PETALING JAYA: After more than two years of living under strict Covid-19 restrictions, foreign workers took the opportunity to enjoy the Hari Raya Aidifitri holidays by celebrating with friends.
Among them was Munir Hussin, 34, from Bangladesh, who travelled by bus from Melaka just to meet up with his friends in Kuala Lumpur.
"I am so happy to be able to see my friends here after being unable to do so for the past two Hari Raya holidays.
"This is the first time we are celebrating Hari Raya together," he said when met in Suria KLCC in Kuala Lumpur on Monday (May 2).
Munir, a factory worker in Malim, said he decided to make the day trip not only to meet up with his friends but to see the sights as well.
"I will be heading back later tonight to spend Tuesday with my other friends in Melaka," he said.
Also enjoying the break was his compatriot Yazid Iqbal, 24, who was also at KLCC to meet his friends.
"I have been here for the past three years but did not get the chance to enjoy the Hari Raya holidays because of the movement restrictions.
"This year is different as we are allowed to celebrate together," the factory worker from Sungai Besi said.
Although the mandatory wearing of facemasks in public was relaxed on Sunday (May 1), most people were seen continuing the practice while out in the streets.
Several security guards were also seen checking the status of visitors at the entrances of shopping malls before allowing them to enter the building with masks on.
A check by The Star also saw locals and tourists alike flocking to several spots in the city such as Petaling Street, Central Market and Jalan Masjid India.
Elsewhere, traffic was at a crawl along Klang's Little India and its surroundings while the shops were packed.
A Bangladeshi worker who wanted to be known only as Hanjala, 35, said he and several friends decided to visit Little India in Klang after hearing so much about it.
''It's rare that my friends and I get time off from work together.
"So we took the opportunity to go for an outing during the Hari Raya break,'' he said, adding that he works in Cheras while his two friends are based in Shah Alam and Klang.
Hanjala said he celebrated Hari Raya by having a home-cooked meal with his colleagues at the hostel before heading to Klang.
''I bought a pair of jeans for myself and some accessories for my wife, whom I will be meeting later," he said.
Amer Shah, 33, said he enjoyed his time off work despite being far away from his family in Dhaka, Bangladesh during the festivities.
"Although I miss my family and can't celebrate with them, I am just happy that I can do so with some friends this year," he said.
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