PETALING JAYA: Muslim families are better prepared for Hari Raya this year with the public holidays announced ahead of time.Zuraida Ismail said she was able to make preparations for Hari Raya this year without any anxiety. She will be going to the grocery store one last time before the special day.
“Last year, when we got a sudden Hari Raya announcement, my husband rushed to the market to buy more items for cooking. However, it was jam-packed and most items were sold out.
“We only managed to cook a complete Hari Raya dish on the second day of the celebration when everything had settled down,” she said.
Zuraida, 32, said she might be observing Hari Raya on a smaller scale this year by only inviting close family members and friends due to concerns about rising Covid-19 cases as well as the haze.
“This is just a precaution. Also, the weather has been very hot,” said the mother of two.
Businessman Syed Adam, 29, and his family will be hosting their open house at his restaurant in Kuala Lumpur in the second week of Raya.
“I will be returning to my hometown in Johor for the first week of Raya.
“We have time to buy grocery items later, as our open house will only be in the second week of Raya, and will involve a small group,” he said.
“The government’s initiative to grant an extra public holiday allows me to travel back to my hometown without any haste. I can spend more time with family members on my dad’s side, and of course, the free toll journey helps with my expenses,” he added.
For writer Najmi Ahmad, 29, he and his family have already made preparations to have guests over at their house in his hometown in Terengganu.
“We are not having any open house but we usually have family and friends coming over,” he added.
Najmi is relieved that there will not be a sudden celebration like last year, adding that it had been nerve-wracking for his family.
“We could not make our usual nasi dagang dish for guests, but it was all right as everyone understood the situation,” he said.
Amid concerns about rising Covid-19 cases, Najmi and his family will be making sure to wear face masks when going to the mosque.
