when the country is battling with more than 10,000 new Covid-19 cases a day.
A total of 49 men, comprising 48 Bangladeshis and one local, were remanded for investigations by police yesterday.
In a statement, Zakiyuddin thanked the police for taking quick action but raised concerns over how the 49 were treated during their remand process in court.
“I’d like to express my uneasiness to see many of those remanded being brought to court without footwear and in handcuffs.
“It is hoped that the police would exercise some discretion in such matters.
“It is also hoped that this incident becomes a reminder to all, especially those administering mosques and suraus in Penang, to take Covid-19 SOPs seriously.” - FMT

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