BERA: Malaysians should be allowed to “balik kampung” to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

       In fact, he has advised people that he meet to celebrate Aidilfitri with their families after two years of not having celebrated the festival in their hometowns following the implementation of the movement control order to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

       He also said that as the Prime Minister, he will do things differently this year by not holding an open house at Seri Perdana on the first day of Aidilfitri to give the people the opportunity to celebrate the festival with their families first.

       “I mentioned to those whom I met that their children can return home to celebrate (Aidilfitri) this year. I believe many had ‘balik kampung’ on the first day of Ramadan because the roads were badly congested then.

       “This time, to give people the opportunity to ‘balik kampung’ for Hari Raya, we will hold the Prime Minister’s Open House on May 8. Do ‘balik kampung’ to celebrate Hari Raya with the family first, because the eve of Raya has been awaited eagerly; prepare for the celebration together,” Bernama quoted him as saying.

       Ismail Sabri, who is also Bera MP, was met after he presented donations from the Petronas Foundation to the underprivileged including the poor, persons with disabilities (PwDs), orphans and single mothers at the Al-Muttaqin Mosque, Kampung Mengkarak, here yesterday.

       However, the Prime Minister asked the public to continue to exercise self-control even though a lot of flexibility has been given after the country entered the transition to the endemic phase on April 1.

       “The wearing of face masks is still mandatory. I hope everyone can continue practising self-control to ensure their own safety as well as those of their family members and others even if there is no more physical distancing required,” he added.

       Muslims in Malaysia are likely to celebrate Aidilfitri on May 3, and Ismail Sabri said the open house for the Bera parliamentary constituency will be held on May 7 at Dataran Kerayong here.

       On a separate matter, the Prime Minister said Malaysia strongly condemns the escalation of violence in Palestine and will work with the the international community in bringing peace to the occupied territory.

       He said the attacks by Israeli occupation forces on Palestinian civilians and worshippers at the Al Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan on Friday was a continuation of “assaults and apartheid policy against the fundamental rights, lives, livelihoods and dignity of the Palestinians”.

       The international community, he added, must renew its commitment towards a lasting solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

       “While the international community is justifiably appalled by the violence taking place elsewhere in the world today, it must not disregard Israel’s acts of aggression against Palestinians of all faiths in their own land,” he said.