Razif (front row, second from the right) said the policy would be enforced soon. — File picture by Saw Siow Feng

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 — Muslims in Terengganu who skip out on performing the obligatory Friday prayers at mosques may soon be paraded around town in hearses as punishment if the state Barisan Nasional government has its way.

Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman said the policy would be enforced soon, Malay daily Utusan Malaysia reported; though no specific date was given for its roll out.

“Those who are involved, including Mat Rempits who are found to be absent from Friday prayers, will be arrested by Terengganu Islamic Affairs and Malay Customs Council officials and will be given counselling and religious guidance first,” Razif was quoted saying in Kuala Terengganu yesterday.

While PAS-led Kelantan is facing a hurdle to to roll out hudud, its eastern neighbour appears be zipping ahead with enforcing Shariah laws at the local government level.

Terengganu has also banned Muslim couples who are unmarried and unrelated by blood from riding motorbikes together.

It has further enforced laws against male cross-dressers and so-called indecent dressing, punishing women who are deemed to have exposed their bodies with a fine of not more than RM1,000, imprisonment of less than six months, or both.

Last month, Terengganu also ordered supermarkets statewide to close for two hours during Friday prayers.