GEORGE TOWN, Sept 1 — The Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAIPP) has stopped all mosques from inviting guests speakers (khatib) to give sermons, after a recent uproar over Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s name being used in a Friday sermon, replacing the name of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

It is understood that the decision was reached during a council meeting on August 26.

According to a circular made available to The Malaysian Insider, MAIPP secretary Sazali Hussein said the council had decided to ban mosques from inviting a khatib to give sermons effective August 26.

Sazali said that the ban will remain until further notice.

The circular was signed by Sazali himself and distributed to all 212 mosques in Penang.

“Sermons should only be given by an Imam or khatib who have been nominated or been given permission by MAIPP,” said Sazali who also director of the Islamic Affairs Department in Penang (JAIPP).

He did not, however, state what action would be taken against mosques that defied the order.

MAIPP’s decision is believed to be in reaction to Taiping khatib Zakaria Ahmad’s Friday sermon in the Padang Menora mosque in Seberang Jaya Utara.

During the sermon Zakaria had recited a prayer asking for “guidance” to be given to the Penang CM so that he would embrace Islam.

This, however, became a controversy when Umno state liaison chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi claimed that Zakaria had replaced the name of the Agong and the state Ruler with the name of the Penang CM during the recital of the prayer.

JAIPP has also demanded an explanation from Zakaria during a meeting with MAIPP chairman Elias Zakaria and Sazali on August 24.

Zakaria defended himself, saying that he was merely exercising his Muslim responsibility in praying that a non-Muslim would be enlightened to accept Islam.

“The way I see it, there is nothing wrong in praying for a non-Muslim, just that the method and place of prayer is said to be offensive.

“Insya-Allah I will not repeat the prayer during a Friday sermon and if I were to do so it would be somewhere else,” said Zakaria.

Zakaria also claimed that the issue had been blown out of proportion by politicians and thanked MAIPP for their guidance.