Two mosques in the same congregational area in the Besut district were believed to have performed the Friday prayers twice recently, the Terengganu state assembly was told today.

State Religious and Information Committee chairman Khazan Che Mat said the problem ensued because the opposition supporters refused to pray at mosques sanctioned by the government.

He said they did not get the consent of their party leaders to pray at government-accredited mosques.

"This will continue to happen if PAS leaders do no advise their supporters join other Muslims for the Friday prayer at mosques sanctioned by the government," he said when responding to a question from Nawi Mohamad (BN-Hulu Besut).

Khazan said previously 10 mosques in the state had encountered the problem but it was overcome when the opposition supporters decided to rejoin others for the Friday prayer at government-accredited mosques.

Abdul Wahid Endut (PAS-Wakaf Mempelam) interjected by saying that conducting two Friday prayers in the same congregational area had never been an issue in Saudi Arabia.

Khazan said the situation was different as the Muslim population in places like Medina was dense while Besut was sparsely populated.

- Bernama