Penang bus drivers, firefighters and civil defence personnel share how they plan to celebrate Raya at work
AS DAWN breaks on the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Muslims across Malaysia will gather at mosques for morning prayers before returning home to celebrate with their families.
It is a day defined by tradition: the asking for forgiveness, the warmth of festive embraces and the enjoyment of traditional meals like rendang and ketupat.
For most, the arrival of Syawal and Hari Raya Aidilfitri is a time to reconnect with family.
But for a dedicated few, the day brings more responsibility, not less.
While millions head home for the holidays, a network of frontliners – from bus drivers to emergency responders – stays on the clock, spending their festive season serving the community instead of celebrating at home.
Among those who will spend the first day of the festivities behind a steering wheel are the bus and van captains of Rapid Penang.
Their role is pivotal; they are the literal engines of the celebration, moving people from one family home to another.
For 25-year-old van captain Haikal Saffiee, this year’s
Hari Raya carries an added significance.
It marks his first Aidilfitri as a married man, having tied the knot with factory line operator Siti Zalikha Majid, 26, last June.
Haikal, who joined Rapid Penang in April last year, is scheduled to begin his shift at 1pm on the first day of Raya, remaining on duty until the stroke of midnight.
It is a demanding schedule for a newlywed, yet Haikal approaches the situation with a grounded perspective.
“Of course, there is a natural tinge of sadness about having to leave the celebrations halfway through,” he admitted.
“But at the same time, I am excited to be at work to see what the day will bring.”
Haikal considers himself more fortunate than some of his colleagues, because his shift begins in the early afternoon so he is able to observe the most sacred part of the morning.
At 8am, he will join his wife at the local mosque to perform the solat Hari Raya.
To maintain the festive spirit while on duty, Haikal plans to wear his baju Raya while driving.
This year, he and Siti Zalikha have chosen maroon as their attire theme.
The morning will be spent at his in-law’s home in Jalan Haji Kassim, George Town, which is expected to be bustling with relatives arriving from different parts of the country.
Siti Zalikha admitted that she initially felt disappointed when she learnt that her husband would not be able to spend the entire day with the family – especially since it is their first Hari Raya as a married couple.
“But I understand his work, and I have accepted it,” she said.
To make up for his absence later in the day, she has arranged a surprise gift for him, a gesture to remind him of home while he is on the road.
The lead-up to the festival has been a mixture of tradition and the frantic pace of modern life.
Haikal laughed when recounting their preparation.
“I bought three pairs of baju Raya for myself, but my wife has been far more active. I keep seeing packages arriving at the door for her from online orders,” he joked.
In terms of the festive feast, Siti Zalikha plans to prepare two of her specialities: ayam masak Thai and buttermilk chicken.
However, given their overlapping work schedules, the couple decided to forgo the traditional marathon of baking, opting instead to order their Raya cookies from local vendors.
Haikal reflected on how much his life has changed since last year.
“During my bachelor days, breaking fast during Ramadan was a very simple, often solitary affair. I would have one or two simple dishes. Now, with a wife, the table is always full.”
The couple plans to travel to Haikal’s hometown in Kedah on the third day of the festival to continue the celebrations with his side of the family.
Sense of purpose
While Haikal represents the younger generation of workers, 56-year-old Jamil Ali offers the perspective of a veteran.
A bus captain with 13 years of experience at Rapid Penang, Jamil has worked on the first day of Hari Raya six times.
For him, the sense of sacrifice has evolved into a sense of purpose.
“I have grown accustomed to the schedule,” Jamil said.
“There are moments when I miss my family.
“But I view this as my service to the people.
“It is a sacrifice made willingly so that others can reach their destinations,” he said.
Jamil’s shift this year runs from 2pm to 10pm. His morning will be spent in Sungai Petani, Kedah, with his wife and their four children aged between 17 and 30.
The family has meticulously planned their celebration, choosing a rich brown theme for their attire and even visiting a professional photo studio to capture a family portrait before the festive rush begins.
At home, the table will feature his wife’s signature ketupat and rendang, the fuel he needs before heading to the depot.
Even at the depot, the atmosphere is far from clinical.
Jamil describes a sense of brotherhood among the captains who are rostered to work.
“It feels like an extended family gathering. We have a potluck where everyone brings something from home, and the company also prepares food for us.
“We also make it a point to seek forgiveness from one another before we start our routes, keeping the spirit of the day alive.”
One of the most rewarding aspects of Jamil’s job on Route 709 – running from Penang Sentral to Machang Bubok – is the interaction with his regular passengers.
Over the years he has built a rapport with the local community, particularly the older women (the numerous makcik) who frequent his bus.
“The makcik-makcik often bring me festive treats,” Jamil said with a smile. “They will hand me containers of ketupat, lemang and cookies through the door.
“I don’t like to take them without giving something back, so I bring cookies from home to share with them too.
“Seeing their faces light up and hearing them talk about their celebrations makes the day feel special, even if I am not at my own dining table,” said Jamil.
Duty to protect
While the transport sector keeps the nation moving, the emergency services ensure that the movement is safe.
At the Kuala Muda fire station in Kampung Permatang Rawa, Penaga, the festive mood is always balanced against the necessity of constant vigilance.
For firefighters, Hari Raya is not a day off, but a day of heightened standby.
Amir Ramli, 56, is a veteran of the fire service with 30 years under his belt.
He explained that for those in his profession, the holiday was a matter of administrative planning and camaraderie.
“Working on Raya is part of the job description.
“We follow a strict roster, and there is a great deal of give-and-take among the team,” he said.
To bring a sense of the festival into the station, he said the firefighters decorate the premises with traditional ornaments.
They share meals brought from their respective homes, creating a makeshift family environment.
“We try to make the station feel lively,” said Amir. “It helps those on shift feel like they aren’t missing out entirely on the celebration.”
His colleague, 29-year-old Muhammad Husaini Noordin has been with the service for nine years.
Husaini admitted that in the beginning, the emotional pull of home was difficult to ignore.
“It was hard at first, missing the moments with my parents and siblings. But as the years go by, I realise the importance of my duty.
“The festive season is often when accidents or house fires are most likely to occur, because people are distracted or travelling in high volumes.
“Our duty is to protect them.”
Husaini noted that the families of the firefighters often played a role in keeping the station’s spirits high.
It is common for family members to drop off traditional dishes like rendang and kuih-muih, allowing the crew to have a taste of home between emergency calls.
Station chief Ahmad Muhaimin Abdul Manaf, 37, emphasises that this dedication is a source of professional pride.
“When the rest of the country is celebrating, we are the ones standing guard.
“That responsibility carries a lot of weight, and we take pride in ensuring the highest standard of service during the holidays.”
The Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) shares this burden of responsibility.
Leftenan (PA) Muhamad Azley Shafei, 39, said the festive period historically saw an increase in road accidents and minor incidents.
“Even though we cannot be with our own families, knowing that our presence helps keep the community safe gives us a deep sense of satisfaction,” he said.
Azley, who hails from Pasir Putih in Kelantan, plans to return home only after the initial festive rush has subsided and the roads are less congested.
For Leftenan (PA) Siti Nabiha Abdul Razak, the camaraderie at the APM station is what makes the day bearable.
“We share meals and exchange small gifts. We take turns preparing treats for the team.
“It isn’t the same as being at home, but the bond we have as colleagues helps us cope with the absence of our families,” she said.
As these individuals remain at their posts, the Government has taken steps to ensure the rest of the public can enjoy their holidays to the fullest.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement on Sunday of an additional public holiday was designed to ease the logistical pressure on those travelling long distances.
He said that if the first day of Hari Raya falls on Friday, the extra holiday will be on Monday.
If it falls on Saturday, the additional holiday will be on Friday.
The sighting of the Syawal new moon to determine the date of Aidilfitri will take place tomorrow at 29 locations nationwide.
