KUCHING: No open houses are allowed during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration in Sarawak.
Sarawak Islamic Council said this was one of the few activities which were not permitted in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Other forbidden activities included conducting feasts after Aidilfitri prayers, house-to-house Eid Takbir and Tahlil prayers after Aidilfitri prayers in surau or mosques.
“In areas under the enhanced movement control order (EMCO), however, Aidilfitri prayers are not allowed to be held in surau or mosques. They must only be conducted at home together with close family members. House visits and grave visits are also not allowed in these areas,” it said in a statement today.
In areas under the conditional movement control order (CMCO), the council said Eid Takbir could be held in surau and mosques after Maghrib prayer on the night of Syawal 1 until 10.00pm and after the Subuh prayer on the morning of Syawal 1 until the Aidilfitri prayers began.
“Aidilfitri prayers are allowed in mosques, surau, musolla and premises that have obtained the permission of the Sarawak Islamic Council only. The number of congregants allowed to attend prayers is according to the physical distancing rule of one metre apart or based on the capacity of the facility.
“The congregation must check their temperature and register attendance through MySejahtera or record book before entering the mosque or surau, wear face masks at all times, bring their own prayer mats and are encouraged to perform partial ablution at home.
“The entrances to religious premises must also not be crowded and all doors must be open. Congregants are also not allowed to shake hands.”
Similar to the announcement made by the State Disaster Management Committee earlier, the council said house visits were allowed in areas under CMCO within the first week of Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.
“Only immediate family members are allowed to come and visit at only 50 percent capacity of the house with physical distancing rules applied,” it said.
The council added that grave visits were not encouraged based on current case risk assessment.
“However, if they are unavoidable, visitors must comply with the grave visiting guidelines issued by the council on April 8,” it added.
