Penang executive councillor for Islamic Affairs Abdul Malik Kassim expressed regret today that a letter from the state Mufti Department had been leaked to create unrest in the Muslim community.

Malik said due to the leaked letter, which was released "with bad intentions to create public unrest", the Penang government and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng are being blamed for interfering in Islamic matters in the state.

"That is not true. This decision has nothing to do with us but because the letter has been leaked with bad intention to create problems, certain quarters have threatened to rally and carry out activities to demonise the state government.

"We are investigating how the letter was leaked and who did it, and we will act accordingly, including lodging a police report.

"It was premature to jump to conclusions about the issue as the process to gazette the fatwa takes a long time," Malik said when contacted.

He was referring to the fatwa which was stated in a letter from the State Mufti Office dated Sept 1 concerning the decision of the Penang Fatwa Committee to ban loudspeakers, permitting it only to be used for 'azan' (call for prayers).

State mufti Wan Salim Mohd Noor had said the decision does not affect the sanctity of Islam and was in line with the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah.

Perlis also made a similar ban several years ago, but opponents of the Penang government have already started blaming Lim for the decision to carry out the same fatwa in Penang.

Fatwa gazetted after approval from Agong

Earlier today, Malik said the Penang Islamic Affairs Department (JHEAIPP) has received 10 complaints from Muslims about the use of loudspeakers at mosques and suraus.

Malik said these complaints were lodged with the department from January 2012 to May this year and were related to the use of loudspeakers for the purpose of Quranic and zikir prayers, ceramah, and lectures.

He added, at the press conference in Komtar, that JHEAIPP has met with the mosque committees and the complainants.

"The department carried out its investigation on the matter and found the complaints to be valid.

"A report on the matter and recommendations were submitted to the Penang Fatwa Committee for further action. The Fatwa Committee then discussed the report and recommendations in every aspect on July 1 and 2," added the PKR Batu Maung assemblyperson.

Wan Salim was present at the press conference with Malik.

Malik said the outcome of the discussions were then submitted to his office and JHEAIPP, the department responsible for further action on the matter.

He said the decision to limit the use of loudspeakers only for azan prayers will be raised at the state exco meeting before the issue is submitted for approval to the Yang diPertuan Agong.

He added that only when approval is obtained from the Agong, the fatwa would be gazetted for JHEAIPP to enforce.

"The Penang government will find the best way to handle this situation," he said.

Malik also said Islam should be propagated without undermining the sanctity of the religion.

Islam cares about the welfare of individuals - Muslim and non-Muslim communities - and it is in line with the Quran and Sunnah teachings, he said.

"This means it is not right for those who want to carry out their religious duties to disturb the peace of others, especially those who are outside the mosque," Malik added.