PHUKET: Preparations for a gathering of 20,000 people on Phuket next month as part of a five-day religious study festival are gathering pace, a planning meeting heard yesterday.

The Chanasuk Memorial Field at Thalang in central Phuket is being readied by up to 80 workers so that tents to house about 12,000 participants can be erected, along with power, cooking and bathing facilities, provision for garbage and adequate venue security.

Another 8000 Muslim participants from Phuket will gather at the field every day from February 12-16, the meeting at Provincial Hall heard.

Phuket's administrative organisations large and small and the Islamic Committee of Phuket are continuing to coordinate to provide everything the 20,000 people will need.

An ambulance and two paramedics will be on standby and large watertanks will be required, along with 100 marquees, each 20 metres by 80 metres.

Immigration and Customs have been notified that Muslim leaders from many other countries will be joining the event, known as a Dawa, at which participants analyse and confirm their faith.

The vast majority of the participants will be men, accompanied by a small number of women who will separately hold their own meetings. Muslims from the Phuket media will be permitted to cover the event.

The Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation has welcomed the gathering, which is a first for Phuket after similar seminars in Bangkok, Pattaya and other centres over the years.

The event is expected to cost three million baht and 80 percent of the money has been raised.

Phuket has more than 50 mosques and its population of permanent residents is about one-third Muslim. Surrounding provinces also have large Muslim communities.