Penang govt denies CM's name used in Friday sermon prayer

The Penang government today denied that Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's name was used instead of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's in the "doa" (prayer) after the Friday sermon at several mosques in the state. State Religious Affairs Committee chairman Abdul Malik Kassim said investigations showed that none of the mosques had used Lim's name in the prayer.

He was responding to a claim by Umno vice-president and Penang Umno liaison committee chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday that Lim's name was switched with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's in the prayer at several mosques in the Tasek Gelugor, Permatang Pauh and Jelutong areas.

"The state government and the Penang Islamic Affairs Committee have never received or issued any oral or written instruction from any quarters on the matter," he said when contacted.

He also said that the rules of the Penang Islamic Affairs Committee stipulate that mosques intending to engage guest speakers would have to obtain its prior approval.

- Bernama

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