The upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri will be celebrated differently as Malaysians are barred from making interstate balik kampung trips and they will not be able to indulge in the unique Malaysian custom of attending 'open houses'.
However, this is the sacrifice needed for Malaysia to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus with the holy month of Ramadhan ending in a few days time.
While 30-year-old online entrepreneur Nur Syahirah Mohamad expects a "light and easy" as well as cost-saving festive celebration due to the ongoing movement control order (MCO), she has still made early preparations in case she needs to receive guests.
Hand sanitisers and antibacterial soap are prepared at her home at Kampung Batu Hampar, Kuala Terengganu.
"We are okay if anyone were to come, although (we) prefer them to instead celebrate at their own home," she told Malaysiakini, adding that her relatives have agreed to celebrate in their own houses among themselves.
In previous years, she said her family would never miss holding an open house on the second day of Syawal and this required a one-week of preparation for the feast on the open house day which could stretch for up to 12 hours.
Her family would spent between RM2,000 and RM3,000 for the open house attended by up to 300 guests. But for this year, the amount of food they will cook will be far lesser with nasi dagang being the main dish.
"The visitors, if they ever come, will have to take whatever food that is provided by us. No Raya biscuits and chips this time," said Nur Syahirah, who lives with her parents.
"We will have our house prepared as usual to celebrate the festival. No buying of Raya clothes, we'll just wear whatever we have. It is nice and quiet ahead of the Raya celebrations. No headaches at all," said the online entrepreneur.
The government has ruled that visits during Hari Raya, Hari Gawai and Hari Kaamatan will only be permitted on the first day of the celebrations.
Visits must be limited to just family members and are to be capped at a maximum of 20 people for the entire day.
For Muhd Syafiq Mat Jap, a 33-year-old civil servant, Raya this year is meaningful as he has been transferred back to his hometown in Kedah from Kuala Lumpur and he will be with his family during the festive season.
Like Syahirah, he has taken extra precautions as he stays with his parents who are in the high-risk group for contracting Covid-19. His father is a cancer patient, his mother suffers from multiple illnesses while his elder sister is expecting.
Syafiq and his family members have decided they will only celebrate at home without visiting others adding his relatives who live far away will share their sweet moments of the festive season via WhatsApp.
"Previously, the theme of many advertisements during Raya was for us to stay away from social media and our gadgets in order to maintain the family bond," he said.
"Now it is quite the opposite, they will hold us together," he said, adding his family of five could also celebrate the festivities together as two of his siblings have been allowed to work-from-home since the MCO started.
He said it will be a simple celebration this year but his family will still make traditional Raya delicacies such as ketupat, rendang and lemang though in lesser amounts.
"My view is we will have a simple celebration but we are (still) grateful in such a situation where many are unable to celebrate with their families. Many have lost their loved ones to the pandemic," he said.
Syafiq also said he will not be buying any new clothes for this year's Raya celebration.
The authorities have also barred Interstate travel during the festive season except for those who have obtained prior police permission.
The police and military will be checking on vehicles parked outside homes to track down those who flout the interstate travel ban.
Nur Ilyani Alias, 32, said she and her husband have resorted to the safest measure - their door will be shut to visitors this Hari Raya.
The teacher who resides in Miri, Sarawak with her husband and children said the festive celebration for her will be limited to cooking and feasting only among family members.
However, she said they have bought new clothes, especially for the children to add joy to the festival.
She, however, could not contain her sadness when she noted that she will not be able to travel back to Kedah to celebrate with her relatives this year.
"Definitely we will make a video call. Three of my siblings are now at their home (in Kedah), they are still students. Due to the MCO, they will stay at home," she said.
Her family plans to cook pangsuh, Sarawak laksa, ketupat, biscuits as well as green sambal chicken which is the favourite food of her father-in-law who hails from Negeri Sembilan.
A National Security Council (NSC) survey on the upcoming Hari Raya celebrations revealed that over 74 percent of respondents would not be welcoming any guests despite the leeway granted by the government. - Mkini
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