IPOH, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- The Perak Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPk) has denied allegations that it had ordered traders to cease business activities at Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab near here, as claimed in a social media post.
MAIPk chief executive officer Syamsul Hazeman Md Salleh said a notice was issued to clarify the council’s responsibilities following issues involving a leaking main water pipe and outstanding water bills amounting to about RM100,000.
He said the matter had been explained to traders during an engagement session on July 14, including the need to temporarily disconnect the water supply to facilitate repair works and address the outstanding bill.
“There was no instruction for traders to vacate the premises. The notice was merely to clarify MAIPk’s position and ensure the institution was not subjected to any unwarranted claims,” he told reporters after the closing of the 2026 Perak State Mosque Committee Convention at the Casuarina Convention Centre here today.
Syamsul Hazeman said MAIPk received ownership of the land in 2024 and only discovered afterwards that the site had long-standing issues involving the main water pipe leak and high outstanding water bills.
He clarified that the arrears were not caused by traders’ water usage as they paid according to their respective consumption, but were due to problems with the main pipeline supplying water to the premises.
“MAIPk only inherited this existing issue and we are currently discussing with the Perak Water Board to find a solution. This is not an easy matter as it is beyond MAIPk’s capacity, and zakat or waqf funds cannot be used to settle such arrears,” he said.
He said MAIPk was also seeking assistance and views from the state government to resolve the matter, adding that he was confident a solution could be reached, although it would take some time.
Syamsul Hazeman said once the outstanding amount was resolved, MAIPk would proceed with repair works at the site before managing new rental arrangements with traders through fresh contracts.
On the proposed construction of the Perak Islamic Religious Department Complex at the site, Syamsul Hazeman said traders would need to give their cooperation if the project is implemented.
“However, we do not know when the project will take place as the matter is under the state government’s purview. When the development begins, traders will need to give way to the project,” he said.
Earlier, a Threads user claimed that MAIPk had cut off the water supply used by traders at the premises without issuing any notice for them to vacate the business area.
-- BERNAMA