Jakarta, Indonesia – Gorontalo Mayor Adhan Dhambea has postponed the inauguration of a sub-district official due to their poor Koran reading ability.

"You can't be inaugurated now, improve your ability to read the Koran, then I will install [you to your post]," the mayor told the official during the Koran recital test, prior to the inauguration ceremony, on Thursday in Gorontalo, North Sulawesi.

Adhan gave the official two months to improve their skills in reading the Muslim holy book. Muslim government officials of the city are obliged to have superior skills in reading the scripture.

"It [the obligation to have Koran reading skills] has been stipulated in regional regulations, as the city is dubbed the veranda of Madina and the city of Madrasah [Islamic schools]," he said, as quoted by Antara news agency.

Separately, the officer reasoned that they were nervous during the recital test. (yps/iwa)