KUCHING, April 11: The Education Ministry (MOE) has declared April 19 a special holiday for schools in the country, given the coming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.
In a news report by TVS, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said this is so that parents, teachers, and ministry staff can make plans to return to their home states and towns for the celebration.
“We have taken into consideration all views when making this decision,” she said at an event in Putrajaya today.
Based on the academic calendar for the 2023/2024 school session, the school holidays, in conjunction with Aidilfitri, starts on April 20.
This year, Aidilfitri could fall on April 21 based on a prediction report by the International Astronomy Centre based in the United Arab Emirates, which the National Council’s Fatwa Committee will discuss.
Meanwhile, the day fixed for the public holiday in Malaysia is April 22.
Last year, Aidilfitri was fixed to fall on May 3, but an announcement by the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal, Syed Danial Syed Ahmad, proclaimed that it would be celebrated a day early on May 2.
This has caused Muslims in Malaysia to speed up their preparations, with some finding humour in the phrase ‘Selamat Hurry Raya Aidilfitri’ — ‘hurry’ being used as a play on the word ‘hari’. — DayakDaily
