Malaysia encourages more Friday prayer mosques to be developed in shopping malls

Malaysia's government is actively promoting the establishment of dedicated Friday prayer mosques, known as surau Jumaat, in popular public spaces such as shopping complexes. This initiative aims to meet growing demand and provide convenient prayer facilities for Muslims, especially in urban areas.

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The government encourages and welcomes any party, including state government administrations, to develop special surau to enable Friday prayers to be held in popular locations such as shopping complexes that are frequently visited by the public.

Dr. Zulkifli Hasan, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), stated that the government welcomes participation from various parties, including state administrations, to develop these facilities. He noted that there is significant interest, particularly from states with major cities, although specific states are not yet being disclosed as discussions are ongoing. Currently, such dedicated prayer spaces already exist in some shopping centers in Kuala Lumpur and the surrounding Klang Valley, facilitated by the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) and the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP).

An interesting observation from this initiative is that shopping malls featuring a dedicated surau Jumaat have reportedly experienced an increase in visitor traffic and sales. This suggests a positive correlation between providing accessible religious facilities and commercial success. "What's interesting, I want to share, is that when a shopping mall has a special surau for Friday prayers, it becomes more popular and attracts more visitors," Dr. Zulkifli remarked. He added that many mall managements are actively contacting the department to explore the potential for establishing similar facilities.

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What's interesting, I want to share, is that when a shopping mall has a special surau for Friday prayers, it becomes more popular and attracts more visitors.

As of now, Malaysia has a substantial network of registered mosques and Friday prayer mosques, with approximately 6,784 mosques and over 1,000 surau Jumaat. The country also has no less than 18,000 surau in total nationwide. The government's push to integrate these facilities into commercial hubs reflects a strategy to enhance religious observance while potentially boosting economic activity.

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Now, there are still many (management of) these shopping malls contacting us to see the potential for establishing such Friday prayer surau.