GOMBAK, 9 Oct: An 84-year-old dilapidated mosque, the Zakaria Batu 8 1/2 Mosque in Gombak will have a facelift with a total allocation of RM11 million.

The Chief Minister, Mohamed Azmin Ali, said that the RM6 million allocation was first approved in 2010 for the construction of a new site near the old site.

He said that the land acquisition process that took a long time however caused the cost to increase by RM5 million.

“However, as a responsible government that prioritises quality development, additional provisions were fully approved, including the goods and services tax (GST) cost.

“Indeed, the construction of mosques is essential in order to ensure the welfare of the people, especially in the spiritual aspect,” he said in front of over 200 attendees.

He said this during the Zakaria Batu 8 1/2 Mosque Groundbreaking Ceremony in the afternoon.

Also present was the Exco for Young Generation, Sports, Culture and Entrepreneur Development, Amirudin Shari, the Selangor Public Works Department (JKR) Director, Datuk Hamizan Mohd Inzan, and the Gombak Setia Assemblyman, Hasbullah Mohd Ridhuan.

The new mosque is constructed on a hill with an area of three acres and includes facilities such as parking spaces and an air-conditioner prayer room.

Targeted to be fully completed in July 2017, the mosque can also accommodate up to 2,000 worshipers.

NS