JOHOR BAHRU – The newly completed mosque on Pulau Aur will host its first Friday prayers following the consent of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The mosque, which has been named Masjid Zuhri by His Majesty, was rebuilt to replace an older structure that had deteriorated over time.
The previous mosque had suffered from age-related deterioration, including roof leaks, while the island’s remote location posed difficulties for residents seeking to carry out essential repair and maintenance work.
The reconstruction was undertaken by TETO Engineering Sdn Bhd as a charitable endowment, or waqf, providing a new place of worship for the local community.
The new mosque is designed to accommodate nearly 200 congregants and is intended to provide residents of Pulau Aur and nearby areas with a more suitable and comfortable facility for religious activities.
His Majesty’s consent for the first Friday prayers was conveyed following an audience with the Mufti of Johor, Dato’ Yahya Ahmad, at Istana Pasir Pelangi in Johor Bahru on 22 September.
The audience also provided an opportunity for His Majesty to receive an update on matters relating to Islamic religious affairs in Johor.
Also present during the audience were Dato’ Mohd Radzi Mohd Amin, Chief Executive Officer of the Johor State Islamic Religious Council, and Dato’ Mohd Zuhri Abdullah, Chairman of TETO Engineering Sdn Bhd.
The rebuilding of the mosque through waqf represents a contribution towards maintaining access to religious facilities for residents in a remote island community.
For residents of Pulau Aur, the completion of the new building provides a replacement for the former mosque, which had become increasingly difficult to maintain because of its condition and the challenges associated with the island’s location.
The naming of the mosque as Masjid Zuhri also marks the completion of the reconstruction project and its readiness to serve the local Muslim community.
The first Friday prayers will therefore take place at the newly completed mosque following the consent granted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The development also formed part of discussions during the Mufti of Johor’s audience with His Majesty, where updates concerning Islamic religious affairs in the state were presented.
The meeting at Istana Pasir Pelangi brought together representatives from the Johor State Islamic Religious Council and TETO Engineering, alongside the Mufti of Johor.
The new Masjid Zuhri, with its capacity of nearly 200 people, will now serve as a place of worship for the residents of Pulau Aur and surrounding areas.
