Dr M: We never asked mosques to be closed

PUTRAJAYA: The government had never declared that mosques and tourist attractions be closed to travellers in light of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad went so far as to describe such moves as irresponsible.

“The government has never declared that mosques or museums cannot be visited by tourists just because they might be infected by the coronavirus.

“This is not a government policy and it is an irresponsible act, ” said Dr Mahathir at a press conference here after chairing the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday.

Among the mosques that have closed temporarily to tourists are the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque and the Putra Mosque in Putrajaya, as well as the Federal Territory Mosque in Kuala Lumpur.