Shopping malls in Terengganu to close briefly on Fridays to stop youths skipping prayers

All shopping malls in Terengganu will be ordered to close for two hours on Friday to prevent Muslim youth from "escaping" Friday prayers, the state's chief minister Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman said on Tuesday. -- PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
All shopping malls in Terengganu will be ordered to close for two hours on Friday to prevent Muslim youth from "escaping" Friday prayers, the state's chief minister Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman said on Tuesday. -- PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

KUALA TERENGGANU (The Star/Asia News Network): All shopping malls in the Malaysian state of Terengganu will be ordered to close for two hours on Friday to prevent Muslim youth from "escaping" Friday prayers, the state's chief minister said on Tuesday.

Mentri Besar Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman announced the move at the state assembly meeting, saying that the state executive council made the decision at a meeting last week.

Shopping malls in the state such as Giant and Mydin Mall and all businesses within their premises will have to close from 12.30pm to 2.30pm every Friday.

A spokesman for the state government later said all local councils would be informed of the decision "as soon as possible".

"The councils will then notify all shopping mall owners, as these premises come under their jurisdiction. This will be enforced after January 2015," said the official.

"The decision is made to prevent Muslim youth from loitering at these malls during Friday prayers."

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.