All khatib or sermon readers in the country have been told to pray for the well-being of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the rulers and people in the "doa" after the Friday sermons.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom said, the action of a khatib in Penang of replacing Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin's name with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's in the "doa khutbah" was therefore inappropriate.

"Let's not take advantage of that (sermon) by praying for other than the respective rulers or sultans and Muslims as stipulated," he told reporters at a Tabung Haji breaking-of-fast function in Kuala Lumpur tonight.

"If all the 'tok imam' want to pray for the local leaders, confusion will arise among Muslims when the mosque is supposed to be a place for unifying the Muslim community."

Jamil Khir was commenting on the controversial use of Lim's name, replacing the King's, after Friday sermons at some mosques in Penang recently.

He said it was not wrong to pray for a particular person so as to receive divine blessings but not through the Friday sermons.

"We should understand the long-standing ruling, and no one will get angry if you want to go home and pray for someone. It's up to you."

He urged all khatib in the country to preserve harmony and be mindful of the sensitivities of the local community who belong to different political parties and have different ideologies and beliefs, when delivering the sermons.

At the function, he also handed over contributions to 40 orphans and 40 single mothers in the form of cash, hampers and schooling aid from Tabung Haji.

Also present was Tabung Haji chairperson Abi Musa Asa'ari Mohamed Nor.

- Bernama