Malang Mayor Asks Muslims to Perform Eid Prayer at Home

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Malang City administration appealed to Muslim residents to perform Eid Al-Fitr 1441 Hijri prayer at their homes. This is aimed at suppressing the spread of the novel coronavirus that caused Covid-19.

Malang Mayor Sutiaji said his administration could not prohibit the implementation of Eid prayer in mosques or fields as there is no such policy, either a mayor's regulations or instructions from the central government.

“We do not bar people from offering prayers. But we ask them to carry it at their homes during this pandemic,” Sutiaji underlined.

The appeal was conveyed by Sutiaji during a coordination meeting with religious leaders, mosque managers, and representatives of religious organizations in the city who were expected to invite Muslims to pray at homes. 

Sutiaji went on to say that he would not issue a new regulation concerning the ban on mass Eid prayer. “We have already had a Mayor’s Decree or Perwali No. 17/2020 on religious activities, that are permissible while implementing Covid-19 protocols and the organizer will be fully responsible for the event,” the Malang Mayor said.

Eid al-Fitr, which is expected to fall on May 24, 2020, coincides with the enforcement of the Large-Scale Social Restrictions or PSBB that will last until May 30. Malang City has now 27 Covid-19 cases, 12 of the patients have recovered and the rest are still being treated.

TEMPO.CO