PUTRAJAYA, Jan 11 — A week after its launch, the government’s early morning congregational prayer programme for Muslim students has drawn lukewarm interest despite an incentive of lucky draw prizes.

Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor admitted that the programme’s implementation for the dawn prayer that is known to be challenging for Muslims to adhere to, was not well received.

He said there will be a study conducted to identify the reason for the lack of participation from students for the congregational prayer that takes place around 5.45am on school days.

“The reception has been discouraging. The programme began last week, so I am here today to observe.

“We will think of ways to attract more students,” he said when contacted by Malay Mail Online this morning.

Tengku Adnan, popularly known as Ku Nan, had this morning performed his subuh prayers with the congregation at the surau Putra Al-Amin in Putrajaya’s Precinct 8 with the attendance of 30 students.

According to the flier issued by local council Perbadanan Putrajaya (PPj), aside from that mosque, several other mosques are also part of the programme, including Ar-Rahman, Al-Furqan, Al-Muhajirin among others.

Malay Mail Online had this morning visited the Al-Mizan mosque and found only five students had turned up for the prayer session.

Fifth Former Muhammad Syafiq Azmi said a lucky draw was held last week as well to get Putrajaya residents interested in attending the congregational prayers.

He said attendees at the Putra Al-Amin mosque were asked to fill up an attendance sheet in the morning during the subuh prayers, and the lucky draw was then conducted in the evening during evening Maghrib prayers.

“There was a 32-inch TV. They are giving out five prizes a day from Monday to Sunday.

“It is being held in conjunction with Minggu Usrah Jemaah, to get more people participating in subuh congregational prayers,” said Muhammad Syafiq, who won an ironing set.

When asked if he would stop attending congregational subuh prayers after the lucky draw programme ended, the school prefect said; “I will continue going, after a week of attending prayers, I have gotten used to it.”

Tengku Adnan was asked if perhaps an officiation ceremony could create more interest for the programme.

“There is no need for an officiation ceremony. Everyone know subuh prayers,” the Putrajaya MP said.

Last November, Tengku Adnan said that there would be prayer programmes and subuh lectures for school-going children at the mosques in his constituency before the start of the school year.

He had said that the programmes would be conducted to encourage students to perform congregational prayers before beginning their daily activities.

Tangku Adnan, who is also Umno secretary-general had also reportedly said that the programme will involve students from 14 schools in Putrajaya and would be expanded to Kuala Lumpur should the programme receive a positive response.