KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 — Malaysians will only celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri on Saturday, the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal announced after the crescent moon was not observed this evening.
Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad said Yang diPertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah gave royal assent to the date after consulting with the Malay Rulers.
Aidilfitri marks the end of Islam’s holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims must observe a ritual daily fast from dawn to dusk.
This year, Malaysians will get an additional rest day for Hari Raya Aidilfitri, as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced that the government would declare a public holiday tomorrow if Aidilfitri were to be celebrated on Saturday.
Monday will also be a replacement holiday for the second day of Aidilfitri on Sunday.
Sabah has already declared tomorrow a public holiday while Sarawak has yet to decide if it will follow Putrajaya’s lead.