By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 12: There is no problem in delivering ‘khutbah’ (sermons) in English language considering the increase in the Muslim population including converts, says Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
According to a report by Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), he was responding to some quarters who questioned the Sarawak government’s decision to use English in delivering Friday sermons in mosques.
“We have to look at the situation where that certain areas may have a large population of converts.
“Hence, we use English so that they can understand,” he was quoted saying at the launch of the State-level ‘Program Jelajah Madani Ulama dan Umara 2024’ at Wisma Sabati here yesterday (Aug 11).
He also revealed that a new mosque that will be built near tHe Spring Shopping Centre here will use English as the intermediate language for its Friday sermons.
At the same time, Abang Johari announced that Sarawak’s first Islamic international school will teach students on all-encompassing Islamic values in the way of life and the hereafter.
The syllabus for the new school, he said, will be based on Singapore’s Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah, Cairo’s Al-Azhar University and United Kingdom’s University of Cambridge.
Also present were the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Senator Dato Setia Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, Sarawak Legislative Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar and Sarawak Islamic Council (SIC) president Datuk Misnu Taha. — DayakDaily
