Hawzah News Agency (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) - MASJID Al-Qurtubi in Taman Sri Segambut, Kuala Lumpur, can now cater to a larger group of congregants at its outdoor prayer area, thanks to an upgrade using allocation contributed by Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh.

Mosque chairman Othman Jalaluddin Bahari said the outdoor prayer area was prone to pond, making it difficult for congregants to pray whenever the area was wet.

"On Fridays, the congregation would overflow from the indoor to outdoor area, so it was not convenient for those outdoors to pray on a wet floor," he said.

"The mosque’s indoor area can accommodate about 3,000 congregants, while the outdoor area can hold about 350 people."

Othman Jalaluddin said the mosque's premises was used not only for prayers, but also for kenduri (feasts) and community activities. The upgrading works cost RM36,074.84.

"The remaining cost (for the upgrades) will be covered by the mosque committee, which also determined the work scope and contractor for the project," said Yeoh.

During the press conference to announce the upgrading allocation, the committee also highlighted to Yeoh issues on lack of parking and traffic infrastructure.

"They are hoping to be able to use the Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) reserve land behind the mosque as additional parking space, especially on busy days such as Fridays," she said.

"They are also asking for the pedestrian crossing outside the mosque to be realigned, and for road signs to alert motorists of the multiple junctions at the traffic lights next to the mosque."

Yeoh said her office would coordinate both issues with Kuala Lumpur City Hall and TNB.

Meanwhile, Othman Jalaluddin said the committee was appealing to corporate bodies to sponsor and build a lift within the mosque to cater to the elderly or disabled congregants.