The Penang Islamic Affairs Department (MAIPP) regards a viral video claiming that a condominium in the state has barred the use of loudspeakers for calls to prayer (azan) as ill-intentioned.
Penang Deputy Chief Minister Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman said the video is “confusing, dishonest, and was publicised without good intentions, no matter what the purpose.”
Zukiyuddin, who heads MAIPP, said a meeting on July 2, 2015, has stated that loudspeakers were allowed outside mosques and surau for the azan and religious talks.
He said the condominium’s management has stated it was not against the loudspeakers or azan and that the issue has been resolved.
“We regret the role played by a TikTok user named Mohd Sophian Mohd Zain, who made and publicised the controversial video on May 14, with a tone which angered the Muslim community in the whole country,” said Zakiyuddin (above, right).
“The issue was actually being managed in an amicable way by all sectors, including by most of the community, the surau committee, and the condo management,” he added.
“We want Sophian to apologise publicly for the seditious video which has angered the Muslim community,” he stressed.
“We are looking into the appropriate laws to deal with this matter.”
Issue since last year
Zakiyuddin was speaking at the Surau Saidina Umar in the Tri Pinnacle condominium in Tanjung Tokong, which has come under the spotlight for allegedly interfering with the volume of the loudspeakers for the azan.
The press conference was called following a viral video of a man accusing the condominium’s joint management committee (JMC) of banning the use of loudspeakers for the azan.
Sophian, who uploaded the video, also vowed to lodge a police report on the matter.
A separate video showed an argument with the JMC over the issue, with a man heard angrily saying: “The azan is compulsory for us Muslim, don’t interfere.”
Surau chairperson Mohd Nasir Abdul Majid said the incident happened on March 23 during the JMC’s annual general meeting.
He added the issue has persisted since last year when, following complaints, the surau management lowered the volume of the speakers.
However, Nasir said they were unable to fulfil the JMC’s request to only allow loudspeakers in the surau.
It was learnt that Permatang Pauh PKR Youth chief Fahmi Zainol will also lodge a police report on the matter.
According to Sinar Harian, the police have called up the JMC personnel to be interviewed in order to try and settle the “sensitive issue” amicably.
‘Show me the sedition’
Sophian, who was in the press conference with a group of supporters, refused to apologise unless Zakiyuddin can pinpoint any part of his video that is seditious.
“Show me any part of the video that is seditious and incites hatred between the races in the country and I will apologise,” he said.
Throughout the press conference, Sophian and his friends tried to intervene to ask questions and tell their side of the story.
However, a very patient Zakiyuddin told them to remain calm as their turn will come and they would have a chance to speak.
Meanwhile, JMC chairperson Alex Low apologised to the Muslim community for the controversial issue.
He said there was no intention on the part of the JMC to ban or disallow the azan and the use of loudspeakers for it.
“We regret and feel disappointed that a private meeting has been made viral to the public,” said Low.
“The video created confusion. We tried to manage and resolve the issue amicably with the surau management team,” he added.
Also present at the press conference was Penang Mufti Wan Salim Mohd Nor and PKR Kebun Bunga assemblyperson Jason Ong.
The condominium has three blocks, each with 48 floors. Block A, a low-medium-cost apartment, has mostly Muslim residents.
Blocks B and C are medium-cost apartments with mixed residency. - Mkini
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