Very likely another quiet Hari Raya for many

All dressed up but nowhere to go: Serman with his wife Kartini Kaling, daughter Qaseeh Aina Qaleesya and son Qaayed Aryan Amsyar posing in their baju Raya last year. Unfortunately, they had to cancel their balik kampung plan because of the interstate ban.

PETALING JAYA: With the number of Covid-19 cases remaining high, the prospect of making the balik kampung journey to celebrate the coming Hari Raya Aidifitri with loved ones remains dim for many as travel restrictions are likely to be extended past Wednesday.

For 38-year-old teacher Serman Shah Murad based in Sandakan, Sabah, this will be his second year not celebrating the festivities with his 79-year-old mother in Serdang, Kedah.

“I was excited to make the trip home for Raya in May last year and had even bought new clothes for my family, including booking the flight tickets.

“We ended up celebrating Raya in Sandakan instead due to the travel restrictions.

“I am not pinning any hopes of making the trip home this year as I do not want my family to feel disappointed again, ” he said yesterday.

Serman said he would wait for the government’s announcement to see whether the interstate travel ban would be lifted.

“Whatever the government’s decision, the most important thing is that we keep our respective families safe during the pandemic, ” he added.

He said he would video call his mother to wish her if he could not travel back home again this year.

Rihaya Abu Kasim, 55, from Cheras, said she and her husband would usually journey to their respective family homes in Batu Pahat, Johor, and Temerloh, Pahang, to celebrate the festivities.

“We are more mentally prepared for the travel ban to be extended this year.

“We bought our baju Raya online instead of going to the tailors.”

She said she was not expecting travel restrictions to ease anytime soon owing to the recent spike in Covid-19 cases.

“It would be unbelievable if on the 27th day of Ramadan, they announce that the travel ban is over, ” she added.

Rihaya said she would miss her 74-year-old mother’s nasi impit and sambal kacang if she is unable to go back to her hometown.

“I will video call my mother to wish her and Google Meet with relatives during the festive period.”

A 28-year-old teacher who only wants to be known as Farah said it would be her first Hari Raya celebration away from her family in Penang if travel restrictions are extended.

“I was fortunate to spend Hari Raya with my family last year before my posting in Sungai Buloh.

“This will be my first time away from home and I will miss celebrating it with my parents, ” she said.

Farah said that she would celebrate the festivities this year with some relatives and close friends here in Selangor.

The government imposed the first movement control order on March 18 last year which disallowed interstate travel for Hari Raya which fell on May 24.

Interstate travel is prohibited under the current MCO period which ends this Wednesday, two weeks before Hari Raya Aidifitri this year.