Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor receiving a souvenir from the organisers during the opening ceremony of the Abu Hassan Ar-Raudhah Surau in Kampung Lok Batik Hujung, Tuaran, on Sunday.
TUARAN (Sept 21): Sabah has recorded the highest number of mosques in Malaysia, with 1,127 mosques and 1,222 surau across the state, a reflection of the State Government’s and Muslim community’s commitment to strengthening the Islamic way of life, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor.
He said the figure was not for boasting but to demonstrate the government’s and people’s determination to make mosques and surau centres for community development.
“What is important is that these houses of worship continue to be enlivened with knowledge, religious outreach, education and unity activities so that they are renowned not only by name but also by achievement,” he said when officiating the Abu Hassan Ar-Raudhah Surau at Kampung Lok Batik Hujung here on Sunday.
According to Hajiji, the construction of the new surau adds to Tuaran’s total number of houses of worship, which now stands at 69, comprising 38 surau and 31 mosques.
He said this development aligns with the district’s population growth and rapid progress due to its proximity to Kota Kinabalu.
“The government is confident that this number will continue to grow in line with Tuaran’s rapid development,” he said.
Hajiji also expressed appreciation to the Bugis community for their key role in realising the construction of the surau through collaboration, communal work, and community fundraising.
“This surau stands proudly thanks to the spirit of togetherness and hard work of the community. Their willingness to sacrifice for the sake of Allah’s religion is the best example for all Muslims,” he said.
The Chief Minister emphasised that mosques and surau are not merely places for congregational prayers but serve a broader purpose as centres for uniting the community, strengthening bonds of brotherhood, spreading knowledge, and fostering social and economic development.
He said the Abu Hassan Ar-Raudhah Surau is poised to become a hub of local unity and a centre of Islamic outreach benefiting all layers of society.
“With the construction of this surau, we are not only adding to our religious infrastructure but also strengthening the Islamic identity of the Land Below the Wind,” he said.
Hajiji said mosques and surau also hold great potential as religious tourism destinations, just as the main mosques in the state capital have become major attractions for international visitors.
He is confident that the establishment of the Abu Hassan Ar-Raudhah Surau adds value to Tuaran, complementing other cultural attractions such as the Bajausamah Cultural House in Lok Batik.
“While we worship, we also carry out dakwah, promote the district and introduce the cultural heritage that has long been the foundation of Sabah’s unity,” he said.
Hajiji noted that Sabah, home to 35 ethnic groups and 217 sub-ethnic groups, has always been a shining example of a plural society in Malaysia.
He emphasised that, apart from the Bugis community, all ethnic groups in Sabah have played important roles in the state’s development, with tolerance and togetherness being its greatest strengths.
Hajiji reiterated that the State Government remains committed to strengthening Islamic institutions through the construction of new mosques and surau, as well as enlivening existing houses of worship.
He said this effort is aligned with the government’s agenda to enhance spiritual values, ensure social well-being, and preserve the unity of the ummah.
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