PUTRAJAYA: The first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri this year, which fell on May 2, shocking many who had anticipated it to fall on May 3, was because the new moon was succesfully sighted on the evening of May 1 in Labuan.
The crescent moon of Syawal was sighted on the island, certified by an officer from the Astronomy Unit attached to the Federal Territory of Labuan's Mufti office, Awangku Bolkhizan Ahmad Thani.
According to a source from the office, the observation team at the location had sighted the crescent moon at 6.25pm Sunday (May 1) before Maghrib at a position of two degrees 55 minutes.
The sighting fulfilled the new criteria of Imkanurrukyah involving the sighting of the crescent moon and calculating its appearance.
The Imkanurrukyah states that the height of the moon must be not less than three degrees and the distance of the curve on the horizon below six degrees four minutes.
The observation of the new crescent moon was done on the 13th floor, Menara Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Labuan International Campus. The location, as a new moon observation centre, was first gazetted by the Conference of Rulers' Meeting in 2003.
The date for observing the crescent moon of Syawal was set for on the evening of Sunday, May 1, equivalent to 29 Ramadan 1443 Hijrah at 29 selected locations nationwide based on Rukyah and Hisab.
Brunei and Indonesia celebrated the festival on Monday with Malaysia, whereas Singapore celebrates it today. - NST
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