KUCHING: The official date for the celebration of Hari Raya Aidilfitri in Malaysia will only be issued by the National Fatwa Council, said Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi.
The Deputy Minister of Utility and Telecommunication, who is also in charge of Islamic Affairs, emphasised that the news of Aidilfitri falling on April 21, 2023 (Friday) only applies to countries in the Middle East.
“The Middle East has an earlier time zone than Malaysia, but we have the National Fatwa Council to determine the time to observe the new moon either through rukyah (observation) or hisab (calculation) method.
He told reporters this after officiating at Pantai Damai Friendly Neighbourhood (Kejiranan Mesra or KJM) Bubur Pedas Distribution programme at Masjid Darul Akmal, Taman Samariang Aman yesterday (Apr 9).
He added that this year’s Ramadan started using the hisab method to determine the first day of Ramadan.
According to the hisab method, he said that Aidilfitri is expected to fall on Saturday (April 22, 2023).
“However, we still depend on the decisions of the Fatwa Council, which will announce the actual date.
“So it is not necessarily the same as the previously announced date,” he added.
Earlier on Friday, the International Astronomical Centre based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had announced that Muslim countries were expected to celebrate the beginning of the month of Syawal on April 20.
However, the declaration of the date of Aidilfitri in Malaysia will be determined by the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal after receiving the report on the sighting of the new moon with the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who represents the Malay Rulers.
