GUAR CHEMPEDAK: All parties should respect the sanctity of the houses of worship to avoid offending people of other races or religions, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.
He said although Islam welcomed the practice of different cultures and religions with certain boundaries, it was not right to have the presence of non-Muslims at a mosque when they have no purpose to be there.
"I call on all races and religions to respect the sanctity of places of worship of others, especially the mosques, as I am afraid it may trigger issues of conflict, cause discomfort, unhappiness and displeasure leading to disunity and anger," he told reporters after presenting special allowances to 480 fishermen in the Jerai constituency here.
He was commenting on newspaper reports on a Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) student group, including non-Muslims, who made use of the Batu 15 Sintok surau to hold a students' gathering which was seen as a violation of the sanctity of the house of worship.
"It was disappointing when non-Muslim students were seen not covering their modesty while in the surau, and were not advised by fellow Muslim students to do so," he said.
Jamil said organisers should be more sensitive, especially when using a surau or mosque for a specific purpose when the event involved non-Muslims. - Bernama
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