PUTRAJAYA: The government has agreed to declare an additional public holiday in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri to make it easier for people to make preparations for the festival and to return to their hometowns.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said if 1 Syawal falls on Friday (April 21), the government would fix April 24, Monday, as the additional public holiday under Section 8 of the Holidays Act 1951 for Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan.
If 1 Syawal falls on Saturday (April 22), the government would fix Friday, April 21, as the additional public holiday, he told a press conference here today.
“For Sabah and Sarawak, the state governments can declare the public holiday on the relevant date in accordance with their respective Public Holiday Ordinance,” Anwar said.
The official announcement on the date of 1 Syawal 1444H for celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri will be made on Thursday, April 20, by the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal.
Meanwhile, in order to ensure smooth traffic flow during Aidilfitri this year, Anwar said the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will implement Op Lancar on April 18 and 19, focusing on areas which are prone to traffic jams.
He said the usual Op Selamat, on the other hand, will be implemented for seven days from April 20, with the theme ‘Rumah Selamat, Selamat Sampai ke Destinasi’.
“For this, PDRM will also collaborate with agencies like the Volunteers Department (RELA) and the Civil Defence Force to ensure traffic jam hotspots, such as at the toll plazas, would not be too congested,” he said.
Anwar also announced that between April 21 and May 21, PDRM will be offering a special rate of RM50 for the public to settle their traffic summonses issued before 2023.
“During that one-month period, any summons can be settled at this special rate of RM50, but this rate is not applicable to traffic summonses issued in 2023,” he added. – BERNAMA
