KUALA LUMPUR, 22 Oct – The mosque management is urged to improve the effectiveness of communication and clarify transparently when doubts arise among the parishioners on issues related to the management and administration of the mosque, to avoid any misconceptions and slander.

MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (Prevention) Datuk Seri Norazlan Mohd Razali said this while delivering a welcome speech at the closing ceremony of the Mosque Community Corruption Prevention Programme with Malaysian Association of Scholars (PUM) in collaboration with the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (JAWI) at the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Mosque.

"To mitigate risks and prevent corruption, the management and mosque committee need to ensure that the mosque's finances are managed in accordance with the guidelines and financial regulations in force and administered in a transparent, fair and ethical manner," he said.

Meanwhile, Datuk Hajah Hakimah Mohd Yusoff, Director General of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) while reading the opening speech from the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) said, besides visiting mosques and surau with various lecture activities, the aspect of integrity and financial management is also an important matter that must be given attention by the mosque administrator and surau.

The programme was attended by 150 mosque management committee members from 6 zones in Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory. The programme began with a talk entitled "Corruption and Misappropriation Occurring in Mosque Management" and a forum entitled "Financial Leaks in the Financial Governance of Mosques" involving panelists from MACC, JAWI and PUM.

The programme ended with Corruption-Free Pledge (IBR) led by the Chairman of Zaid bin Harisah Mosque, Hj Mohd Aizul, witnessed by the MACC Director of Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory, Datuk Muhamad Fauzi Bin Husin @ Che Mamat.

Also present, Director of JAWI, Datuk Haji Mohd Ajib Ismail; Director of MACC Inspection and Consultation Division, Datuk Izani Wan Ishak; Chairman of PUM Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Haji Mohamad Abdullah and the Grand Imam of the Federal Territory Mosque, Al-Fadhil Ustaz Rozimi Zamri.