BY SITI NURAIN RATANI
KUCHING: In an effort to improve the management excellence of mosque and surau institutions, the Sarawak Islamic Council (SIC) placed great emphasis on the standardised star-rating system for mosques in the state.
SIC president Datuk Misnu Taha said the standard, which was conducted since 2017, will be a benchmark for the performance of mosques in Sarawak from all aspects, namely administration, management, cleanliness and cheerfulness.
“With the launch of the initiative towards a special five-star mosque for syariah-compliant toilet and place of ablution, it can make Sarawak mosques and surau well managed and have good management and administration.
“Although the mosque is well-built and beautiful, but the toilet is dirty and the ablution place is not comfortable, it will definitely give a bad image to the mosque,” he said when officiating at the launching ceremony of Initiative Towards Five-Star Mosque at Masjid India Bandar Kuching here today.
Misnu added that since 2019, only two out of 234 mosques in Sarawak have received five-star recognition.
“Therefore, the Mosque Management Committee (JKP) will work with SIC and Sarawak Islamic Religious Department (Jais) to improve the mosque or surau in achieving five-star status.
“It is important for every individual to work together in maintaining the star status of the mosque, so as not to deteriorate and be an example to other institutions,” he said.
He also added that Jais, in collaboration with Sarawak Islamic Council (MIS), will strengthen the dissemination and approach of knowledge through the mosques in Sarawak.
“Through the education bureau, we will hold a community-based education programme where it will involve education for children, youth to adults.
“The mosque has always been a centre for the dissemination of knowledge, but several approaches need to be improved to attract the public to the mosque and build their human identity from the beginning,” he said.
