KOTA BARU: Kelantan has enforced a ruling to compel pasar malam traders, including non-Muslims, to cease business for about 10 minutes during mahgrib prayers.

State Local Government, Housing and Sports Committee chairman Abdul Fattah Mahmood said the entrance to the night market would be closed for five minutes before prayers and re-opened after the prayers.

“We imposed this ruling under the Kota Baru City Council by-laws 10 years ago, and expanded it last year to the entire state in a move to standardise enforcement,” he said when contacted Monday.

Abdul Fatah said those who fail to comply risk having their licence suspended, adding that the directive has been issued to all local authorities as a matter of state policy that must be strictly enforced.

Asked why non-Muslim traders are also affected by the ruling, Abdul Fattah said it is because the stalls attract Muslim customers too.

“The entire area will be closed down anyway. We will activate the siren 15 minutes before prayers to give traders time to temporarily close their stalls," he said

“Exactly five minutes before prayers, people should stop buying and selling. Traders can re-open the stalls minutes after prayers,” he added.

Kelantan MCA deputy chief Datuk Tan Ken Ten however called on the local authorities to review the ruling.

“It is disruptive to business. It inconveniences traders, hawkers and consumers,” he said.

He said that the Kota Baru City Council had imposed a similar ruling before, but it was not strictly followed because it was not practical.

“It is better for local councils to provide suitable facilities for prayers near pasar malam sites so that Muslim traders and customers can perform their prayers when the time comes,” he added.