A NEW mosque in Kuching will use English as medium for Friday prayer sermons, said Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said this will be similar to the Al-Falah Mosque at Orchard Road in Singapore which has been using English in conducting sermons for its congregation.
“Soon, we will build a new mosque near The Spring (shopping mall). There is already a mosque there… We will request the Islamic Religious Department for the sermon during Friday prayers there to be conducted in English,” Borneo Post quoted him as saying.
“This will enable more people to understand the sermon especially non-Malays who are Muslims and not fluent in Malay but more proficient in English.”
The new mosque will be located in Jalan Simpang Tiga and will involve the redevelopment of an existing mosque.
Abang Johari said this when closing the state-level Marhaban competition organised by Sarawak Malay National Association (PKMS) at a hotel last night (Sept 25).
According to Abang Johari, the number of Muslims in Sarawak has increased, with 2020 statistics from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) indicating that Muslims in Sarawak now comprise 34% of the population.
“Previously it was about 27–28%, now it is 34% which means the numbers have increased. Some converted to Islam due to marriage, some embraced Islam voluntarily because they had studied the religion,” he remarked.
“The Islamic Information Centre at Jalan Ong Tiang Swee has played an important role as those who want to learn more about the religion can do so there.” – Sept 26, 2023
Main pic credit: Utusan Malaysia
