'Masjid Banjir' resumes prayers despite mud damage

KUALA SELANGOR: Masjid At-Taufiqiah in Puncak Alam will proceed with Friday prayers today despite being inundated by mud following floods on Wednesday.

Nicknamed "Masjid Banjir" (Flood Mosque), the premises are undergoing an intensive cleanup after being hit by floods for the seventh time, said mosque committee chairman Dr Masrom Mohd Khair.

He said Kuala Lumpur-Kuala Selangor Expressway management had deployed workers and water-jet equipment to remove thick mud covering the mosque's interior.

"Several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are also helping with the cleanup today, particularly in the mosque compound and prayer hall.

"Despite weather forecasts indicating the possibility of further flooding, the mosque resumed congregational prayers yesterday," he said.

Masrom said 13 to 14 committee members had cleaned the main prayer area, but carpets would not be laid out to prevent them from being damaged by another flood.

Congregants have been asked to bring their own prayer mats.

"Subuh prayers resumed yesterday morning, while Friday prayers will proceed today with limited capacity.

"To meet the minimum quorum requirements for Friday prayers under these circumstances, attendance has been capped at between 40 and 50 people. We apologise for the unusual arrangements and advise residents to perform their Friday prayers at nearby mosques," he said.

Mosque secretary Mohd Fazlizam Lod said a gotong-royong cleanup involving the religious department and several NGOs was held today.

He added that heavy rain yesterday evening did not cause flooding on the scale of Wednesday's incident.