PRESS STATEMENT BY HIS MAJESTY SULTAN SELANGOR
His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj understands the expressions of the people's hearts and the pleas of Muslims on social media and through letters, who urge that the mosques in the State of Selangor return to fully functioning as before.
Here, His Majesty expressed his grief over TWO matters following the spread of the dangerous Covid-19 epidemic that has hit the country since last year.
FIRST, His Majesty is sad and disappointed because he had to decide to continue limiting the function of mosques and suraus throughout the State of Selangor.
SECOND, His Majesty was saddened and saddened to see the increase in the number of deaths due to the Covid-19 epidemic in all corners of the State of Selangor.
His Majesty the Sultan of Selangor would like to emphasize that mosques in the State of Selangor have never been closed and it is not an easy thing for His Majesty to order that mosques limit the attendance of congregations to perform Fardhu and Friday prayers.
This decision was taken after examining and monitoring in detail the data and statistics of the spread of the increasingly worrying Covid-19 epidemic in the State of Selangor.
As of 9 July 2021, Selangor has recorded a total of 1,933 deaths (28 deaths on 9 July 2021 alone), with 4,400 new daily infections.
What is more worrying for His Majesty, at the end of June 2021, data shows that deaths among Malays in the State of Selangor reached 855 people, which is more than half of the total of 1,571 deaths at that time.
A few weeks before last Ramadan, for example, when relaxation was given for worship activities to be done in mosques, the rate of infection continued to spread, creating several new clusters in mosques and suraus in the state of Selangor.
His Majesty regrets that although the implementation of SOP compliance is controlled and tightened in mosques, the spread of this dangerous epidemic continues to rage.
His Majesty himself is no longer willing to see the heartbreaking visuals that show the grief of family heirs for not having the opportunity to visit the hospital and send the body to the cemetery.
Because of that, until today, despite his reluctance, His Majesty is still of the opinion that religious activities in mosques and suraus must be limited, especially congregational prayers, for the safety of all Muslims in the State of Selangor which His Majesty loves.
His Majesty emphasized that the effects of the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic are different for each state, therefore comparisons cannot be made roughly. What's more, Selangor is still the state with the highest number of new cases and deaths over the past few months.
However, His Majesty said, if the number of new infection cases continues to decrease and the percentage of vaccination compared to the total population continues to increase, God willing, mosques and suraus will reopen as usual.
Until that happens, His Majesty wants all Muslims in the State of Selangor to continue praying and worshiping at home and never stop praying to Allah SWT to eliminate this dangerous epidemic.
On this occasion, His Majesty would like to advise Muslims to remain steadfast and patient because this epidemic is a test and challenge so that we always remember the greatness of Allah SWT
"DEFENSE AND LOYALTY TO ISLAM"
"SERVING THE PEOPLE AND THE COUNTRY"
Issued at ISTANA ALAM SHAH
on July 11, 2021
