Kok not involved in azan petition, says mosque

Masjid Bandar Kinrara, the mosque which is embroiled in an azan controversy, said DAP parliamentarian Teresa Kok was not involved in the petition to lower the volume of its loudspeakers.

According to Abdul Rahman Nasir ( left ), who is head of the mosque committee, Kok had never set foot in Masjid Kinrara to present the residents' petition.

Kok, 43, who is Selangor senior exco member, was arrested under the Internal Security Act yesterday ostensibly for her role in the controversy.

Former Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has earlier alleged that Kok, who is Kinrara state representative, of submitting the petition calling for the mosque to "tone down" the azan (the call to prayers).

Mohd Khir caused a stir when he was quoted as having warned the Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor government against issuing directives against the use of loudspeakers by mosques and suraus (community prayer hall) for purposes of the azan .

"This matter has been allowed to proceed because DAP supporters have lately become big headed. Do not poke at the hornet's nest lest you regret it forever," he was quoted as saying.

Early this week, Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia has picked on Khir Toyo's comment and highlighted the issue in one of its opinion column.

Kok has strenously denied organising any such petitions. Two days ago, Kota Raja MP Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud of PAS lodged a police report against Mohd Khir for misrepresenting the issue.

But Siti Mariah's effort did not save Kok from being nabbed under the tough ISA law, which allows for detention without trial.

Meanwhile, the residents who signed the petition said they had never intended to protest against the use of loudspeakers for the azan .

Instead they have requested the mosque to lower the volume of the loudspeakers for the ceramah (religious talks) which often followed the prayers.

According to the residents, the volume on the loudspeaker when the mosque performed the ceramah caused disturbance to them, especially on Sundays whem most of them would want to "wake up late for extra rest after a long week's work".

While the azan lasts a couple of minutes, religious ceramah could go on for more than an hour.

This was explained by Steven Ee, the person who presented the mosque with the petition on behalf of the residents in the area.

He also said that the allegations made by Khir Toyo that the handing over of the petition was instigated by a Pakatan party was untrue. Ee said that the petition was his own initiative.

Petition signed by 189 residents

The petition, signed by 189 residents, was handed over to Serdang state assemblyperson Mohamad Satim Diman from Umno in February and another copy given to the mosque authorities.

Another copy was also sent to Kinrara DAP state assemblyperson and state exco Teresa Kok's office after the March 8 polls.

Ee said that the reason why the copy was sent to Kok was because she was the nearest state assemblyperson there apart from Mohamad Satim.

"We common people cannot have easy access to the leaders. We hope that the leaders can discuss this matter and solve it," said Ee.

He also said that the petition was sent to Mohamad Satim with hope that he could be the mediator between the residents and the mosque authority to solve the problem.

According to Ee, his wife had met with a BN component party leader to discuss the matter and was advised by the person to draft the petition and have it sent to the relevant people.

"As advised, I started collecting signatures from the residents there and handed it over to Mohamad Satim through one of his officers at his office," explained Ee.

Ee then said he noticed that the loudspeaker's volume was lowered for about two weeks but then returned to its original pitch after that.

"You can't be expecting us to move away. I believe the Muslims here understand our concerns," said Ee, who added that he was not against Islamic activities in the area.

He also expressed hope that the Muslim residents there can cooperate with the non-Muslims on the matter for the benefit of all.

See petition in full