Surau MADANI At Seremban R&R Holds First Friday Prayers

SEREMBAN, July 4 (Bernama) -- “Relief, convenient and no need to rush” - that summed up the reactions of the public after performing the first Friday prayers at Surau MADANI in the southbound Seremban Rest and Service Area (R&R) today.

Muhammad Amri Anuar, 25, who works at a restaurant at the R&R, said he previously had to travel 15 kilometres to the Kampung Tekir Labu Mosque to perform his obligatory prayer.

“It’s always a rush, especially when there are lots of vehicles on the highway; it can take a long time. Now that we can pray here, it’s a big relief. My friends and I are really grateful, and it definitely saves us time,” said the man, who has been working there for seven years, to reporters today.

Some 300 congregants performed the first Friday prayers at the surau, led by Imam I of the Labu Mosque Shafie Rajiman, who also delivered a sermon titled “Titian Keinsafan dan Keampunan Ilahi Pada Hari Asyura”.

Also present were Malaysian Highway Authority director-general Datuk Ir Sazali Harun and PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) managing director Datuk Nik Airina Nik Jaffar.

Meanwhile, Surau MADANI chairman Alias Jaafar, 53, said the approval to hold Friday prayers at the premises had been long awaited, as the Seremban R&R was a key stopover for highway users.

The restaurant owner said he felt incredibly thankful, as the efforts he and other business operators at the R&R had undertaken with PLUS over the past year had finally made Friday prayers at the surau possible.

“This surau certainly provides comfort to the public, especially the workers. It's well-equipped and comfortable, so when we received permission to hold Friday prayers here, we were truly grateful,” he said.

Mohd Salleh Ibrahim, 47, said he was just planning to stop for a quick lunch at the R&R on his way from Selangor to Segamat, Johor, but upon learning that Friday prayers could be performed at the surau, he decided to join in instead of doing Jamak (combining two obligatory prayers at one time).

In the meantime, Nik Airina said PLUS was honoured to have contributed towards fulfilling the needs of the surrounding community by providing a more comfortable and convenient space to perform Friday prayers.

She said the initiative aimed not only at improving services but also at creating a peaceful and worship-friendly ecosystem within R&R.

Nik Airina added that PLUS would engage with the relevant religious authorities to explore the possibility of setting up similar suraus at other rest areas.

Two days ago, Negeri Sembilan Mufti Associate Professor Datuk Dr Faudzinaim Badaruddin reportedly said Surau MADANI was the first surau at any R&R to be granted approval to hold Friday prayers, making it easier for users and workers to perform their religious obligations.

-- BERNAMA