With a majority of Malaysia’s workforce based in a handful of urban hubs – Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Penang, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching among others – many were escaping their adopted homes to “balik kampung” or “return to the village” to maintain the tradition of spending the first day after Ramadan at home.
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Those who spoke to This Week in Asia said they were unfazed by the snail-paced traffic as they headed home. Covid lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 barred cross-state travel – and painful memories of having to celebrate Eid away from family is fresh on the minds of many.“Two years of lockdown, then last year I ‘won the lottery’ and had to work on Eid. That’s why this year I am going to really celebrate it,” said nurse Farahida Alias, who spoke to This Week in Asia as she made her way back to the state of Pahang, east of Kuala Lumpur.
In the north of Peninsular Malaysia, more than three million vehicles were expected to enter Penang. Another two million motorists will meanwhile make the trip to the northeast heartland state of Kelantan, home to a large number of residents who work in Kuala Lumpur and other urban areas.
In Johor, the state bordering Singapore, authorities expect some two million vehicles to cross the land checkpoint between the two countries during the Eid holiday period.05:10
Food insecurity bites into Ramadan meals in Muslim countries
Food insecurity bites into Ramadan meals in Muslim countries
The additional public holiday granted by Prime Minister Anwar this week was down to uncertainty over whether Eid al-Fitr – the first day of the month after Ramadan in the Islamic calendar – fell on Friday or Saturday.Ramadan’s end can only be confirmed by the sighting of the next crescent moon, meaning Muslims only know for sure the evening before that they will celebrate their biggest holiday of the year the next day.
There are different methods of determining the start of a new month in the Islamic lunar calendar, depending on theological differences, ethnic divisions and tradition.
In Malaysia, the end of Ramadan is ascertained by the country’s Malay rulers. The Keeper of the Rulers’ seal on Thursday night confirmed 1 Syawal, the first day of the month after Ramadan, fell on Saturday.
It’s normal for my family to shop last minute, the discounts can be crazy
An unexpected change of date last year caused chaos in some households and more-than-usual gridlock on the roads as people dashed to shops to buy last-minute groceries and clothes.
To avoid a repeat of such scenes this year, Anwar declared that Malaysians would get a four-day holiday from Friday to Monday regardless of when Eid al-Fitr fell.
In an immediate reaction to Thursday night’s royal announcement, many took to social media to express a sense of relief that there was no repeat of 2022’s “Hari Raya Terkejut” or “Shocking Hari Raya”.
“Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God), tomorrow is not Hari Raya. I would have gone pale, I’m not [ready] to have ‘Raya terkejut’ twice in a row,” a Twitter user wrote.
Apart from the extra holiday, Anwar also announced a special rebate for traffic fines – continuing a past practice – and discounts on certain essential food items such as chicken and onion.
Jailed twice during the tenures of arch-rivals over charges of sodomy and corruption that is widely seen as trumped up, Anwar also announced a prison furlough for 1,000 inmates, allowing them to return home to celebrate Eid al-Fitr with their families.“Hopefully this [Eid] celebration can give a thousand meanings to all Malaysians,” said Anwar on Tuesday.
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While the streets of Kuala Lumpur have largely hollowed ahead of Saturday’s festivities, Eid markets were buzzing.
In the historic district of Masjid India, a compact neighbourhood teeming with textile and jewellery stores, a special Eid market was the focal point of last-minute shoppers looking for eleventh hour bargains.
“It’s normal for my family to shop last minute, the discounts can be crazy,” said Taufiq, a Kuala Lumpur native. “It’s also nice to see the city quiet and empty, like how it was back when I was younger.”
Retailers – some who had previously bemoaned poorer takings amid the country’s ongoing cost-of-living crisis – said sales were better as the end of Ramadan neared.“Maybe not as much as before Covid, people are struggling now, but they still want new clothes, accessories, and cookies for Eid,” said Din, at Kuala Lumpur’s Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman market.
