PUTRAJAYA: A total of 845 mosques and suraus will be part of a memorandum of understanding between Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) and the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) to ensure cleanliness at the premises.
This is the first MoU signed by Local Government Development Ministry with any state religious department to raise public's awareness on cleanliness.
The 845 mosques and suraus as well as 62 tahfiz schools in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan will take part in programmes and activities to preserve the environment and to ensure hygiene practices is aligned with the Local Government Development Ministry's mission, "Jihad against pollution and food waste".
From the MoU, Jawi and SWCorp will cooperate to implement five initiatives namely; the implementation of tackling dirty public lavatories through the "Bersih, Menawan dan Wangi programme"; drive-thru recycling centre at mosques; schools under Kawi to participate under recycling activities and competition; zero trash at Jawi offices and premises as well as providing an educational session on taking care of the environment at pre-marital courses.
The MoU was signed by SWCorp chief executive officer Ismail Mokhtar and Jawi director Datuk Mohd Ajib Ismail and witnessed by Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im.
When asked about the details in ensuring the mosques and suraus will continue to practice cleanliness, Na'im said he would be making surprise visits to the mosques and surau in the Federal Territories.
"We will conduct surprise visits to monitor and to ensure that this MoU is not just a rhetoric.
"The toilet cleanliness at mosques and surau have been a issue and now we need to translate the programme into action in reality.
"Other than surprise visits; we also hold contests to give an incentive to the surau and mosques management and visitors to accept the challenge in keeping the premises clean," he told reporters after witnessing the MoU signing at the Local Government Development Ministry headquarters here, today.
Na'im also expressed hope that the success of the programme under Jawi would also provide an example to other state religious department to emulate similar programmes.
Nga also suggested for the mosques and surau involved to be part of the cleanest toilet award under the ministry.
"There is a 'Skuad Pengawas,' where they are responsible for monitoring the cleanliness of the public toilets with the cooperation of Quality Restroom Association of Malaysia.
"The cooperation will identify the toilets that are kept clean for use and will award the toilet of the year award.
"Perhaps, we can include a mosque and surau category for the award," he said.
